A King’s Cutter, by Richard Woodman
Filed under: book review, historical fiction, Main character, Nathaniel Drinkwater, naval fiction, recommendation, Richard Woodman
Ten years have passed since we last met Nathaniel Drinkwater (in An Eye of the Fleet). He is now married, but he has not been promoted, 
More historical fiction book reviews!
Naval fiction:
Alan Lewrie series, by Dewey Lambdin
Richard Bolitho series, by Alexander Kent
Lord Ramage series, by Dudley Pope
Kydd series, by Julian Stockwin
Frederick Marryat
Charles Edgemont series, by Jay Worrall
Nathaniel Drinkwater series, by Richard Woodman
Richard Delancey series, by C. Northcote Parkinson
The Fury series, by G.S. Beard
Other historical fiction:
Genghis Khan, by Conn Iggulden
Emperor, by Conn Iggulden
Gladiators of Empire, by James Duffy
Thus Nathaniel Drinkwater returns to the Royal Navy with an appointment to the twelve-gun cutter Kestrel commanded by the old and inscrutable Madoc Griffiths. Together they undertake a series of secret missions into France, now under the shadow of the French Revolution.
And as war thickens of the European continent, Kestrel is drawn into the struggle for the Channel, and Drinkwater for the first time encounters his arch enemy, the sinister and extremely devious French Captain Edourd Santhonax. He is, as usual, engaged in activities that attracts a lot of attention from the British government.
Eventually Drinkwater, to some extent by accident, uncovers a grand intrigue which results in mutiny in the Royal Navy, and which then, subsequently, permits the extremely bloody confrontation between the English and Dutch navies at Camperdown, one of the larger battles in Navy history.
In The King’s Cutter, we meet a Drinkwater that is older, smarter, and better equipped for a career in the Royal Navy. Even so, Richard Wood does not allow his hero to be promoted nearly as fast as some of the other heroes in nautical fiction series.
This book is definitely among the best of the books in the Drinkwater series. A King’s Cutter sees Drinkwater doing duty as an acting lieutenant and sailing master in the years 1792 – 1797. It is very well researched, and excellently written. The stories are great, and very interesting to read.
Send a Gunboat, by Douglas Reeman
Filed under: book review, Douglas Reeman, naval fiction
There are many heroes in this delightful old story 
Commander Justin Rolfe, another hero in this book, is also seemingly at the end of his useful naval life. He is an embittered man, brooding and angry from a court-martial verdict and after having been betrayed by his wife. When the offshore island of Santu is threatened with invasion from the Chinese mainland, Commander Rolfe, old Wagtail, and her crew, is assigned the mission of bringing out the British citizens on the island. It is a difficult job, but also a job that offers the chance of a reprieve and a restoration of self respect.
I loved this book! It took a little while before I really got into it, but after a hundred pages or so I had a hard time putting it away. Send a Gunboat tells a very good story about how danger and action draws together, changes, and unites the men involved in it by the skillful and very knowledgeable Reeman!
Sails on the Horizon, by Jay Worrall
Filed under: book review, Charles Egdemont, historical fiction, Jay Worrall, Main character, naval fiction
This is Worrall’s debut as a historical fiction writer. He tells the tale of Charles Edgemont, a very interesting and appealing hero who does 
In Sails on the Horizon, he starts out as a lowly lieutenant for a few pages. However, when his ship, the outdated line of the battle ship Argonaut, is ordered to sacrifice herself in an attempt to stall the Spanish fleet he is quickly elevated to master when his superiors fall in battle. Argonaut gives a good account of herself, even though she is completely wrecked. Edgemont refuses to strike his colors despite the overwhelming odds, and by holding out for a few crucial moments he influences the tide of the battle.
As a result of having done his job, young Charles finds himself a wealthy man due to the prize money he gets after the fight. As well, he is elevated to commander status on a permanent basis by Admiral Jarvis, even thought in his own eyes he does not deserve it.
He takes over a temporary command of a brig, whips her crew into shape and captures prizes while patrolling the Irish Sea. As well, he falls in love with a pretty and somewhat strange – but very interesting and beautiful – Quaker neighbor named Penelope Brown. And, being a rich man, he helps his brother out of his financial problems and buys himself a large property as well.
Aboard his new permanent command, the frigate, Louisa, Charles is assigned the task of making certain that the 40 gun Spanish frigate Santa Brigida is prevented from attacking British vessels outside the coast of Spain. As the Spanish ship outguns Charles frigate, he has to find a way of attacking the Spanish ship which can maximize his own odds, otherwise his chances will be slim indeed. He thinks he can see a way to do it, but will his plan hold?
Sails on the Horizon is very well-written, the battle scenes are engaging, the story is very appealing, and the hero and heroine are very likable. The book shows that Worrall has considerable expertise in ship and naval warfare history. The biggest minuses, to my mind, are perhaps that the plot is a little too smooth, and that there are some pretty historically unlikely events in the book. However, Sails on the Horizon is an excellent debut and a very, very entertaining read. Hardly a dull moment!
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.
, Band of Brothers, by Alexander Kent
Filed under: Alexander Kent, book review, historical fiction, Main character, Richard Bolitho
Band of Brothers, which deals with events taking place in 1774, was written fairly late in the sequence (see above), and was probably written to fill in more background about Richard Bolitho. Here, Bolitho 
The book may also be viewed as an answer to the question of “What happened to Midshipman Martyn Dancer?” This is a question his readers have nagged him for 30 years to solve. And here we are, indeed, told of Dancer’s fate.
As a midshipman in Band of Brothers, the young Bolitho again demonstrates his trademarks as a man are not limited to bravery, leadership, and seamanship. Already here he displays the compassion for those who serve under him that so clearly distinuishes him from many of his contemporaries, and which grows to legendary proportions in later novels as his rank and responsibility grow.
A good – not great – book that plays an important part in the series!
Read more about Richard Bolitho at Leserglede!
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
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