Mr Midshipman Fury, by G. S. Beard
Filed under: book review, G. S. Beard, historical fiction, naval fiction, recommendation
The year is 1792. We are at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars. John Thomas Fury he embarks on his first voyage as midshipman aboard the 32-gun frigate Amazon. His 
As Amazon heads to India, young midshipman Fury is involved in a dreadful shipboard accident, and he must work doubly hard to prove that he isn’t cursed just like his father. However, redemption is around the corner. On a mission from the Governor of India, the crew battle against a much stronger foe. Somewhere in the Indian Ocean a very powerful privateer is at work. Amazon must find and destroy her.
So, perhaps too soon Fury finds himself in charge of the gun deck in furious fighting. This is the spot where the leaders of men are forged. And Fury shows exceptional courage and coolness. And gradually the shadows of the past are banished and Fury’s naval career begins in glory as he becomes a leader of men.
Praise for Midshipman Fury:
“Here is a rollicking adventure…which will stir the sluggish blood of even the most pacific of readers.”
- – Daily Express“A lively page-turner. Beard shows that he can write about nautical action fluently, and there is always something going on as adventures fairly fall over each other once the ship sails into Indian waters”
–Historical Novels Review
See more G.S. Beard reviews.
Ramage & the Freebooters, by Dudley Pope
Filed under: book review, Dudley Pope, historical fiction, Lord Ramage, Main character, naval fiction, recommendation
(This book was published as The Triton Brig in USA) The first line of the book reads: “As Ramage’s carriage rattled along Whitehall he was surprised to see the long and wide street was almost deserted.” 
If he gets away from Spithead, Ramage is to deliver three sealed dispatches to admirals off Brest and Cadiz, and in the Caribbean. If he fails, he will become a very convenient scapegoat.
This is how the third novel in the Ramage series starts. As the two previous ones, it is an extraordinarily exciting story which captures all the romance, mystery and adventure of the Caribbean in Nelson’s day.
Having arrived in the Caribbean, he is instructed to stop the mysterious loss of ships sailing from Grenada to Barbados after two frigate captains had previously failed to do so. A new puzzle, and again he is set up as a scapegoat. He has no choice, but must gamble that he will be successful. And, as it turns out, logical analysis and a keen understanding of the economics of piracy soon leads Lord Ramage in the direction of the freebooters.
Dudley Pope delivers excellent adventure yarn with delightful, well thought out plots. Few among the writers of naval historical fiction from the romantic Era of Sail knows (or knew) more about the times, the Navy and life in it than Dudley Pope. Pope has also written several non-fiction historical books of great value. He also has a cunning ability to convey how the best of the best handle emergency situations, and – as well – portrays these situations with realism and authenticity. Ramage and the Freebooters is very exciting. It is at least the equal of the first two books in this series. A great trill to read!
Command, by Julian Stockwin
Filed under: book review, Fiction, historical fiction, Julian Stockwin, naval fiction, Thomas Kydd
Command is the seventh book of the Kydd series. Very unexpectedly, Thomas Kydd is appointed Commander and master of his own brig-sloop Teazer (16-gun). However, the sloop is
Kydd feels the elation and weight of command as he, and he alone, is responsible for the successes and failures aboard his command. However, Kydd, as we have come to expect, rises to the challenge, his determination and resourcefulness coming to the fore. His is a leadership based entirely on his personal qualities, blessed with the common touch, and his competency as a blue water seaman.
We follow him on missions where he makes mistakes, but gradually learn and builds confidence. And, as well, he eventually succeeds in the course of a successful sea battle against La Fouine, an action which brings him revenge for an earlier exchange where the French ship almost had the better of him. Unfortunately, in the midst of this, peace “breaks out” and Kydd is sent ashore without a ship or job.
Kydd is then faced with desperate times as he faces the loss of his livelihood and his best friend. To make ends meet, he agrees to transport convicts to Australia. Little does he know that his friend Renzi, weakened by illness and embittered with the service, is also bound for that colony as a settler. There they will be forced to face their deepest fears and prove themselves against all odds.
Command is another great novel in the “Kydd” series. It is exciting and interesting. The turnaround in the relationship between Kydd and Renzi is very interesting and intriguing.
, The Baltic Gambit, by Dewey Lambdin
Filed under: Alan Lewrie, book review, Dewey Lambdin, historical fiction, naval fiction
In The Baltic Gambit, Alan Lewrie is faced with a courtroom showdown with the odious Beauman family and the lawsuit that has provided so much trouble for him. The first part of the book finds him on shore fighting this battle. And, of course, there are ladies on shore, and Alan Lewrie was 
Even so, the book is somewhat slow in picking up. Lewrie stays on land for the first 200 pages. In the Admiralty, when asking for a ship, he is even told in no uncertain terms that he shouldn’t count on ever commanding a ship again. Life is not very good to Lewrie! But finally, after a change of leadership in the Admiralty, he gets his ship, the frigate HMS Thermopylae. And now action soon moves to the Baltic area. As so many times before, the naval mission is yet again combined with a diplomatic task, and once again set up by his shadowy mentor, Zachariah Twigg.
The mission assigned to him is to transport two Russian noblemen from England to Russia. The purpose of the mission is to try to convince the Russian Czar to not enter into a state of armed neutrality aimed at Britain. As well, Alan Lewrie gets to meet Admiral Nelson and take part in the Copenhagen battle!
The Baltic Gambit is a new great book from Lambdin – very interesting!
Read more reviews of Alan Lewrie’s adventures at Leserglede!
. Link to amazon US: Dewey Lambdin
. Link to amazon CAN: Dewey Lambdin
.Seaflower, by Julian Stockwin
Filed under: Fiction, Julian Stockwin, naval fiction
This is the third book in Stockwin’s series (it follows Artemis)about Thomas Paine Kydd and his friend Nicholas Renzi. Both Kydd and Renzi are now wiser and more seasoned seadogs than before.
This tale moves quickly from the grim 
Seaflower provides a good and detailed account of shipboard life in the late 18th century from the point of view of the common sailor. It’s all here – the cramped conditions, the disgusting food, the undeserved punishment and cruelty of some of the officers, and unremitting toil – and well described as well!
There is a lot of action in this book – both on land and sea. And there is romance, sea battles, tales of cynical exploitation of seamen as well as a breathless episode set in a wild hurricane. The fast action and a good plot, along with the fact that Stockwin’s writing is improving with each new book, all help to make Seaflower the best Kydd novel yet. Very promising for the series, and a nice and entertaining tale!
Read more reviews of Julian Stockwin‘s books!
Praise for Julian Stockwin’s books:
‘I was soon turning over the pages almost indecently fast … Roll on, the promised adventures of Kydd and Renzi.’ (Independent)
‘The vantage point of the common sailor gives the nautical novel a fresh twist. In Stockwin’s hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world.’ (Guardian)
A King’s Trade (Alan Lewrie-series), by Dewey Lambdin
Filed under: Alan Lewrie, book review, Fiction, naval fiction
I am a lover of books. Among the books I love the most to read, are historical novels. Master & Commander, Sword Song, Masters of Rome, and more, are among my favorites. And to me, there is hardly anything more romantic, intriguing, exotic and interesting then a great naval novel, of course about the British navy during the era of sail.
And the series entitled The Naval Adventures of Alan Lewrie by Dewey Lambdin is among my favorites. Great, joyful reading. Rough, tough, hard Navy guys, sailing, the life at sea, great sea battles. I love it!
Alan Lewrie is the main character is this series of books. He is a brash, impetuous ladies’ man and general rakehell. He’s also an officer in the Royal Navy where his bravery and quick thinking bring him success as often as they land him in hot water.
From a young midshipman who develops a love for naval artillery to captain of a dashing frigate, Lewrie moves up the ranks as he samples the pleasures of the world and makes his mark as a King’s officer!
Great book and a lovely series overall! If you like naval historical fiction, go check it out!
. Link to amazon US: Dewey Lambdin. Link to amazon CAN: Dewey Lambdin.New exciting releases – historical fiction
Filed under: book review, Fiction, historical fiction, naval fiction
Sea of Poppies, by Amitay Ghosh
A historical novel about the British opium trade. The British wanted to buy Chinese tea, silk and porcelain but China wasn’t interested in buying anything from the British. They refused to trade unless the British paid in silver. The British regarded this as a block on free trade. Since opium could grow well in British India, the British hit on the idea that the Chinese should buy Indian opium, paid for with trade in Chinese goods. The fact that opium is addictive made this arrangement all the more brilliant.
The Other Queen, Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history’s most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth’s promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the “guest” of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The Whiskey Rebels, by David Liss
Liss is a wonderfully literate writer, even more so than Iain Pears, and he effortlessly transports you in time and space to the period he wishes to evoke. In this case the year is 1792 and Liss crafts a tale which alternately follows two protagonists until their stories merge near the end of the novel. The first is Captain Ethan Saunders, a spy for the Americans during the revolutionary war, friend of Washington, Hamilton, and other worthies, who found himself disgraced and cashiered at the end of the war when accused of being a double agent.
This book has it all. Lively action, intrigues within intrigues, daring adventure, taut writing, sparkling dialogue, incredible plotting, depth of characterization, a sense of humor, and a sure hand at the literary tiller. It is so deeply atmospheric that you feel like you are in 1792 Philadelphia.
Good historical fiction – suggestions?
Filed under: Alan Lewrie, Dewey Lambdin, historical fiction, naval fiction, recommendation
I love reading historical fiction. To me, that’s a great way to relax and perhaps waste some time. I especially like novels about naval warfare, preferably involving sail ships.
I have read all the books in Patrick O’Brian’s Master & Commander-series. As well, I have finished C.S. Forester’s series about Horatio Horblower, all the way from midshipman to admiral. And I’ve done the Dewey Lambdin-series (see review) about Alan Lewrie. And, today, sadly, I finished Alexander Kent’s series of books about the illustrious Richard Bolitho.
So now I am out of good ideas. So therefore I need advise. Are there any other great historical fiction books (preferably series) I should read? Help me!! I need recommendations!
-
The World of Books- Death of Kings (Saxon Tales), by Bernard Cornwell
- Bleachers, by John Grisham
- Resurrection Men, by Ian Rankin
- Damage, by Josephine Hart
- The Horizon, by Douglas Reeman
- Review: The Delta Solution, Patrick Robinson
- George R.R. Martin: A Dance with Dragons!
- Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
- The Successor, by Stephen Frey
- Playful in Shades of Gray: John Banville
- BookGazette
- The Litigators, by John Grisham
- Only Time Will Tell, by Jeffrey Archer
- Tripwire, by Lee Child
- Blacklands, by Belinda Bauer – book review
- Knockemstiff, by Donald Ray Pollock
- Agent of Rome: The Siege, by Nick Brown
- Re-write of Franz Kafka: The Meowmorphosis, F. Kafka and C. Coleridge
- Don’t Look Twice, by Andrew Gross
- The Snow Tiger, by Desmond Bagley
- Trust Fund, by Stephen W. Frey
- Nordic Bookblog
- Nights of Awe (An Ariel Kafka Mystery), by Harri Nykänen
- Another Time, Another Life, by Leif GW Persson
- The Flatey Enigma, by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson
- Vanished, by Liza Marklund – review
- Helsinki White, by James Thompson
- Sail of Stone, by Ake Edwardson
- Anne Holt nominated for the 2012 Edgar Award
- Cold Comfort (An Officer Gunnhildur Mystery), by Quentin Bates
- Lisbeth Salander – durable heroine
- Midwinter Sacrifice, by Mons Kallentoft
-