Halfhyde at the Bight of Benin, Philip McCutchan, Kindle edition, 3. Wanting a diversion from my Age of Sail readings, I turned to McBook's Press reprHalfhyde at the Bight of Benin, Philip McCutchan, Kindle edition, 3. Wanting a diversion from my Age of Sail readings, I turned to McBook's Press reprinting of this 1974 original. We go from sail power to the age of coal-fired cruisers. Set in the 1890s, Lieutenant St. Vincent Halfhyde finds himself summoned from half-pay to service on HMS Aurora, a cruiser bound for the waters off Africa. Halfhyde's task is to assess the Russian presence in Benin. Adventures abound, including whorehouses, torture (his own), a diabolical Russian causing to the Czar, sandbars, malaria, mutiny, the sinking of ships.
This is a good read, but not a great one. Still, it does feature the Royal Navy....more
The latest Julian Stockwin novel in his Thomas Paine Kydd series. The quality has been uneven in his last few books, and my English friend doesn't thiThe latest Julian Stockwin novel in his Thomas Paine Kydd series. The quality has been uneven in his last few books, and my English friend doesn't think this is up to the early Kydd stories. We'll find out.
well, we found out. Not up to snuff. Paper thin plotting. Disappointing....more
been waiting a long time for this to be published and then it took another long time for me to get around to it. Russell continues his saga with stopsbeen waiting a long time for this to be published and then it took another long time for me to get around to it. Russell continues his saga with stops in England, Convoys, Toulon, Corsica, and then back to England. Lots of buckles being swashed, inter service rivalries, and treacherous French. A good read. Now I've got to wait another two years for Russell to publish again!...more
First Punic War. The Romans won. Lots of historical liberties taken with the entire series. Villans too Black; heroes too white. At times it seems likFirst Punic War. The Romans won. Lots of historical liberties taken with the entire series. Villans too Black; heroes too white. At times it seems like Snidley Whiplash v. Dudley Dooright only with angst. Three books and he never tripped to the fact that the Roman Navy, and the Carthaginian too, never used slave rowers. Stack did minimize the chains, however. Forced writing and, once again, abominably edited with regard to spelling and syntax. Still, the Roman Navy done 75% correctly is better than no Roman Navy at all....more
When I was seventeen my mother got me a job working in the Chester Hospital as a janitor. Midway through the summer, my boss asked me whether I would When I was seventeen my mother got me a job working in the Chester Hospital as a janitor. Midway through the summer, my boss asked me whether I would like to work the elevator (a manual one), second shift, for the regular operator who was going on vacation for two weeks. I said that I would. Turns out that visiting hours ended in the middle of second shift, and I had nothing to do except bring oxygen up and corpses down for the remaining four hours. So I read all the books that I was supposed to read for school the previous year. Those books were Walden, by Thoreau, War and Peace, by Tolstoy, and Moby Dick, by Melville. All three works changed my life. Read them unabridged; you should, too....more
Casson's landmark work on ships and seamanship in the ancient world propelled me toward my Master's Thesis. I have no idea what sparks my interest in Casson's landmark work on ships and seamanship in the ancient world propelled me toward my Master's Thesis. I have no idea what sparks my interest in navies and the sea, other than a father who hated his navy service and a father-in-law who wishes daily that he were back at sea, but Casson struck the nail in the casket! This book is literate and thorough, well-written by a real scholar. It tracks the development of seamanship from earliest Egypt and Mesopotamia to the end of the Roman era....more
I am reading this on the strength of the first volume, Ship of War. It's got Romans, the Roman Navy, Carthage, and an adequate story. But that's whereI am reading this on the strength of the first volume, Ship of War. It's got Romans, the Roman Navy, Carthage, and an adequate story. But that's where it stops. Captain of Rome was published by Harper Collins Publishers in London. But I will swear it was never touched by an editor. Spelling, orthographic, grammatical and syntactical errors abound. I teach my students that it is not enough to spell check your writing; sometimes you will spell the wrong word correctly. Like "than" when you wanted "then", or "loss" when you wanted "lost". then there are the errors of fact. With very few exceptions in the ancient world there were no galley slaves. The men who rowed the Roman and Carthaginian navies into combat were free. But you wouldn't know that from this series of books. Every ship that sinks sinks to the shrieks of its galley slaves ripping at their chains to avoid drowning. The Roman Senate concluded its business around 11AM, so they could get home, get lunch, and go to the baths where the real wheeling and dealing took place. In Captain of Rome the Senate meets until sunset and it is dismissed by the senior Consul. Except that Rome never had "senior" and "junior" Consuls in the sense conveyed in this work. Stack clearly doesn't know the naming practices for Roman males and females either.
Reading this series is like watching a train wreck. You know you shouldn't stare, but you just can't stop. But there is good news and bad news. There will be a third novel....more
The second Drinkwater edition carries our hero twenty years after the affairs of the first volume. Drinkwater is first lieutenant on a small cutter thThe second Drinkwater edition carries our hero twenty years after the affairs of the first volume. Drinkwater is first lieutenant on a small cutter that tangles with a French provocateur and ends with the battle of Camperdown as viewed from the deck of a very small cutter.
Again, fabulous characterization, gruesome action, and dark nuance....more
Another Christmas book from Eric, The Red Wolf Conspiracy is about naval adventures in an alternate universe. I am looking forward to getting further Another Christmas book from Eric, The Red Wolf Conspiracy is about naval adventures in an alternate universe. I am looking forward to getting further into it real soon....more
Recommended by my English friend, John Thompson, the Nathaniel Drinkwater saga begins with Nathaniel in his first posting as Midshipman on the frigateRecommended by my English friend, John Thompson, the Nathaniel Drinkwater saga begins with Nathaniel in his first posting as Midshipman on the frigate Cyclops in 1780. This book is literate.
Finished this well before Christmas and it did not disappoint. From England to the American Revolution, An Eye of the Fleet is indeed literate, with an introspective and bloody berserker for a main character. Woodman's books seem slim, but packed with nuance an adventure....more
**spoiler alert** This series (if two books makes a series) has been called "Harry Potter meats Horatio Hornblower", or "Hogwarts goes to Sea". I can **spoiler alert** This series (if two books makes a series) has been called "Harry Potter meats Horatio Hornblower", or "Hogwarts goes to Sea". I can see where a reviewer could come up with these analogies, but to quantify the book like that is a disservice to both. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe stands well on its own. It strikes me as another young adult book that appeals to oldsters, too.
Set in a world where Arcania (read England) is in a constant state of war with the Maleen (read Napoleanic France, only not human), our hero Halcyon brings his family's naval heritage to his first posting. Personable and likable, he of course makes enemies, fights his way out of situations that cannot be ignored, and faces and defeats evil in all guises. He nearly hangs for violations of the Articles of War, and yet gets promoted for conspicuous bravery at the end of the book. Oh, did I mention that the motive power for first rate ships of the line are dragons?
A good read; I plan on reading the second volume....more
Readers of O'Brian and Stockwin always marvel at the authenticity of the works; they get the feeling that they are there in the early 19th century, stReaders of O'Brian and Stockwin always marvel at the authenticity of the works; they get the feeling that they are there in the early 19th century, standing by their heroes. Reading Wareham's "Frigate Commander" lets us know how the masters achieved their fine touch. The language, customs, and views come from primary source material and Wareham's book is that indeed. Graham Moore's journal entries are amplified by Wareham's interpretations, which seem never to be intrusive or overly explanatory.
Most of us who read in the Wooden Ships and Iron Men era must digest an entire series of novels to see a character's career unfold. Graham Moore's career, through the efforts of Tom Wareham, is encompased between the covers of one book.
If you like ships and the Age of Sail, and if you like primary source material, you will really enjoy "Frigate Commander."...more
I read Hornblower and Bolitho when I was younger and enjoyed them thoroughly. O'Brian, however, is at the top of my list now because of the absolute aI read Hornblower and Bolitho when I was younger and enjoyed them thoroughly. O'Brian, however, is at the top of my list now because of the absolute attention to detail in sailing, setting, language, and chracterization.
Another aspect that makes O'Brian's series superior is that there is not one lead character. The captain shares the stage with the physician. These two characters play off one another beautifully.
Add in the elements of espionage, family life, richly drawn friends and enemies, and the Aubrey/Maturin novels have it all....more
Stockwin's latest, and perhaps best. Kydd gets himself into some seriously hot water with smugglers and in affairs of the heart as well. It's hard to Stockwin's latest, and perhaps best. Kydd gets himself into some seriously hot water with smugglers and in affairs of the heart as well. It's hard to see how he can get himself out of this one....more
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