Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 7

Review of Richard Snow's Sailing the Graveyard Sea

Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation by Richard Snow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In 1804, Richard Somers was one of eleven men who volunteered to navigate a fire ship to its target during the First Barbary War. Unfortunately, he and his men died when the vessel exploded. Decades later, the United States Navy named a new brig-of-war in his honor and intended it to be a school-ship, one where novices would learn to become capable sailors. When she set sail on 13 September 1842, the majority aboard the USS Somers were between thirteen and nineteen years of age. Only thirty of the 120 men aboard were older.

One man, who was eighteen at the time, was Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, whose father served as secretary of war for President Tyler. John Spencer, a lawyer and politician, was successful, uncompromising, ill-tempered, and determined. Philip strove to please him but never succeeded. His favorite book, published in 1837, was The Pirates Own Book, and perhaps it fueled his desire to head West and try his hand at unlawful adventures on the Mississippi. Trouble at college convinced his father that a better option would be for Philip to join the US Navy, which is how he eventually landed aboard the Somers.

Alexander Slidell Mackenzie entered the navy at age eleven and rose from midshipman to command the USS Somers. He came from wealth and he had connections, one of whom was his brother-in-law, Oliver Hazard Perry. Commander Mackenzie was pious and followed the rules and he expected his men to do likewise. When they did not, he was known to have them flogged.

Philip didn’t fit in easily with his fellow officers, so he gravitated to those who worked the ship. He bribed them with forbidden brandy, tobacco, and tales of misadventure at sea. Two favorites were Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small. Together, they hatched nefarious plans.

Commander Mackenzie initially laughed at the improbability of their scheme. But all was not right aboard Somers, and before she returned to New York, three would hang from the yardarm. The resulting scandal would captivate the nation as cries for justice were heard far and wide.

Snow raises interesting questions as he recounts events, such was why Spencer chose to confide in the purser’s steward, a man beholden to Mackenzie. Details about life at sea and in the navy are interwoven with the principal story, helping readers to gain a better understanding of how and why events unfolded as they did. He provides key information about those involved to allow readers to see the individuals as actual people complete with their foibles and virtues. Combining the views of well-known contemporaries with the historical elements of what transpired permits readers to form their own opinions as to where the truth lies. Snow also ably demonstrates how resolutions don’t always satisfy everyone, even in the past.

Sailing the Graveyard Sea has all the attributes of a sea thriller: mutiny, piracy, intrigue, murder, opposing forces, and newsworthy vilification. The book includes a map that shows the voyage of the Somers during the last quarter of 1842, illustrations of ship life and those involved in the mutiny, a bibliography, and index. What became of the participants, how the events impacted their lives, and a summary of later accounts on this period in naval history round out this absorbing, well-researched story of an incident few readers have ever heard of.


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




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Review of The Trafalgar Chronicle New Series 8

The Trafalgar Chronicle: Dedicated to Naval History in the Nelson Era: New Series 8 by Judy Pearson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The 1805 Club annually publishes The Trafalgar Chronicle, a collection of articles about the age of sail between 1714 and 1835. Each issue focuses on a particular subject; this time around the “The Navies of the Georgian Era – An International Perspective” is the theme. Thirteen contributors from six countries showcase different navies prominent during this time period. What they share allows readers to see how fighting at sea was only one aspect of gaining the upper hand in each nation’s desire for naval superiority.

Anthony Bruce writes about “The Battles of Cape Finisterre, 1747.” The Western Squadron had a three-pronged mission during its cruises: protect commercial ships, defend against invasion, and keep watch over the French. In this particular year, the Royal Navy engaged the enemy twice at Cape Finisterre. Vice Admiral George Anson was in command during the first encounter while Rear Admiral Edward Hawke, the second.

Nicholas James Kaizer examines sea engagements involving individual vessels, particularly sloops, in “Hornet versus Peacock,/i>: The Lost Historical Significance of the Single-Ship Actions of the War of 1812.” These engagements may have lacked critical impact during the conflict, but the losses point out key weaknesses in competency and command. Change became inevitable because of these defeats and the resultant inquiries.

The East India Company couldn’t fully control the regions in which its ships sailed. To compensate for this, a fleet of ghurabs and galivats was formed to assist the Royal Navy in protecting English commerce in the Indian Ocean. Saikat Mondal explores the “Bombay Marine, the Vanguard and Precursor of the Royal Indian Navy.” He also talks about Kanhoji Angre, a man of great importance in the Indian Navy’s history but whom the English saw as a pirate. Also discussed is the Bombay Marine’s fight against piracy during the 19th century.

When Peter the Great decided to bring Russia into the 18th century, one of his reforms resulted in the formation of the Russian Navy. As time passed, the fleet deteriorated. Catherine the Great provided the necessities to make the Russian navy a force to be reckoned with. Kenneth Flemming examines this history and the roles Russia’s Navy played during various conflicts of the period in “Russian Naval Power during the Eighteenth Century.”

Although Vice Admiral James Saumarez fought when necessary, armed engagements weren’t necessarily the best way to handle volatile situations. Andrew Venn demonstrates this in “Diplomacy, Restraint and Protection: The Actions of Saumarez’s Baltic Fleet 1808-1812.”

While the above essays pertain specifically to the book’s theme, the second set of chapters are from The Baltic Cauldron: Two Navies and the Fight for Freedom. This book was published in celebration of the Royal Swedish Navy’s 500th anniversary. Peter Hore, a previous editor of The Trafalgar Chronicle and a retired officer of the British Royal Navy (RN), talks about “The Baltic Fleet 1715-1727 and Sir John Norris” and “Swedes at Trafalgar.” Christopher Hägg, a retired officer of the Royal Swedish Navy (RSN) and marine artist who did the cover art for this annual, discusses “Vice Admiral Lord Nelson Threatens the Swedish Fleet in Karlskrona 1801.” These chapters not only look at the history of the RSN but also its interactions with the RN in different capacities. Among topics covered are the Battle of Copenhagen, Swedes who served on RN ships during the Battle of Trafalgar, and the privateers commissioned by Swedish monarchs.

The third section of this Trafalgar Chronicle concerns biographical portraits. Andrew Field writes about Captain Charles Cunningham and how he extricated his ship and his men from the Nore Mutiny in “‘An Officer of Great Merit’.” Hilary L. Rubenstein examines two admirals who served during the reign of George III in “Rodney and Kempenfelt: How They Were Related.” Judith Pearson, one of the book’s editors, shares a discovery of remains found during the renovation of a church in Bermuda and her search to learn more in “A Dead Captain and a Sunken Ship: The Fates of Sir Jacob Wheate and HMS Cerberus in Bermuda.”

The last section of this annual concerns articles of general interest to readers. First up is Mark Barton’s “Duke of Clarence Swords,” the presentation swords awarded to RN officers and how the duke (and future King William IV) decided who was worthy of such honors. George R. Bandurek traces what happened to the first British vessel captured during the War of 1812 in “HM Schooner Whiting After Her Capture in 1812: The Cartagena Privateer San Francisco de Paula.”

One quote often associated with Horatio Nelson is ““The conduct of all privateers is, as far as I have seen, so near Piracy, that I only wonder any civilized nation can allow them.” Ryan C. Walker analyzes what Nelson truly thought of pirates and privateers and where the quote originated in the last essay of the collection, “‘I only wonder any civilised nation can allow them’: Nelson’s Actual Opinion of Privateer.”

In addition to the notes that accompany the various articles, the reprinted chapters from The Baltic Cauldron include titles of books for further reading. There are illustrations, both black and white and color, found throughout the book, as well as a section of color plates. These include portraits, paintings, maps, and informational charts.

I usually prefer to read the print book of this annual, but review copies were only available in electronic format this time. For readers unfamiliar with reading the ebook format, I do caution where you press to turn pages. There are links to the endnotes and if your finger lands on one of these numbers, the book automatically pages to the specific endnote. This can be disconcerting initially, but there is usually a way to easily return to where you left off reading. The ebook is remarkably well done in layout, formatting, and editing. The only exception to the editing came when I noticed that words beginning with “d,” such as Danes or Dr (abbreviation for doctor in front of a name), were uniformly not capitalized.

Always informative, this edition of the Trafalgar Chronicle will be of interest to readers who enjoy naval history as well as piratical or privateering history. All are captivating reads, while a few particularly held my attention. Many English histories present Kanhoji Angre in the negative light of piracy. Saikat Mondal skillfully shows the flipside of that coin, that Angre was a great Indian admiral. The inclusion of how the Bombay Marine helped suppress piracy in later years is equally compelling. Having read several fictional portrayals of the Nore Mutiny, I was wonderfully surprised to learn about how one captain kept his crew and ship safe despite the overwhelming odds for his men to join the mutineers. Walker’s analysis of Nelson’s quote is also very revealing and makes an interesting case for not taking things at face value. The Trafalgar Chronicle New Series 8 is highly recommended, entertaining, and enlightening.


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




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Louella Bryan'ts Sheltering Angel

Sheltering Angel: A Novel Based on a True Story of the Titanic by Louella Bryant

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Andrew Cunningham, a Scotsman, seeks a life at sea and becomes a steward of the White Star Line’s RMS Oceanic in 1889. The possibility of disaster is always in the back of his mind, but he enjoys his work and is good at doing the bidding of first-class passengers under his care. He marries, has a family, and meets Florence and Bradley Cumings, an American couple, on his last voyage aboard Oceanic before transferring to the newest vessel of the company, Titanic.

In 1888, Florence Thayer, a minister’s daughter, falls quickly for the stockbroker, Bradley Cumings, who joins them for Sunday dinner. She’s intelligent, well spoken, and likes to help the less fortunate. She juggles service with marriage and family while her husband becomes successful in business. Although reticent to leave her sons, the couple enjoy their European vacation until just before they are to come home; a coal strike means only one ship is setting sail for the States: RMS Titanic. The maiden voyage proves to be the icing on their romantic getaway … until the collision. Florence and Andrew find themselves in the freezing Atlantic waiting for someone to rescue them.

One may ask, why read another Titanic novel? Sheltering Angel goes far beyond the usual sinking and dying story. This story is personal for the author; Florence Cumings was her mother-in-law’s grandmother, and this novel recounts how a friendship between two disparate people sprang from tragedy on that fateful night in 1912. Poignant, spellbinding, and gut-wrenching, this tale vividly depicts who these two people were and how the sinking affected them. Readers are transported to the White Star Line’s heyday and get a feel for what it was like to work for the company. It’s also a revealing portrait of what the survivors faced upon arriving in New York.


(This review originally appeared at Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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C. V. Lee's Token of Betrayal

Token of Betrayal by C.V. Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jersey seems like a haven from the turmoil of war until an insider permits the French to seize the island fortress one night in 1461. Sir Philippe de Carteret sends word to the newly crowned English king, but he is too busy dealing with internal and external disputes to lend assistance, and Warwick, Lord of the Channel Islands, ignores all missives. To protect family and tenants, de Carteret pays homage to his new overlord while biding his time. Not everyone is willing to wait. While the French terrorize the islanders, another seigneur and a minister plot to drive away the French. It takes only the claims of a stranger to light their fuse.

Neither child nor adult, de Carteret’s nine-year-old son, also Philippe, finds life exceedingly frustrating. He forms an attachment to his new tutor, who came to Jersey after the House of York dethroned the House of Lancaster. When pirates attack one night, Philippe saves his tutor’s life but doesn’t fully comprehend her sufferings. Nor does he understand a fortuneteller’s prediction or his surreptitious visit to the French dungeons; both become haunting memories.

This first book in the Roses & Rebels series is a fictional rendering of France’s medieval invasion of the Channel Island and the resultant events, as well as a coming-of-age tale seen from the perspectives of father and son over nine years. Occasional word choices pull readers from the story, and one incident in an inn seems a bit contrived. Overall, Token of Betrayal is an interesting read depicting the Wars of the Roses from an unusual angle. The themes of growing up, loyalty, and the effects of war on regular people have relevance to readers today.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Samantha Thomas's Emma's Marshall

Emma's Marshal by Samantha Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Strangers are rarities in Autumn Springs, so naturally a handsome one catches Emma Hart’s attention. Of course, her five overprotective brothers are likely to scare him off the same as they have all the other prospects in the Montana Territory. When the man shows up at their ranch, Emma’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she sets about trying to figure out why he’s come. He signs on as a ranch hand, but she doubts that’s why he’s there. Solving that mystery inevitably leads to trouble – the kind from which she may not escape.

Long ago, Weston Hayes learned a hard truth: being a U.S. Marshal and getting married just don’t mix. He’s come to arrest the McCarty boys, not fall in love with Emma Hart. There are just two problems. The one man who may lead him to the outlaws works at her family’s ranch, so he hires on to get close to the man, but being so close to Emma means Weston’s heart isn’t listening to his head. As a result, he’s not focused on the right hunt, which leads to the dangerous situation he’s always feared.

Emma’s Marshal is a good, old-fashioned western romance and the first book in the Harts of the West series. The predicaments faced elicit a wide range of emotions, some serious, some humorous. The well-drawn characters capture your attention, and you want to know what happens next. Occasional phrasing may seem off, but if you reread the sentence, it makes sense. Emma’s Marshal is a delightful, fast read that leaves you satisfied and eager to meet the rest of the Hart family.


(This review originally published in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Julian Stockwin's Pasha

Pasha by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The summons from the Admiralty is not unexpected. The court-martial is inevitable; Thomas Kydd just doesn’t know whether he will stand as a witness or join his former commander as a defendant. He no sooner arrives than finds himself in front of the king and honored in a way he never expects.

His friend, Nicholas Renzi, encounters his own share of surprises. He must fulfill his promise to Thomas to propose to Cecilia Kydd, but how can he do so without the means to support her? He’s had no word as to whether his first novel has met with success or failure. Then a family death leaves him with a dilemma that opens a door he thought long closed. It also requires him to confess a truth to Cecilia, one which may turn her against him once and for all.

The return home means that the friends’ paths in life must finally diverge. Renzi does not leave Kydd emptyhanded. He recommends a young man named Dillon, who is both loyal and determined to see the world. That wish is granted when Kydd and his men are sent to join the Mediterranean squadron. Currently Admiral Collingwood blockades the port of Cádiz, but he has a different assignment for Kydd, one that will take him and Dillon to Constantinople. It’s essential that the French not gain a foothold there. Sailing to and from the city is fraught with danger, and upon arrival, Kydd discovers not only civil unrest but also that the British ambassador is determined to destroy the Ottoman city.

Renzi’s new station in life offers him a unique opportunity, one that also takes him to Constantinople. Whereas Kydd sails right in, Renzi’s path there is more clandestine. How he accomplishes his mission is totally at his discretion, but he will be on his own and at the mercy of the sultan and his advisers, which include French agitators determined to win Constantinople for Napolean.

Pasha is the fifteenth title in the Thomas Kydd series. Stockwin deftly recreates time and place so readers become immersed in the intrigue and adventure that unfolds from two different perspectives. Although Kydd has some unique experiences that showcase new aspects of sailing and command because of the setting, it is Renzi who plays a more prominent role this time around. His story is reminiscent of television’s Mission Impossible exploits, just set in the first decade of the 19th century. This book showcases international intrigue and the domino effect. Maps and a glossary provide readers with orienting information, while the list of Dramatis Personae offers a handy reference as to who’s who. Stalwart fans of Stockwyn and the Kydd series will find this an engrossing tale rife with unusual encounters and noteworthy action. As always, each book in the series can stand alone, so newcomers will soon find themselves entangled in the lives of both Kydd and Renzi.


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



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Julian Stockwin's Tyger

Tyger by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Returning home from the Mediterranean, L’Aurore is discovered to be a rotting ship. Her crew is paid off and Thomas Kydd finds himself on land. He is to command a heavy frigate, but it could be a year before she is finished and ready to man and sail. In the meantime, he must appear as a witness at the court martial of his former commander. He finds himself betwixt wind and water as regards Commodore Popham, who did seize the initiative but also abandoned his post.

A conversation between friends is overheard by a reporter, and the next day Kydd finds himself a pariah. Instead of the promised new frigate, he is ordered to take command of Tyger, a ship recently beset by mutiny. If he declines, his naval career will be at an end. If he accepts, his chances of successfully carrying out his duty are slim to none. But Admiral Russell, whose force is part of the North Sea Fleet, believes in giving opportunities and judging men by their actions. He chooses Kydd and the Tygers for a mission to Archangel, Russia. As an ally, the Royal Navy should be welcomed with open arms; instead, their arrival is anything but. Distrustful of what he sees, Kydd must find a way to uncover the truth while getting his men to trust him and work as a cohesive unit. Tall orders when suspicion, betrayal, and discontent are the current watchwords of his crew, and the Admiralty merely wants to get rid of him.

This sixteenth title in the Thomas Kydd series delves into the notorious and unusual court martial of Sir Home Popham, showcasing both sides of the coin. While interesting, it leaves readers and Kydd feeling like fish out of water. Yet there is purpose in its inclusion, for it provides a stunning look at how a hero can fall from grace in an instant. At the same time, it sets up how Kydd comes to command Tyger and finds himself embroiled in a mutiny once again. The key to this novel is that much lies beneath the surface; nothing is exactly as it appears. Enemies lurk where least expected and this time, readers understand exactly what is meant about the loneliness of command as Kydd sails through treacherous waters from England to the Baltic and the High Arctic.


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



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Kathryn Howe's A True Account

A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A hanging is a momentous affair. Especially when the execution is of a pirate. William Fly, no less, a totally unrepentant sinner. Everyone will be there . . . well, everyone but Hannah Masury. She’s been forbidden to go by her employer, but Hannah doesn’t necessarily heed what she’s told.

When Hannah finally returns to the tavern’s stable where she sleeps, she finds it occupied by a young lad. He claims to be Billy Chandler and he’s hiding because everyone wants him dead. He even shows her the black spot that marks him for death. She’s not fully convinced that he tells the truth until after they head for the tavern to get some food while everyone else is asleep. But they become separated. She hears a gravelly voice and an odd sound before she stumbles upon Billy’s dead body. Then her name floats through the fog. If she wants to live, she has only one chance: don male attire and pretend to be Billy. He planned on shipping out on a schooner as a cabin boy, which provides her with the means and opportunity to escape before the pirates catch her. As they say, the best laid plans don’t always work out exactly as one hopes, and she finds herself aboard the Reporter whose captain spends most of his time drunk in his cabin and the first mate is none other than Edward Low.

Travel forward in time from 1726 to 1930. Professor Marian Beresford teaches history at Cambridge College in Boston. One of her students, Kay Lonergan, has come across a handwritten diary from two centuries ago. Marian is skeptical about its authenticity, but there’s something compelling about the journal. The more she reads, the more she questions her initial findings. She decides to visit her father, an esteemed historian, in New York and get his opinion. He concurs with her initial assessment . . . but even a slim chance of it being real is sufficient for the trio to persuade the Explorers Club to finance a trip to find the pirate treasure that Hannah Masury writes about in her diary. Just imagine the glory that such a find will bring with it. Marian may finally prove herself worthy of following in her father’s footsteps. In the meantime, Kay wants to go for another reason . . . publicity. She thrives on getting her name in the spotlight, and so she joins them on their grand adventure.

The past and present are interwoven in a seamless tapestry that contrasts Masury’s life with Beresford’s. Marian also compares who she is now with who she was when she was Kay’s age, as well as measuring her own choices and career with that of her father. Howe provides an accurate depiction of Ned Low’s brutality as a pirate and hints at the fact that he didn’t start out being that way. The story is also rife with pirate tropes. Pirate life and behavior is realistically portrayed, although I found it interesting that Marian’s father cites The Pirates Own Book as being the source he uses as proof that the journal is a fake. (This 19th-century volume includes falsehoods as well as truths much like the pirate-age contemporary resource, A General History of Pyrates.)

Two words are key to whether this story works: “plausible” and “probable.” Women did masquerade as men and did become pirates, but how likely was it for one to join the crew of Ned Low? While I think the answer improbable, Howe weaves her tale with enough believability to make Hannah’s story plausible. The entwining of past and present strengthens that belief, while the themes of betrayal, humiliation, and proving oneself are universal and transcend time.


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



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Gareth Glover's The Two Battles of Copenhagen 1801 and 1807

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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Jennifer Newbold's The Private Misadventures of Nell Nobody

The Private Misadventures of Nell Nobody by Jennifer Newbold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Abused by her husband, Eleanor Buccleuch flees her home, becomes Edmund “Ned” Buckley, and joins the Royal Army as a rifleman in the 69th Regiment of Foot in 1794. (Growing up with her brother, she acquired skills and habits a lady would never possess.) The only way she vows to return to England is in a coffin.

On Corsica, the army must work with the navy to carry out a successful siege of St. Fiorenzo. Since this is a joint operation, a liaison must carry dispatches between the two branches of the military. Ned is selected to work with Captain Horatio Nelson of HMS Agamemnon. He is a man of action, so he’s frequently ashore and involving himself in army affairs even though the army isn’t keen on open lines of communication. As a result, Nelson relies on Ned to keep him informed and makes him privy to the daily problems and situations he faces. The more interaction between the two, the more Ned grows to admire Nelson because he cares for his men and his country.

Ned’s invaluable service leads to his being transferred to Agamemnon. His duties are split between being the captain’s scribe and helping the marines during enemy engagements. When a new marine commander comes aboard, he singles out Ned, making life intolerable. Eventually, his intent becomes clear. Ned’s handling of the situation leads to charges that may end in a court martial and hanging. It is up to Nelson to figure out who tells the truth.

If that is not enough trouble, Richard Buccleuch still hunts for his missing wife. Nelson’s health suffers and caring for him resurrects long-buried, but unwanted, feelings in Ned. During a period of two years, he follows Nelson as the captain transfers to other ships and is eventually promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue. Then fever sweeps through the ship, paying no heed to one’s rank or the secrets one keeps.

The Private Misadventures of Nell Nobody is a compelling, well-researched tale that brings Horatio Nelson to life. This three-dimensional portrayal allows readers to see Nelson as a person with foibles and virtues. The what-ifs and emotional arcs propelling the story forward are plausible and believable. Newbold ably transports readers to the past and gives them a you-are-there experience as Ned lives and works with his fellow riflemen during the siege, as well as learning to adapt to life at sea. Newbold also provides good contrasts between army and navy life, as well as a glossary for those unfamiliar with nautical and military terms.

Aside from the siege and the evacuation of Leghorn, there are several gripping sea engagements with French ships. The story ends two months before the Battle of Aboukir Bay in 1798. A short epilogue shows reactions on Gibraltar, where Ned eventually ends up, following the news of Nelson’s death at Trafalgar. Aside from being a good introduction to Nelson and the Royal Navy, it is also an untraditional love story. Readers who seek to read a story set during the French Revolution without the nautical terminology and details, will enjoy this telling of a time when Nelson is on the crest of taking center stage. Those who read any of the series set during the days of the revolution or Napoleon’s conquests will also enjoy this memorable story.


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



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