Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "napoleonic-wars"

1805 by Richard Woodman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater and his crew sail in search of the Channel Fleet. They are to help with blockading the French, preventing the enemy from leaving their home ports. It is a tedious duty, but essential. It prevents Napoleon from invading England. There are interludes where Drinkwater’s participation in the blockade is interrupted, episodes that make his life more interesting and dangerous. One involves conveying a high-ranking French duke into enemy territory. Another requires him to rescue a British agent who may be behind a plot to assassinate Napoleon.

A third instance involves a meeting with the prime minister and Lord Dungarth, who heads the Admiralty’s intelligence network. They seek Drinkwater’s thoughts on a French invasion, something that has been occupying his thoughts of late. Evidence shows that the French are embarking troops, and should the French fleet join with Spain’s, he is certain they will attack. But the invasion won’t be a direct one. He believes they will come through a backdoor, which will provide them with a slim chance of success.

Gales provide the French with the perfect opportunity to elude the British blockade. Although Drinkwater cannot stop their emergence into open waters, he is determined to keep sight of them. But that is easier said than done, especially when he must battle enemy ships at sea during a snow storm. When word arrives that France and Spain have combined forces as he feared, Drinkwater must warn his superiors.

This sixth book in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series is divided into three parts: Blockade, Break-out, and Battle. It opens in 1804, when a midshipman rouses Captain Drinkwater from the depths of sleep just as HMS Antigone is about to wreck on a dangerous shoal near St. Michael’s Mount, and ends with the Battle of Trafalgar. Maps are provided to orient readers. Sea battles are riveting, while scenes aboard Drinkwater’s vessel provide vivid snapshots of life at sea. What makes this tale different from others that depict this victorious, but tragic affair, is that Drinkwater is not aboard a British ship at the time of the battle. Instead, he is a prisoner aboard a French ship of the line and the battle is poignantly experienced through senses other than sight.




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Invasion by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having cleared his name, Thomas Kydd returns to his beloved Teazer albeit with a new first lieutenant who is reliable but neither ambitious nor innovative. Orders return them to the coast of France to search for enemy vessels. These are to be destroyed or taken in any way possible, for Napoleon is preparing to invade England and the Royal Navy is the country’s first line of defense. Upon encountering an enemy escorting a British prize, Kydd attempts a night boarding to retake the ship. The unsuccessful bid results in Nicholas Renzi, Kydd’s longtime friend and ship’s clerk, to suggest an alternative. The risk is high, but Kydd takes the chance. The result makes Admiral Saumarez realize that Kydd and Teazer are needed elsewhere where they can be used to better effect.

Kydd’s new orders assign him to Admiral Keith’s Downs Squadron, situated near the English Channel and close to the action. A brief meeting with his commanding officer makes it clear that on this station, Kydd’s first duty is to destroy the enemy no matter what. First, though, he must learn exactly what he faces and how dire the situation is for his country. This takes him to London where he becomes privy to closely guarded information about Napoleon’s plans and capabilities, as well as English plans to thwart the invasion. The newspapers are also rife with rumors of all sorts of strange inventions that the French emperor will use to achieve his goal of conquering England. Kydd’s secret meetings reveal that anything, even the most preposterous idea, may indeed be possible. Before long, he discovers the reality of this and the dilemma it poses to the way naval wars are fought.

During this time, Kydd returns home to visit his family. The experience makes him realize just how much he has changed since he first departed Guilford as a wigmaker. He decides if he wishes to go any further in his career, he must reenter society. To that end he hires a special tutor to turn him into the gentleman he must be to hobnob with those with power and influence.

Renzi, on the other hand, is summoned to a secret tête-à-tête to which not even Admiral Keith is privy. He is asked to participate in the negotiations for a prisoner exchange, although this is merely a cover for his real purpose. The cartel ship will get him into France and while there, he is tasked with finding an inventive American and persuading him to work for the English, whom he detests, instead of Napoleon. Otherwise, Renzi must kill him.

This tenth installment of the Kydd Sea Adventures provides a rousing fresh perspective about the invasion threat that England faced during the Napoleonic Wars. Stockwin draws the reader in with danger and possibilities and then clearly shows the personal struggle that seamen faced as new ideas threaten duty, morality, and traditional rules of engagement. Woven into this excellent tapestry are elements of everyday naval life, such as the savagery of sea combat and hand-to-hand fighting, searching for an AWOL crew member, and edge-of-your-seat lifesaving gambles. At the same time, readers glimpse life in Paris during the war and what it’s like for an enemy to openly walk the streets there. Equally compelling are the scientific inventions that are introduced, the conflicts they arouse, and how personal experiences can be melded with new ideas to provide alternative ways of achieving goals. Along the way, readers meet such historic people as Robert Fulton, William Pitt, Admiral Keith, and Captain Frances Austen (Jane Austen’s brother). Invasion is a thought-provoking experience filled with exploits to interest fans of historical fiction, nautical fiction, and even steampunk.


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




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The Two Battles of Copenhagen 1801 and 1807: Britain and Denmark in the Napoleonic Wars by Gareth Glover

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A signal went up to break off the engagement, but Horatio Nelson was said to have brought his telescope up to his blind eye and claimed not to see his commander’s signal. This may be the only incident that readers are familiar with as regards these two battles. Many accounts of Nelson’s life mention the fight, but they don’t go into great depth and they often omit or gloss over what came before and after. They also recount the episode from a single perspective rather than including multiple sides of either conflict. Glover attempts to rectify this by showing the interconnecting threads in this period of history and how what transpired during the first battle impacted the second. He also shows the complexity of Anglo-Danish relations, as well as Denmark’s precarious situation as regards its neighbors and Napoleon’s aggressiveness.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark managed to remain neutral despite its strategic location that provided ingress and egress to Baltic ports which supplied products vital to Britain’s shipbuilding industry. In 1799, the Russian tsar proposed that Denmark and other countries form a league of Armed Neutrality, wherein the members would fight to stay impartial. The Danes were set to be the “front line” of defense for this alliance, but they weren’t keen on being in this position. Britain saw the policy as a subtle shift and wished to safeguard their supply source since the Royal Navy was a key component in the fight against Napoleon’s territorial expansion.

To that end, a fleet was assembled, and Vice Admiral Sir Hyde Parker was placed in command of the Royal Navy’s Baltic Fleet. The problem with this proved twofold: Parker was sixty-one at the time and, being recently wed, was more interested in his eighteen-year-old wife than in preparing the fleet for departure. His second-in-command was a rising star, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose seamanship, daring, and bravery were never in question, but some thought him arrogant and his private life involved scandals. Although their working relationship seemed to jibe, Parker’s orders weren’t explicit enough. He was to take or destroy the Danish fleet, but what then? The other difficulty was that Nelson craved action, while Parker had doubts even after decisions were made and commands given.

On the flipside, the Danes’ purpose during this time was to further fortify their defenses and stall long enough for the fleets of Sweden and Russia to arrive. Although the Danish navy was well-equipped, they didn’t truly plan for it to engage in battle. After all, if they lost their ships and men, who would defend their city and country? Even the Crown Prince, Commodore Fischer, and Admiral Wleugel doubted they could win against the British, but they didn’t see they had any alternative.

The outcome of this first battle depends on which side it is viewed from, as Glover shows. Afterward, there was a brief respite in the war until the conflict was renewed in 1803. Although Denmark maintained a strict neutrality once again, the defeat of Russian forces at the Battle of Friedland (1807) left Denmark as one of only three countries on the Continent that was still trading with the British. Napoleon’s new tactic involved economic warfare, which put Denmark in a tenuous situation. The British had no intention of losing their trading partner, but the Crown Prince of Denmark refused to hand over his fleet. Another confrontation between Denmark and Britain was inevitable, and it would involve a joint operation between the Royal Navy and the Royal Army. This time, the principals would be Admiral Gambier, General Arthur Wellesley, and Danish General Peymann.

Divided into twenty-three chapters, the narrative includes black-and-white illustrations throughout with color artwork at the center. An overview is provided as is a brief recounting of what visitors will see if they go to Copenhagen today. Aside from footnotes, a bibliography, and an index, Glover provides nine appendices concerning the 1801 battle and twenty-seven for the 1807 siege of the city.

Glover’s goal in writing this history is to heal any breaches that still exist and to provide a better understanding as to why each side did what they did. He provides a clear understanding of before, during, and after each battle and incorporates eyewitness reports, such as that of a student watching the battle who found his view obscured from all the gun smoke, or the twelve-year-old who climbed a crane and reported to the crowd below what transpired, or the private who believed he could win the battle by himself. This book is for anyone who wants a clearer, well-rounded picture of what happened and why.


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



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Portsmouth Point: The British Navy in Fiction 1793-1815 by C. Northcote Parkinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you enjoy stories of the Royal Navy, chances are you’ve read at least a few that take place during the French and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815). At some point, the ships, sailors, and officers visit Portsmouth. As much as we may like to visit, this early 19th-century naval base and dockyard is gone. It is only through the pages of stories that it is recreated. But these are modern interpretations. What was Portsmouth Point like back then? How did novelists of yore, those to whom this was a real place rather than a fictional recreation, portray it?

True, history books describe Portsmouth Point, but such scholarly works rarely breathe life into the past. Parkinson believed “there is that to be learnt from fiction which can be learnt in no other way.” (11) Novelists who actually lived or spent time there were far better “guides who understand.” (11) Hence, the purpose of this book, allowing readers to experience the place as they did. All the writers included were members of the Royal Navy, some serving during these wars and some soon after. As much as Parkinson wanted to include only contemporary novels, he found this impossible to do, for the novelists were too engaged in their duties to devote time to fictional accounts of what transpired. Therefore, only two stories were published before 1826. The majority chosen were released between 1826 and 1848, so they are as near to being contemporary recreations of Portsmouth as is possible. Among the selections are The Navy at Home (1831), Frank Mildmay, or The Naval Officer by Captain Marryat (1829), The Naval Sketch Book (1826), Tom Bowling: A Tale of the Sea by Captain Frederick Chamier, R.N. (1841), and Jack Tench, or the Midshipman Turned Idler by Blowhard (1841).

The book is divided into twelve chapters, each covering a different aspect of the navy: The Man-of-War, The Officers, The Midshipmen, The Crew, The Marines, The Daily Routine, The Food, In Harbour, Naval Dialect, Prize-Money, Religion, and Anecdotes. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction about the topic. If additional insight is deemed necessary, Parkinson inserts this between snippets as well. One example where this occurs is in the chapter on The Officers; brief portraits of specific positions are summarized followed by a pertinent excerpt, such as the comeuppance of a surgeon whose go-to treatment for the men was seawater. The chapter on food served in the navy includes “The Logarithm for Making Punch” and a “recipe for a mess of chowder.” The only chapter without the brief insights is the last chapter; the chosen anecdotes are brief, interesting, amusing, and self-explanatory. One concerns a captain who swears his familiarity with the local waters negates the need for a pilot.

Scattered throughout the book are black-and-white illustrations, diagrams, and maps. These are explained in Appendix B, Note on Illustrations. The first appendix, Bibliographical Note, lists the works included in the book, as well as brief summaries of the history of naval fiction and the authors’ naval careers. The final appendix is a Glossary of Technical Terms. The book is also indexed.

First published in 1949, this is an invaluable resource for readers and writers of naval fiction. The snippets and the introductory material are as close to “direct evidence” of Portsmouth Point as it existed in the early 19th century and what life was like in the Royal Navy between 1810 and 1815. Some titles are still in print; others are available online for free. (Readers will have to search for these themselves.) Portsmouth Point also serves as a wonderful introduction to early works of naval fiction.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Parkinson....)



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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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