Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 4

Justin Somper's New Kid on Deck

Pirate Academy: New Kid On Deck by Justin Somper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Barracudas eagerly await the arrival of their parents for Captains’ Evening at the Pirate Federation’s Academy at Coral Sea Province. One by one their ships anchor, but not Jasmine Peacock’s. Her mom and dad usually arrive first. The later the hour grows, the more Jasmine worries but there is little she can do.

Jacoby Blunt’s anticipation is quickly doused when he and his father are summoned to the commodore’s office. Rather than putting his all into his studies, Jacoby has been coasting through his classes. If this continues, he will be expelled. This alarming news causes him to change his ways. It will be hard, since his best friend and roommate, Wing, has to withdraw. The only reason given is: “These are dangerous times to be a pirate.” (32)

Later that night, the crew of a dilapidated ship smuggles ashore a young boy. Neo Splice has fears and secrets, but there is nowhere else safe to go. He will become the newest Barracuda. The longer he stays, the more he finds himself looking over his shoulder and wondering whether the demons that haunt him are real or imagined.

Jacoby hurts from losing his friend and blames Neo. Best way to deal with the situation? Hazing. Doctoring the chalk used during sword practice doesn’t get the reaction Jacoby expects. Instead, Neo calls them all “privileged princes” who haven’t a clue as to what dangers lurk around them.

When Neo and another Barracuda go missing and masked pirates invade the academy, Jasmine, Jacoby, and the other Barracudas remember their motto: “If you wound one, you wound us all.” Together is the only way to save Neo and discover the true nature of the invaders and the perils they unleash.

New Kid on Deck is the first book in Somper’s new Pirate Academy series. Set in the year 2057, the story is spellbinding. The characters’ emotions and individuality draw readers into the action and tension, while the words and Teo Skaffa’s pictures breathe life into them in ways that make the characters real people. This may be written for children, but adults will also find themselves captivated. The villains are dastardly and just a bit creepy. The piratical elements are realistic and well-researched. Pirate apprentices and their parents will enjoy this voyage to a fantastic school where adventure awaits and they will eagerly look forward to the second book, Missing at Sea.

(Review originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Somper.htm...)



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Review of Seth Hunter's The Force of Fate

The Force of Fate by Seth Hunter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Anthony Merry is something of a diplomatic Jonah and he’s not pleased to be the British envoy to Washington City. When an imaginary slight from the president occurs, Merry is determined to get his vengeance. That seems entirely likely after his wife introduces him to Aaron Burr, who has a plan to secede the western territories from the infant United States and create a new country. This sounds like a plan that his superiors back in London can get behind, and so Merry immediately outlines how backing Burr is the way to go.

Captain Nathan Peake has his own problems. His fiancée – his word, not hers since she refuses to marry – is with child and he may or may not be the father. Plus, he must appear before a court of inquiry that is determined to discover why he was aboard the French ship responsible for killing Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar and whether Peake colluded with the enemy. Not to mention the fact that he does have ties to the Bonaparte family, as does his fiancée, which may or may not be known to the court. Then, there’s the fact that both his mother and his fiancée are in imminent danger of arrest on charges of espionage.

Fate intervenes when the death of William Pitt brings about a change of government and those in power believe Peake will be more useful elsewhere. As a result, he is promoted to commodore of a squadron, which reunites him with old friends. He is also charged with a diplomatic mission to Washington City where the current envoy will be led to believe one thing while President Jefferson is reassured of the opposite. Fate, of course, is always accompanied by consequences. This time around Peake reunites with his nemesis, Gilbert Imlay, and must abet an escape from the Tower of London. Everyone has their own agendas, even President Jefferson, and a French fleet lurks off the coast of the Carolinas. Its representatives collude with Americans opposed to the current negotiations between the United States and Great Britain to bring about an end to the slave trade.

The Force of Fate takes place during the middle of the first decade of the 19th century and culminates with the 1806 Battle of the Atlantic between the British and French navies. It’s a facet of the Napoleonic Wars that is rarely depicted, which makes for an interesting interlude, especially when tied in with Burr’s scheming and early attempts to suppress slavery. Those who have never read a Nathan Peake novel may find this one a bit challenging to comprehend all of the story’s nuances, but fans of the series will enjoy this ninth entry. As always, Hunter excels at his depiction of sea battles, keeping readers on the edges of their seats as Peake and his men fight not only the enemy but also Mother Nature.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...)



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Review of Robert Jacob's Blackbeard

Blackbeard: The Truth Revealed by Robert Jacob

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Everyone knows the story of Blackbeard, or do they? Myth and legend permeate Edward Thache’s life, which is why Jacob delves further to separate fact from fiction in his latest offering. Comprised of thirty-six chapters, this book attempts to examine all aspects of Blackbeard’s entire life. Jacob relies primarily on contemporary documents to accomplish this goal, although there are instances where he uses poetic license to enliven some events for readers rather than presenting a list of dry facts.

As much as he wants to tell Blackbeard’s story from beginning to end, there are occasional gaps in the historical record. When these occur, Jacob does speculate; that speculation, which is usually identified as such, is grounded in facts and schooled hypothesis. If he cannot provide an educated response, he shares existing viewpoints and discusses the pros and cons of conclusions drawn by “historian authors.” (He uses this collective term to denote professional historians, amateur researchers like himself, and authors who write on subjects of interest.)

The opening chapters lay the groundwork for readers and discuss Jacob’s search for information, the many variations of Blackbeard’s name (Thach, Teach, and Thache to name a few), Jacobite pirates, the scavenging of the 1715 treasure fleet, early pirates of the golden age (Benjamin Hornigold and Henry Jennings, for example), and Captain Charles Johnson’s bestseller and the start of the Blackbeard legends. Chapters six through twenty-five examine Thache’s early years to his demise at Ocracoke at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard and his men. Among the topics covered here are Stede Bonnet and his partnership with Blackbeard, Queen Anne’s Revenge, various cruises, the siege of Charles Town, South Carolina, and Thache’s time in places like Bath, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The subsequent five chapters deal with the aftermath of the Ocracoke battle and the politics involved, what happens to the crew, and the charges levied against Tobias Knight, a government official in colonial North Carolina. The final six chapters examine the legends and mysteries surrounding Israel Hands, Black Beard and Edward Thache, and Blackbeard’s wife, as well as some of the stories of the pirate and his treasure.

Sidebar notes define words (an example being reales, a Spanish coin of silver) or provide historical facts (such as 1603-1625 when James I ruled England or HMS Scarborough, a fifth-rate warship, carried thirty-two guns). Eighty-six black-&-white figures (maps, illustrations, and historical documents) are included as is an appendix that summarizes pirate activity (not just Blackbeard’s), vessels taken and what happens to them, and the dates of the attacks. In addition to end notes, there is a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.

In his preface, Jacob identifies this book as “the first comprehensive and definitive look at the world’s most famous pirate.” (xii) This is accurate because he also looks at more than just the historical Blackbeard, whereas Baylus C. Brooks’s Quest for Blackbeard focuses almost exclusively on the historical record and who Blackbeard is and the world in which he lives. Together they make compelling resources for anyone who wants to know the truth and seeks the historical evidence without having to do the hands-on research themselves. The difference between the two books is that the latter is written by an academic historian, whereas Jacob is a reenactor who thrives on ferreting out the truth and sharing that knowledge with readers.

While this is a fascinating investigation into the man who was Blackbeard and the myths surrounding him, there are occasional missteps. Contrary to Jacob’s belief in Arne Bialuschewski’s 2004 theory, there is no definitive proof that Captain Johnson and Nathaniel Mist are one and the same. A copyeditor would have picked up on some of the misspellings, incomplete sentences, and formatting issues. There are times when the phrasing of sentences presents something as fact, when it’s actually Jacob’s belief. One example occurs when Blackbeard and Hornigold are discussing the King’s pardon. “John Martin was certainly in on the discussion, as well as Blackbeard’s current quartermaster, William Howard.” (150) This is supposition because there is no historical record of the meeting that lists who was or wasn’t there.

What Jacob does well is to show his resources and the depth of his research. He clearly demonstrates that the story of Blackbeard is “the most complicated pirate tale ever told. There is nothing straightforward about it. Political intrigue abounds. Challenging relationships within his crew and between him and his partners add to the complexity.” (1)

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



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Review of David Hepper's British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail 1649-1860

British warship losses in the age of sail, 1650-1859 by David J. Hepper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


(Note: This review is for the latest edition, published in 2024.)

Loss is inevitable in a time when wooden ships sail the seas. Charts aren’t always accurate, which results in ships running aground or foundering on unseen rocks or reefs. Weather plays a role sometimes, as happens in October 1744, when storm-tossed seas bring about the demise of HMS Victory and the deaths of Admiral Sir John Balchen and nearly 900 others. Additional causes stem from collisions, engagements with the enemy, and navigational errors. Fire is perhaps the most-feared danger, not only because there is nowhere to flee if a ship catches fire but also because the flames may eventually reach the powder magazine. The loss of Queen Charlotte in 1800 is just such an example. Another contributing factor is mutiny as happens aboard HMS Bounty and HMS Hermione.

Hepper’s goal is to provide a comprehensive compilation of vessels lost over a period of 211 years. He begins in 1649, which is the year when the last Royalist ships depart British waters and a new navy is established under the Protectorate. The list ends in 1860 with the launch of Warrior, a ship with an iron hull that is powered by steam.

A brief introduction precedes explanations of the various types of vessels and nautical terms readers will encounter. Entries are chronological and divided into specific time periods.
1649-1660: The Interregnum: Dutch Wars and Expansion
1660-1688: The Restoration: Wars against the Dutch and Barbary Corsairs
1689-1714: Invasion, War and Union
1715-1739: The Long Peace
1739-1748: The War of the Austrian Succession (‘The War of Jenkins’s Ear’)
1749-1754: A Brief Peace
1755-1763: The Seven Years War
1764-1771: Growing Tension in North America
1772-1783: American Independence
1783-1793: A Period of Peace and Political Agitation
1793-1802: Revolution and War
1803-1815: World War
1816-1859: Empire and Expansion
A bibliography and an index of lost ships are also provided.

Each chapter begins with a brief recap of the period as it pertains to history and the navy. Each entry provides the vessel’s name, as well as that of her commanding officer at the time of the disaster. Other pertinent details – ship classification, tonnage, launch place and date, origins, dimensions, and guns carried – are included prior to a summary of what happens to her. When the number of casualties is known, this is also given. The presence of women aboard is noted. If the commanding officer doesn’t survive, that is recorded, as is the main source of the information given in the entry.

All the information has been culled from years of sifting through primary documents, such as courts-martial records in The National Archives. Other material comes from contemporary sources, such as newspapers, Parliamentary journals, Steel’s Navy List, and notable histories such as Schomberg’s Naval Chronology, James’s Naval History, and Gold’s Naval Chronicle.

Entries include such notable losses as the grounding and burning of Gaspée in 1773 (a prelude to the American Revolution); the battle between HMS Serapis and USS Bonhomme Richard in which fifty-four men lose their lives and one captain is knighted for his bravery; HMS Guerrière’s duel with USS Constitution in 1812, and Boxer’s encounter with Enterprise the following year; and the mid-century losses of the ships participating in and searching for Sir John Franklin’s Arctic expedition.

Few readers will have heard of most disasters within these pages. For example, in 1695, the fourth-rate Nonsuch is escorting a convoy of merchant ships home to England when a French privateer attacks. The men on Nonsuch make repairs from the running battle during the night, but the fighting recommences the next day. After losing two masts and her captain, and unable to use her lower tier of guns, Nonsuch lowers her flag in surrender. At the ensuing court-martial, the deceased captain is partially blamed as is the lieutenant who fails to take command upon the death of Nonsuch’s captain. He is dismissed from the navy and serves six months in prison. Three others are cashiered for “ignorance and ill conduct” in surrendering the ship instead of continuing to fight.

With her hull leaking like a sieve and most of her crew dead from scurvy, HMS Gloucester is set afire in 1742. Her loss leaves one surviving ship from Commodore Anson’s squadron, which had set sail two years earlier. The dispatch cutter Cassandra encounters a squall in 1807. She rolls over but soon rights herself, only to heel over a second time. Thirteen drown, including a woman and a child. Eighteen years later, the remains of Lady Nelson are discovered on Babar Island, where Malay pirates attacked the brig tender and killed her crew. The losses even include HMS Diamond Rock, an island near Martinique and one of the navy’s first stone frigates used to harass the enemy.

Similar in scope and format to Jean Boudriet’s earlier book, which appeared in print three decades ago, Hepper retains that framework but has greatly revised, corrected, and added to it, making this volume more complete. Some entries are short paragraphs; others are considerably longer. The print is small, by necessity, to keep the book’s length manageable. Hepper also includes two sections of color and black-&-white plates. The artwork depicts damaged ships, shipwrecks, sinkings, and battles.

This book isn’t meant to be read cover to cover. It’s an invaluable and essentially new reference work that belongs in any collection on naval history. It can be used just for research purposes, or readers may enjoy random visits to learn about the hazards that men face daily during the Age of Sail.


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



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Review of Wayne Savage's Eldorado

Eldorado: The Pyrate Chronicles by Wayne Savage

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In this second book of The Pyrate Chronicles, journalist Nathaniel Bagshaw returns to prison to learn more from the condemned pirate William Benton. His fantastical tale begins when supplies are low and a strange mist envelops the ships of Captain Björn "Ironside" Gunnarsson and Captain Wolfenden, who sail in consort. Their emergence from the murky cloak reveals a stone fort flying a Spanish flag. Not knowing how much time has passed since they entered the fog or whether their countries are at war or peace, they devise a plan. Gunnarsson and a small contingent approach the fort directly. Wolfenden and his men sail farther down the coast and sneak ashore.

The pirates are astounded to be greeted by 200 soldiers who look like the conquistadores of the past, and many enslaved natives. This domination doesn’t set well with the pirates, especially ship's surgeon Faustus Quiddington, but being outnumbered and the tenuousness of their plight forces Gunnarson, his wife Cassandra, and the rest of the shore party to keep their true feelings hidden.

Governor Hidalgo’s welcome raises some questions, which he answers. A treasure ship departed the viceroyalty in 1543. Ever since, they’ve been waiting for another galleon to return. In the intervening 175 years, an uprising resulted in the loss of some information and a blending of two cultures, such as the Holy Catholic bible of our Lord Jesus Christ-Quetzalcoatl. The other tidbit that gains the pirates’ attention is the fact that the governor has been stockpiling the annual collections of gold and silver while they wait for the treasure galleon to return.

The pirate who is particularly intrigued is Will Benton. Obeying orders isn’t his strong suit, and being a true pirate, he only heeds the captain’s commands in battle. Since gold is to be had, he has every intention of claiming his portion. Swiping one piece of gold proves relatively easy. No one notices because gold and silver adorn everything in the governor’s home. Purloining may lead people to believe that Will has no scruples, but he draws the line at human sacrifice. His disruption of such an act gains him a sentence of death. It takes all of Gunnarsson’s negotiating skills to gain Will’s freedom, but Governor Hildalgo’s price may prove too high.

This historical fantasy takes place in the early 18th century. Think of it as “a book in which Black Sails meets Gulliver’s travels [sic] with a dash of the authentic humour of that loveable pirate band Ye Banished Privateers.” (5) Savage’s depiction of piracy and the brutal realities of life in this time period show the depth of his research. There are occasions where too much data is conveyed in characters’ conversations; the dialogue is a device to show the passage of time and these details are interesting, but they aren’t always relevant to what’s happening in the unfolding scene. There are also some errors that a copyeditor would have caught.

Aside from the greed and allure that gold tends to spark, not everyone gets away with treasure. Rifts arise and this time around, they prove unmendable. The encounter with Hildalgo, however, is only one of the piratical adventures in this book. The second one involves sirens, sea serpents, and mermaids. It also shines a light on some minor characters, especially the women in the crew, in unique ways. It will be interesting to see what comes next for this band of pirates, especially since Gunnarsson’s captaincy may be in jeopardy.


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



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Review of Matthew Richardson's Manxmen at Sea in the Age of Nelson, 1760-1815

Manxmen at Sea in the Age of Nelson, 1760-1815 by Matthew Richardson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Located in the Irish Sea off England’s northwest coast, the Isle of Man has a long history between its people and the sea. This book examines the period in which those engaged in fishing, smuggling, and slave trading find themselves shifting into the Royal Navy, initially as pressed men and later, making it a viable career. Unlike in other seafaring communities, most Manx can read and write, which provides researchers with a wealth of firsthand accounts of their experiences during the Georgian era. These testimonies bring to life not only what they experience but also their thoughts and opinions about their encounters, providing readers with an immediacy that doesn’t always reflect modern mores.

The book is divided into five chapters, each of which focuses on a particular period: the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, voyages to the Far East and Pacific, and the wars with France, first those involving that country’s revolution and then those during the reign of Napoleon. Notes, a bibliography, and an index are also provided, as is a center section of black-&-white illustrations of ships, daily life at sea, portraits, advertisements, newspaper snippets, and gravesites.

These shared stories are heartrending and inspirational. John and Thomas Bridson crew aboard Duke of Argyll, a slave ship commanded by John Newton, who later becomes a minister and staunch abolitionist. During the Seven Years’ War, William Curphy is pressed into the navy and writes to his siblings and parents about the battles he participates in off the coast of Africa, while William Lace of Peel’s wife describes what she and their child experience after he is forced to join the navy. Another account tells of Fame, a privateer captained by Thomas Moore, who dares to take on five vessels off Cap de Gat. Later, an enemy frigate drives Fame ashore and many of her crew, as well as the ship, are lost. Richardson’s telling of the story of Fletcher Christian and William Bligh unfolds from a fresh perspective because of their ties to the Isle of Man. Another mutiny story involves Robert Parry Young, captain of a convict ship bound for Australia in 1791.

In contrast, the later accounts are of Manxmen who choose to volunteer and stay in the Royal Navy, advancing through the ranks as they age. One of these is Lieutenant John Quilliam, who shares his account of the battle in which Vice Admiral Lord Nelson turns a blind eye to his commander’s orders to engage the Danish fleet. Quilliam is one of sixty-nine Manxmen who take part in the Battle of Trafalgar. He serves on HMS Victory and Richardson contrasts snippets from Quilliam’s log about the battle with Midshipman George Westphal’s thoughts on him and what transpires at the beginning of the conflict.

This is a highly informative and fascinating investigation into a group that is not often called out separately in volumes on the Royal Navy, even when some Manxmen leave indelible marks on naval history. Richardson deftly demonstrates the impact conflict has on Manx seamen and their families. Internally, these stem from the original rulers of the island, the Dukes of Atholl, and the intrusion by the British government for control of the isle. Externally, the conflict comes from the various wars and the effects on the Manx.


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



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C. Wayne Dawson's Curse of the Templar Seal

Curse of the Templar Seal by C. Wayne Dawson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In 1291, Mamluks slaughter many of the Templar knights defending the Acre Fortress in Palestine. One of those who escapes is Gilen Elissalde, who is tasked with guarding the Templar Seal. As he departs by sea, he vows, “The man who inherits this seal will avenge the evil you have done to the Templars and bring ruin to your kingdom. You will reap what you have sown.” (19)

More than two centuries pass before Duarte Elissalde is old enough to learn the truth about what happened that fateful day and begin his journey along the path that will lead him to fulfill that prophecy. Several steps are required first, one of which is to select a future wife. This he does, but he and his uncle soon find themselves involved in a wager that could result in a total loss of honor and fortune for the Elissaldes when his bullying cousin also seeks the same girl’s hand.

Another step for Duarte to accomplish is to become a squire and a member of the Order of Christ, one of the successors of the Knights Templar in Portugal. (His cousin, of course, is to join the Order of Santiago, and neither can be trusted because of the rivalry and animosity that exists between the two orders and the two cousins.) Before either can be accomplished, Venetian thieves steal the Templar Seal. They are in the employ of a Mamluk known as the Cheetah. Duarte also discovers that betrayal lies at the heart of the theft, but pursuit of the thieves and recovery of the seal, as well as restoration of family honor, must wait.

A secret and lengthy mission demand that Duarte put aside his desires of vengeance and marriage in favor of joining a special voyage at the behest of the Portuguese king. Captain-Major Pedro Cabral leads a second expedition to India to establish a pepper trade agreement that removes the Mamluks from the equation. Although the way to India involves sailing south and east, Cabral sails west and Duarte’s curiosity is aroused. The voyage that follows is one rife with danger and intrigue, as well as opening his eyes to new worlds and cultures. It is a journey that will take years to accomplish and the risks are great, for even before they are halfway to their destination, five ships are lost. Nor do the dangers and problems go away upon reaching Calicut; instead, the stakes become greater and it isn’t long before murder and abandonment, as well as survival, play greater roles in shaping Duarte into the man he will become.

Curse of the Templar Seal is a well-researched, absorbing tale of treachery, jealousy, politics, religion, empire-building, superstition, sacrifice, and murder. The characters are well-drawn and their adventures span four years. A fair portion of the story takes place on land, but several pivotal parts involve ships and oceans. Navigation is also key as the route Cabral follows leads to the discovery of the Southern Cross, and the connection between tides and moon plays a strategic role in the Siege of Cochin. This culminating event in this first book of the series pits Duarte and 8,000 soldiers and sailors against a bloodthirsty, no-holds-barred army of 80,000, as well as the deadly Cheetah. Fans of Emilio Salgari should enjoy this historical novel.


(This review first appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-hist...)



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Lyle Garford's The Sugar Storm

The Sugar Storm by Lyle Garford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oranjestad on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean has gone from a small, unimportant town to a burgeoning seaport where ships of all nations come to trade. In late 1775, rumors of a smuggling operation reach the ears of spymaster Sir James Standish. The colonists are not happy with British dominance, and if the French are supplying weapons and ammunition to the Americans, it means serious trouble is in the offing. Since his operative, Owen Spence, makes frequent voyages to gather much-needed food supplies for the English Caribbean islands, he is best situated to investigate.

When Owen and his crew arrive in the neutral Dutch port, what they find is beyond imagination. The place teems with ships and a wide variety of cargo, all of which is available . . . for a price. This is good for Barbados, where food is always at critical levels since the island is unable to produce sufficient supplies to feed everyone because so much of the arable land is reserved for growing sugarcane. There seems to be a preponderance of American and French ships and their seamen, not to mention the presence of the all-too-familiar Le Mystere, which belongs to the French spymaster in the Caribbean. There is also an underlying current of antagonism flowing through the streets, which causes more than a few problems between crews and with authorities.

Realizing there is far more to learn and that there is a need to monitor the situation more frequently, Owen sets up a spy network at Oranjestad. When sailing between Barbados and the Dutch island, he also puts in at Dominica where farmers on the less-inhabited side of the island also have food to sell. It doesn’t take long to garner information that eventually leads him to believe that the French have designs on retaking the ideally-situated island from the British, especially once the American colonies declare independence and formally ally with the French.

The Sugar Storm is the second in the Owen Spence trilogy and takes place between 1775 and 1778. While most events occur on land, a few involve the sea. Unfortunately, one raid takes place off-stage, but the recounting makes for interesting reading. When there is action, it can be tense and dangerous. Once or twice, readers are left hanging, but eventually Garford provides the necessary follow through; one reason for this is to convey a sense of just how much time passes between the inciting incident and the resolution because immediacy of communication just didn’t exist back then. One slightly annoying aspect of the story is the frequent references to hurricane season but no actual hurricanes.

Aside from shining a light on the Caribbean during the American Revolution from a British perspective, Garford also focuses on the difficulties that arose once the war cut off American trade with the islands, which was essential to the English colonies’ survival. He populates the story with a wide variety of characters which are well-drawn and come from different backgrounds. Owen comes face-to-face with the man responsible for his dismissal from the Royal Navy, which occurred in the first book, but one of the most interesting new characters adds a few ripples to the re-encounter with his nemesis. Even John Adams and Benjamin Franklin make cameo appearances. This historical novel may not be a nail-biting, action-packed thriller, but it is a unique tale of an often-overlooked aspect of the War of Independence.


(This review first appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Garford.ht...)



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C. Northcote Parkinson's The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower

The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C.S. Forester's Famous Naval Hero by C. Northcote Parkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When writers create stories and populate them with characters, it’s necessary to also flesh out details about who these people are and why they are as they appear in the books. This allows the authors to craft believable characters and readers to see them as “real” people. One such character who has stood the test of time is C. S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower, whose life unfolded over thirty years in twelve books. Forester pieced together Hornblower’s life from documentary evidence that the admiral’s descendant donated to the Royal Navy College, Greenwich in 1927.

In 1970, Parkinson discovered that three boxes of new material about Viscount Horatio Hornblower had come to light. The admiral had refused to permit these papers to be seen by others until 100 years after his death. The problem came in tracking down these containers since the companies to which they were originally entrusted had undergone change during that time lapse. What Parkinson eventually found were details that filled in gaps left by Forester’s accounts of Hornblower’s life. So much was new that Parkinson decided to write a biography about this legendary character.

A biography is defined as the history of a person’s life, and that person is someone who actually lived. For all intents and purposes, this book is an actual biography complete with appendices, correspondence, illustrations, a family tree, diagrams, and maps. It is also indexed and one illustration is of a title page of a book that Hornblower owned and signed. The twelve chapters chronicle his life from Schoolboy to Midshipman to Lieutenant all the way through his achieving Admiral of the Fleet. Much of the book focuses on his naval career, but there are also personal moments, such as his marriage to his landlady’s daughter, his children, and the loves of his life, one of whom was related to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

This book is a compelling read and a must for those who have enjoyed the Hornblower novels, or those unfamiliar with the first edition published in 1970, and those who know Horatio Hornblower only through the movies that illustrate his early exploits. You will not be disappointed and you will most likely learn new details about this fascinating, though fictional, admiral.


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



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C. Northcote Parkinson's Portsmouth Point

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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