Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 4

Philip K. Allan's Clay and the River of Silver

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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Chen Shuoxuan's Fujian in the Sea

Fujian in the Sea: Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road by Shuoxuan Chen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


During the 1st century BCE, Chinese sailors venture from Guangdong to India. They don’t seek to establish trade relations between the two countries. They seek luxurious treasures and an elixir of immortality for the emperor. Economic development will not become of prime importance until the Bureau of Foreign Shipping is established, and Fujian is well-situated geographically to play a key role in overseas trade and the transportation of envoys and passengers between China and foreign countries.

The mountainous terrain of Fujian insures that the seven tribes living there favor the sea as their primary means of livelihood and sustainability. The forests provide shipwrights with the resources needed to establish flourishing shipyards where the best and most technologically advanced vessels of the day are built. With water covering half of the province, waterways provide the main source of transportation from one location to another, connecting major rivers like Min, Jin, Jiulong, Ting, and Mulan to the sea. In time, corruption, strife, and unrest within Imperial China cause members of the Eight Families of Fujian (Chen, He, Hu, Huang, Lin, Qiu, Zhan, and Zheng) to venture beyond the shores of China, and the Maritime Silk Road is key to this trade and emigration.

Just as people leave China, so do foreigners visit the country via Fujian, allowing for the exchange of culture and information. New crops – corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and tobacco – are introduced in China, while the manufacture of lacquerware and porcelain, the production of paper, and the smelting of iron are just some of the processes shared with other countries. Europeans such as Catholic priests Matteo Ricci and Giulio Aleni share their religious beliefs during their visits to China. The Chinese introduce the compass and gunpowder to Arabs, who teach astronomy, math, and medicine to the Fujianese. What both sides come to realize is that they possess similarities and differences, which lead to both greater understanding and controversy.

Fujian in the Seais part of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. It presents a fair portrait of Fujian’s maritime history and participation in maritime trade, although there are a few occasions where only the Chinese view is presented. What makes both this title and the series unique and of value to maritime and Chinese history collections is that they present glimpses into China and especially Fujian that Western readers rarely see. The inclusion of photographs, artifacts, pages from historical documents, and ancestral halls with the narrative unify the information presented to showcase the important role the Fujianese have played throughout China’s maritime history. It emphasizes that there is more to commerce and the Maritime Silk Road than just trade goods.

(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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Xu Bin & Zhang Jinhong's By the Wind

By the Wind: Fujian and Northeast Asia by Jinhong Zhang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sometimes, it helps to comprehend the past in order to improve the future. This is the premise behind the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. By the Wind examines one aspect of this history – the maritime trade between the province of Fujian, China, and Korea and Japan, ties that date back to the early years of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). The mountainous terrain of Fujian makes the sea a natural point of egress and ingress, which is why Fujianese merchants venture near and far aboard ships.

The earliest exchanges between Fujian and Northeast Asia document the sea routes that lead to thriving ports and renowned shipbuilding, especially during the Tang Dynasty (7th to beginning of 10th centuries). During the 900s, Fuzhou and Quanzhou become the principal ports involved in foreign trade. Among the goods purchased by those living on the Korean Peninsula are ivory, lacquerware, musical instruments, porcelain, tea, and wine. The Japanese favor books, copper coins, medicine, silk, spices, and stationery. Fujian merchants import folding fans, mercury, sulfur, swords, and timber from Japan, while Korean ginseng, horses, and weapons are in demand.

Commercial goods are not the only items that travel to and from Fujian and its trading partners. Buddhist monks sail back and forth, recording religious, cultural, and legal observations. Scriptures are translated and temples are built. Jianzhen sails to Japan six times. Duhou Xingshi, author of the four-volume The Five-cloud Collection, spends thirty-four years there. These monks show the Japanese how to prepare tea, which in turn becomes key components in their rituals. Ideas, customs, and printing techniques are among the other exchanges that occur.

There are periods when maritime trade experiences disruptions. Unrest in 14th-century Japan leads warriors and peasants to invade and plunder the coastal regions of Korea and Fujian, which significantly impacts Fujian socially and economically. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, some Chinese emperors mandate bans on trade with foreigners, which gives rise to smuggling in Fujian.

The book does have a few weaknesses. For example, there is a lack of consistency in capitalization. Assumptions are sometimes made regarding the familiarity of readers with Chinese history and culture. The mention of dynasties without actual dates is one example of this. Another is the reference to tea frying, something I had never heard of even though I enjoy drinking tea.

The strength of this volume is the wealth of information on Fujian during the Imperial period of Chinese history. Although it isn’t presented in great detail, what is shared serves as a good introduction on a variety of topics related to maritime trade, much of which is unfamiliar to English readers. Equally compelling are the illustrations, which allow readers to glimpse the rich history and culture without being able to explore either firsthand. I particularly enjoy the array of ships and close-ups of ship models that allow me to visually study the differences between vessels from Fujian, Northeast Asia, and Europe. I also like the ancient nautical charts, such as Nautical Charts of the Imperial Envoys to Ryukyu drawn by Zhe Henian and the double-page spread of a dragon dance in front a temple devoted to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.

As with the other titles in the series, By the Wind is a stimulating and immersive overview of Fujian’s role in the Maritime Silk Road, specifically as it regards China’s commercial and cultural exchanges with Korea and Japan.

(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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Nie Dening & Zhang Yuan's Across the Sea

Across the Sea: Fujian and Southeast Asia by Yuan Zhang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Silk Road was a land route that established trade between China and Europe. Imperial China also traded with eleven countries in Southeast Asia via the sea, with Fujian being the principal Chinese point of contact with foreigners. These routes were part of the Maritime Silk Road, and this volume of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series examines trade within this network of countries.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Governor Wang Shenzhi lays the groundwork for Fujian to play a central role in overseas trade, but the earliest trading ventures between China and Southeast Asia date back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). The port of Fuzhou will play such a key role that it becomes one of three where trade with foreigners is permitted by imperial decree. Admiral Zheng He will begin his seven treasure expeditions from Fujian beginning in the 15th century.

Trade is not one-sided; instead, Chinese go to other countries and mariners of those regions come to China. Copper, iron, and ceramics are traded for currency, jewelry, and spices. Zhao Rushi writes about these cultural exchanges in A Description of Barbarian Nations, Records of Foreign People, just as medieval travelers Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta write of the port of Quanzhou. Gunarata, a monk from Funan (Cambodia), becomes the first to visit Fujian to translate Buddhist scriptures and preach. Over time, emigrants leave China to establish communities in Southeast Asian countries, bringing with them their artisanship, their literature, and their art, as well as techniques for planting sugarcane and building with brick.

There are times when the emperor decrees sea bans against maritime trade with foreigners, which give rise to pirate merchants who engage in smuggling and plundering. One of the most powerful is Zheng Zhilong and later, his son Zheng Chenggong.

There are a few drawbacks to this book. One is the price, but the information provided is unique and rarely found in other English volumes. Consistency in measurements (kilometers versus miles) and the inclusion of dynastic dates would help to better orient readers unfamiliar with Chinese history.

Even so, this series is an engaging combination of narrative and illustration that depicts the history of the Maritime Silk Road and Fujian’s participation. Each volume can be purchased separately, and Across the Sea includes portraits, sample pages of historical documents, architecture, boats and ships, archaeological artifacts, agricultural products, temples, and statues. I am particularly intrigued by artwork showing native costumes, such as those of Bantam and Chinese merchants. Equally fascinating is the information about tea and the history of its exportation, as well as religious beliefs of Chinese who venture overseas. Anyone seeking an introduction to the Maritime Silk Road, and Fujian’s roles in Imperial Chinese maritime history, is richly rewarded in this book.

(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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Justin Somper's Missing at Sea

Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea by Justin Somper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Four weeks after the discovery of a traitor and the rescue of Neo Splice, the fifteen Barracudas gather for the Oceans Bound Weekend. Captained by members of their class, they will venture out to sea on their own with specific scavenging goals that test their mettle and skills to one day become leaders of other pirates. Jacoby Blunt is certain he will be one of the five chosen to be a captain. Instead, Jasmine Peacock and others are selected and Jacoby doesn’t take the letdown well.

While Jasmine and the other captains figure out who they want to crew their yachts, the leader of the rebel Lot P pirates escapes from the maximum-security prison. Then Jasmine finds a threatening note slipped under her door. She’s determined to let nothing get in the way of this challenging weekend, but it takes some good leadership abilities to stay on track and to convince Jacoby and Neo to join her as her crew.

Initially, all goes well and the various crews have friendly competitions along the way. Trouble comes when upperclassmen who provide supplies and clues to the Barracudas are infiltrated, and the clues left for Jasmine and her crew take them far from the path laid out by the Pirate Academy leaders. The trio is forced to conquer personal fears, while striving to work as a united team to successfully navigate the deadly challenges they now face. But at what point should they decide enough is enough and summon help?

Book 2 in the Pirate Academy series is rife with danger: rebel pirates, poisonous spiders, venomous vipers, and sharks separating the Barracudas from their yacht to name a few. Readers meet some unique characters, including a rainbow-haired woman with a pet boar, and tantalizing hints eventually lead our heroes to unforeseen reunions and friends in unexpected places. Somper spins a tale that is chock-full of twists and turns that keep pirate apprentices, as well as older sea dogs, riveted until the end. Even then, he hints at the intrigue and dangers that lay ahead for Jasmine, Jacoby, Neo, and all the other Barracudas and their classmates at the Pirate Academy.

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



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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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