Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "home-popham"

Betrayal by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sneaking around the African jungle in the dark of night isn’t the safest way to take the enemy. After all, there are lions and snakes and animals with horns. The water may be more familiar, but unknown dangers lurk there as well. The French ship has chosen her hiding spot well some distance up the Zambezi River where L’Aurore cannot venture. A frontal assault by boats will be a slaughter, but Captain Thomas Kydd is not to be deterred. It’s vital to discover the location of Admiral Maréchal’s squadron and Nicholas Renzi’s intelligence, acquired from locals, is their first lead. Kydd’s plan is fraught with danger and timing will be key.

Later, Kydd learns the risks have been for naught. Maréchal and his ships have returned to France. Of course, that presents Kydd with another dilemma – one that he gives no thought to until after he meets with his commander, Commodore Home Popham. They are far from home and the war, and with everything going smoothly in Cape Town and its environs, the opportunity to distinguish themselves in ways that will gain them honors, riches, and promotions are just about nil. Has Kydd truly gone from working in a wig shop to commanding his own ship only to have his career stymied?

Never fear, Popham isn’t one to sit on laurels. Prior to Trafalgar, an idea was put forth to the prime minister and received his blessing. It involves taking advantage of the unrest in South America to gain new allies and profit from the seizure of the treasure currently going to, when possible, into Napoleon’s coffers to fund the war. Now is the perfect time to implement that amphibious operation and using a page from Nelson’s handbook, Popham intends to have his squadron sweep across the ocean and seize Montevideo and Buenos Aires for the British just as they did when they conquered Cape Town. With Kydd’s help, they should have no trouble gaining the army’s assistance and swaying the other captains over to their way of thinking. There’s only a slight problem; they will be undertaking this venture without proper orders from the Admiralty. Better to take action and ask for forgiveness later. After all, this will be a cakewalk. What can possibly go wrong?

Stockwin is a master at recreating exotic locales that transport readers back to past places and times. Nowhere is this more evident than in Betrayal, the thirteenth Kydd Sea Adventure. Contrasts between Africa and South America make the latter even more menacing, as do revelations about Popham that Renzi shares with Kydd. Equally engaging, at least to anyone who has ever thought of writing a book, is Renzi’s trials and tribulations once he decides to craft the novel that his friend suggests. As with any creative endeavor, taking an idea and turning it into reality isn’t as easy as it appears. In this regard, Renzi’s writing shines a mirror on the dilemmas that Kydd faces. Patriotic fervor is another theme interwoven into this story. Rather than a coin with two sides, this passion can be multi-faceted and involve intrigue as much as treachery. While Kydd spends a fair portion of his time on land in this tale, the contrivances that place him on water are unique and the action, hair-raising. While stories set during the Napoleonic era are many, Stockwin selects lesser-known aspects of it to provide readers with uncommon undertakings where the risks and the rewards are high.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)



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Clay and the River of Silver by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Following the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain rules the seas and the Admiralty believes the time has come to take the war to the enemy. Captain Sir Alexander Clay suggests taking the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch, but his plan requires an amphibious attack with the army taking the lead. The squadron commander for this worthy idea will be Captain Home Riggs Popham. Normally, he would be given the honorary rank of commodore, but the Admiralty refuses to do so. They’re wary of Popham and his penchant for recklessness and self-aggrandizing. Clay is to serve as his deputy to rein in those proclivities.

Before leaving England, Popham and Nicholas Vansittart, a diplomat, meet with a gentleman from South America. He represents a group of patriots within the Viceroyalty de la Plata who seek assistance in their bid for freedom from Spain. He tempts the two Englishmen with a large quantity of silver currently awaiting shipment to Spain. The venture entices both men for different reasons, but the cabinet never promises to support the rebels. Still, Popham is not opposed to exploring the venture after the Cape of Good Hope is under British rule. Vansittart’s only reservations involve the diplomatic angles such intrusion may impose and he doubts Clay will be amenable to the whole affair.

Nor does Popham take the Admiralty’s neglect in elevating him to commodore well. It causes friction between him and Clay, and he’s jealous of Clay’s successes and close connections with the First Lord. Still, they must work together, first in southern Africa and then in Argentina. Eventually, Popham’s objectives diverge from everyone else’s and Clay and his men, as well as the army, pay the dearest prices.

Some readers may find this ninth offering in the Alexander Clay series less interesting than previous naval episodes in the Napoleonic Wars. I fall into this category, and this is not the first historical novel I’ve read that portrays these incidents. What intrigues me is the contrast between Allan’s portrayal with his series’ characters and Julian Stockwin’s with his in Betrayal. Thomas Kydd plays a more central role throughout and has a personal stake in his relationship with Popham. Alexander Clay stays mostly on the periphery, and Allan is clearer in how the different events unfold. He also provides more from the army’s perspective than the navy. Having read both versions, I find that the two combined give a unique and greater understanding of why and how these historic events unfolded. When Clay and his men are front and center, the scenes are riveting. Episodes within Clay and the River of Silver have parallels relevant to situations in today’s world.

(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Allan.html...)



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