Using naval fiction as historical context

Can period naval fiction be used as primary-source evidence?

Use it cautiously for context and contemporary voice, not as the main factual authority.

Authors such as Frederick Marryat and Herman Melville provide contextual evidence rather than straightforward primary sources. Their fiction can supply contemporary voice, useful quotations, and a sense of setting. It cannot by itself carry factual claims about events, institutions, or technology. Literary material can add atmosphere without serving as documentary proof.