Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 9

Review of Paul Weston's Weymouth Bound

Weymouth Bound: Jack Stone, seaman, and the French naval plot to strike a mortal blow against England during the Napoleonic Wars by Paul Weston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jack Stone has a dream. He wants to be a sailor, to travel the seas in search of adventure. His father, a fisherman and smuggler, wants Jack away from the dangers of illegally trafficking goods. To that end, he arranges for Jack to apprentice for seven years with the captain and part owner of the Cicely, a merchant ship that carries cargo from one port to another.

May 1800 finds Jack learning the ins and outs of Cicely and seafaring. With the keen eyes of a youth, he often finds himself aloft as lookout. He gets on with most of the crew, but the one man to steer clear of is the mate, Dennis Vasey. Rumor has it that he frequents opium dens and he’s got a temper. His father is part owner of the ship, so the captain cannot fire him. Nor does Vasey do much even when he is aboard.

One evening, while the rest of the crew is ashore, Jack remains aboard. He’s aloft watching the stars and the area around the ship when he spies Vasey nearing the ship. His movements are furtive, as if he doesn’t wish anyone to know he’s around. Terrified of the mate after almost dying because of one of his orders, Jack remains hidden. Soon after Vasey comes onto the Cicely, he’s joined by a stranger. He’s even more scary, especially since he wears a coat of the Royal Navy and has a scarred scalp. Jack knows he should tell the captain, but he holds his tongue. Doing so turns out to be extremely dangerous, not only for the crew, but also for England. Jack is the only one who can remedy his silence to warn his homeland and the king before it’s too late.

Weymouth Bound is an alluring tale that slowly weaves its spell on the reader. Although written for adults, even young people will enjoy Jack’s ingenuity and courage as he gets far more adventure than he craves, some of which is nerve-wracking and tense. Readers who enjoy nautical tales of accidents at sea, revenue agents, privateers, and shipwrecks will enjoy this first volume in a new trilogy written by a merchant seaman.


(This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-hist...)




View all my reviews

Review of Len Travers's The Notorious Edward Low

The Notorious Edward Low: Pursuing the Last Great Villain of Piracy's Golden Age by Len Travers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While on a shake-down cruise, HMS Greyhound patrols the waters south of Long Island. She is a sixth-rate warship under the command of Captain Peter Solgard, and he is getting a feel for his new crew. On 10 June 1723, the lookout spots two sloops. Aware that a notorious pirate is loose in these waters, Solgard attempts to trick the scoundrels into thinking his is a merchant ship. Edward Low and his men take the bait, but soon discover that this time there will be no prize and only some will escape with their lives.

The goal of this book is to sift through the old myths that surround Low to determine whether he really was as brutal and ruthless as he has been portrayed in various historical accounts, including newspapers and Captain Charles Johnson’s A General History of Pyrates. The author feels that much of Low’s life has been based on rumors and gruesome imagination, so he reexamines and questions what we know about this pirate using unpublished primary source material found in the United Kingdom’s National Archives. He also evaluates “how British Crown authorities used the Royal Navy and new anti-piracy laws to reclaim a measure of authority over North American colonies that attained a worrisome degree of autonomy.” (xiv)

Black-and-white illustrations and quotations open each chapter. Maps and diagrams are also included, as are end notes, a bibliography, index, and four appendices (Low’s Articles of Agreement in 1723, Solgard’s report to the Admiralty, the prisoners Greyhound captured and what happened to them, and excerpts from a minister’s diary).

Travers begins with an examination of pirate history in the Americas, starting with the buccaneers, and shows how they went from being acceptable associates of colonists to criminals who needed to be brought to justice. The brunt of the book discusses Edward Low’s life and how even if he was a sadistic pirate, this was not how he began life or even his piratical career. Like much of pirate history, he evolved and changed. Born in the 1680s, Low eventually made his way to Boston where he got a job, married, and raised a family. Events in his life altered that reality and, in time, set him onto the irreversible path of piracy.

Travers offers readers a thought-provoking, riveting examination into the realities of piracy in colonial America and how the agendas of different people affected what appeared in print about Edward Low and his piracies. The author poses questions and evaluates what is and is not included in such contemporary accounts as Philip Ashton’s narrative of his time as one of Low’s captives. Those seeking a compelling look into the reality of one man’s descent into a criminal life and how the truth was sometimes manipulated to make him a poster child for evil should read The Notorious Edward Low.


(This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Travers.html)



View all my reviews

Review of J. D, Davies's Tyranny's Bloody Standarad

Tyranny's Bloody Standard: An epic Napoleonic naval adventure by J. D. Davies

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In February 1794, Philippe Kermorvant and some of his men escape from the English prison hulk where they are imprisoned with the help of an American. Once back on French soil, Philippe is given command of Le Torrington, whose slowness earns the thirty-eight-gun ship the nickname of English Tortoise. It takes luck and ingenuity to elude a British warship hunting them, and while they succeed, they and the rest of the French fleet end up blockaded within the port of Île Sainte-Marguerite.

Orders arrive summoning Philippe away from his ship to a rendezvous at an inland tavern. There, he meets with a general who advises him that he is to accompany an emissary to Corsica. The purpose is to gain permission for the French navy to use the island as their base of operation in the Mediterranean, and the man Philippe is to meet, General Leandre, has personally requested him. Equally surprising is the emissary, a young woman who seems an odd choice to carry out this mission. What perplexes Philippe is why he has been tasked with this assignment and why would anyone want the bones of Christopher Columbus?

Meanwhile, back in England, spymaster Lord Wilden is perturbed that his French-American cousin, Philippe Kermorvant refused his overture to spy for the British. A mob rioting for fair wages attacks Wilden’s coach and kills his driver. He blames the French for the attack because their Jacobin ideas are infecting Englishmen. He vows to make the enemy pay, and to that end, he sets in motion a collision between his cousin and the man who slew Philippe’s wife and son.

Thibauld de la Porte is a young aspirant aboard Philippe’s ship. He comes from a family whose men have long fought in the army, but he chooses to follow a different path and enlisted in the navy. He pens letters to convince his father that he has made the right decision. Initially, he is pleased to be aboard Le Torrington, but little incidents make him think that perhaps his enigmatic captain may be the British mole within the Marine Nationale. When an incident involving the Knights of Saint John on Malta embarrasses the young midshipman, he also blames the captain for his disgrace and wants vengeance.

Tyranny’s Bloody Standard focuses on a little-known period of history when King George III of Britain also ruled Corsica. Some readers may find there’s a bit too much rehashing of past events in this second book in the Philippe Kermorvant Thrillers, but Davies spins a tale of intrigue, superstition, murder, and vendettas that introduces readers to a young Horatio Nelson and Napoleon Bonaparte. (Neither man is mentioned by name, but their descriptions leave little doubt as to each man’s identity.) A fair portion of this tale takes place on land rather than at sea, which is inevitable since it unfolds principally from a French perspective and the French fleet spends much of the war with England penned up in port because of the Royal Navy’s blockade. A riveting duel at sea does take place between Le Torrington and an Italian warship during a gale that keeps readers guessing and on the edge of their seats. Equally compelling are witnessing the psychological effect cowardly behavior has on someone and the inability to come to the aid of a merchant vessel attacked by Algerine corsairs because France and Algiers are at peace.


(This review was originally published at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/JDDavies.h...)




View all my reviews

Review of Julian Stockwin's Invasion

Invasion by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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

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

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

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

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


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




View all my reviews

Review of Des Ekin's The Lionkeeper of Algiers

The Lionkeeper of Algiers: How an American Captive Rose to Power in Barbary and Saved His Homeland from War by Des Ekin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When the American Revolution ended, the United States gained its liberty from Great Britain. It also lost its protection. As a new nation, America believed in free trade, but the Mediterranean Sea was a dangerous place for sailors and those vessels without protection were fair game for the Barbary corsairs. On 25 July 1785, the Maria was bound for Boston when a xebec captured the merchant ship off the Portuguese coast. The Algerine corsairs stripped the six men of all their possessions and forced them to board the xebec. The first American to do so was eighteen-year-old James Leander Cathcart. Taken to Algiers, he and the others became prisoners and slaves, forced to do their kidnappers’ bidding or face punishment and possible death while they waited for their ransoms to be paid. Cathcart was assigned to the palace gardens, where one of his responsibilities was tending to the lions who frequently managed to get out of their cage.

Today, Cathcart’s name is virtually unknown. He survived nearly eleven years in captivity, and during that time, he went from a lowly gardener and lionkeeper to chief clerk at the palace. He had an ear for languages and an insatiable curiosity. When combined with his ability to network with others and to work the system, he would achieve this most powerful position to help both his fellow countrymen survive horrendous conditions and to keep peace between Algiers and the United States.

This is not a biography of Cathcart, although Ekin does include information about what happens to the various participants in this story of human trafficking following the release of the American hostages. Nor is it simply a story of Cathcart’s time as a Barbary slave. It is also a story of Algiers and of the other captives who experienced this tragedy, as well as what happened to the folks at home and the political maneuverings on both sides to either gain the ransoms or the captives’ freedom. Within these pages, readers meet Isaac Stephens, captain of the Maria, and his wife, Hannah, who found herself evicted from their home and forced to put herself and their children to work to survive during his captivity. Or Scipio Jackson, an African American sailor who endured not only enslavement but also racism. Or Yusuf Rais (Captain Joseph), who started life in Algiers as a slave, converted to Islam, and kidnapped others. Or Charles Logie, the British counsel, who whispered in the dey’s ear that American ships were fair game for his corsairs, and who pretended to offer shelter to American officers only to treat them as no better than servants. Or Captain John Lamb, who somehow ended up being selected to parley for the American captives but was the most ill-suited man for the job. Or Sidi Ali Hassan, who some deemed insightful and savvy while others found him unpredictable and ambitious. He had one goal in life – to become dey, and he was ruthless enough to have members of his family killed to gain the throne. Or Consul Mathias Skjoldebrand of Sweden, who saved the life of an American captive by paying his ransom. This book is also a discussion of corsair tactics and what life was like in Algiers as a captive slave, including psychological torture and the culture of fear which these men endured.

In his introduction, the author assures readers that this book is pure nonfiction. All details and conversations are based on primary writings, but this is not a book intended for scholarly research. Instead, Ekin writes for the lay audience interested in learning more about little-known, but important, episodes in history. He includes a center section of black-and-white portraits, charts, and scenes of Algiers and Barbary slaves. If the book has any drawback, it is the lack of an index. Ekin does, however, include additional information and his resources in the Notes section at the end of the book. Although there is one brief recounting of a woman passenger taken from a ship, this is primarily about the men who were trafficked during this period in American history.

This is not the first time that I have read about Cathcart, but Ekin presents him in a totally different light from those other accounts. As a result, readers gain a new awareness and appreciation for this man and the experiences that influenced the rest of his life.

The Lionkeeper of Algiers is a thorough, well-rounded, and absorbing account of Cathcart and his fellow American captives and what they experienced. In the last sentence of the book, Ekin writes Cathcart’s “unique contribution to the early history of the United States has never been fully recognized and possibly never will be, but perhaps this book will help in some small way to remedy this oversight.” (221) Ekin admirably achieves this goal, providing readers with a provocative account that opens avenues of discussion and further exploration.


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




View all my reviews

Review of Henry Willis Wells' I Am Fighting for the Union

I Am Fighting for the Union: The Civil War Letters of Naval Officer Henry Willis Wells by Henry Willis Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In August 1862, twenty-year-old Henry Willis Wells joined the United States Navy. His rank was master’s mate, a position that placed him between higher-ranking officers and seamen. Several months after volunteering to serve, he explained to his mother that “I am fighting for the Union,” and he believed that serving his country was important during this time of conflict between the North and the South. (ix)

He did not enter the navy as a novice; his first sailing venture took him to the West Coast aboard a clipper ship at the age of fifteen. Between subsequent cruises in the merchant marine, he studied navigation at Boston Mercantile and Nautical College to add to his nautical knowledge learned at sea. His first posting in the navy saw him serving as an acting master’s mate aboard the Cambridge, a steam vessel that had previously seen duty as a merchantman. The ship was part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He would serve on other vessels that patrolled waters off North Carolina and the Florida Coast, including Key West, and several months before his death, he was finally given his own commands, first the US Sloop Rosalie and then US Schooner Annie.

Throughout his journeys, Henry wrote letters home, many of which survive and were first gathered together by his great-nephew. Now they have been published in chronological sequence as part of the University of Alabama’s Maritime Currents: History and Archaeology series, for readers and historians interested in the day-to-day life of a junior naval officer during the American Civil War. These missives provide personal glimpses into the men he served with and what transpired on each voyage from his entry into the navy until his death in December 1864. Also included are occasional official documents, such as orders and notices of his brief capture by Confederate forces and his death. Browning includes maps, a timeline of events in Henry’s naval career, and period illustrations (including a map that Wells drew of Union defenses at Washington, North Carolina). Notes, which explain or elaborate on details found in the letters, are also included, as are a bibliography and an index.

Among the war-related news that Henry shared are what he witnessed on day one of the Battle of Hampton Roads, chasing blockade runners, sleeping arrangements aboard his ships, interactions with contraband (escaping slaves) and prisoners of war being exchanged, participation on court-martials, and the effects of illnesses on himself and others.

Even though the letters shared are only his, readers still get to learn about his family and homelife during the war. Most missives are addressed to his mother, but he also wrote to his father, sisters, and cousin, Louisa May Alcott. There are several poignant stories, including one of a Rebel prisoner who shows Henry a Bible that saved his life or the wounded soldier who was sitting by an ambulance when guerrillas murdered him. There are requests for specific items in care packages and feelings of homesickness when he fails to hear from those he loves.

In addition, he shares personal opinions and thoughts on subjects pertinent to the time or his family, allowing readers to experience these from a 19th-century perspective. Although he volunteered to serve, he was not classified as regular navy personnel because his experience came more from firsthand knowledge rather than formal education by the navy. This resulted in encounters where prejudice and bias were prickly thorns for him, as was his age which was given as one reason for his not being promoted even though he was better qualified for advancement than others with whom he served. Even so, this inquisitive and determined young man eventually achieved his goal of promotion and command.

This is a highly enlightening volume that provides readers with eyewitness perspectives of what it was like to serve in the Union navy during the Civil War. If there is any drawback to this volume, it is the location of the notes. Rather than inserting the relevant information on the bottom of the pages where the mention is made or at the end of particular letters, the notes are found after the correspondence ends. This necessitates that the reader flip back and forth, which most will not do, and some of the endnote numbers are difficult to see, which means the reader may miss that there is additional information or explanations that are relevant.


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



View all my reviews

Review of Lauren Smith's Devil on the High Seas

Devil of the High Seas by Lauren Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


1742. Gavin Castleton is Admiral of the Black, leader of a loose confederation of Caribbean pirates. He is not, however, in control of his own ship. One of his men has turned most of the crew against him and he fights for his life in the midst of a storm off the coast of Cornwall, England. Seven years ago, he vowed never to return to his homeland but now has no choice. Wounded, he makes his way to the manor house through the smugglers’ cave below. He stumbles into his twin brother’s bedroom in the middle of the night. Instead of finding Griffin, he falls at the feet of a beautiful lady.

Her life is ending. There is just no other way to see it, as far as Josephine Greyville is concerned. Her brothers, one of whom is a former pirate, have grand adventures. Being a woman, she is entitled only to life as a wife and mother. Until the wounded man enters her room. She surreptitiously tends to his wounds and helps him hide, but once she discovers his identity, she must tell her intended, Griffin Castleton, a consummate gentleman.

Smitten by the spunky lady who comes to his rescue, Gavin decides the time has come to turn the tables on his brother. Griffin stole his beloved away seven years ago; now Gavin kidnaps Josie on the eve of their wedding. She and Gavin board a new merchant ship appropriated by his quartermaster. They pose as master, wife, and first mate instead of pirates and set sail. Speed is of the essence since the Royal Navy is hunting pirates in coastal waters and because Gavin has discovered just who owns the vessel they have absconded with: Josie’s older brother and Gavin’s former associate among the pirates. He and Griffin will come after them, but in the meantime, Gavin intends to give Josie the daring and courageous life she craves. Hopefully, he will also find the devil who stole his ship before their brothers find them.

Gavin is the flawed hero who immediately captures the reader’s heart, while Josie is the daring heroine willing to risk everything for the one she loves. The villain personifies the devil and his brutality is as legendary as his vileness. Smith artfully weaves description with such magic that the reader is transported back in time to the locations where this third book in the Pirates of King’s Landing series takes place.

The story, which is written for adults only, is a rip-roaring romantic adventure spiced with humor and emotion. (My favorite line is: “Lady Josephine, you cannot keep a pirate as a pet!”) As special treats, a secondary romance is interwoven with the first and the epilogue hints at the next book in the series, which involves Josie’s twin brother.*


*In the interest of full disclosure, I read and commented on an early draft of the manuscript. My review, however, is based on the published book, which I did not see or read until after publication.


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



View all my reviews

Review of Philip K. Allan's Clay and the Immortal Memory

Clay and the Immortal Memory by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Invasion. This single word sums up Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s most ardent wish: to claim England as his own. But the British Royal Navy blockades France’s ports and while he has enough barges to carry his troops across the Channel, he lacks enough ships of the line to go up against this irritating foe. During 1804, his shipwrights build new ships as fast as they can. He has also reached a secret accord with Spain that will soon allow him to sufficiently increase his naval forces. What he does not have and what he has no control over are two elements that his admirals deem essential: calm waters and no enemy ships. He is certain, however, that 1805 will resolve these issues and he will have the victory he desires.

Francois Brissot is excited to join the crew of the 74-gun Redoubtable at Toulon. He only hopes she will not be relegated to sitting in the harbor as happened to his previous ship because of the British blockade. Once aboard, he finds that many of the men are new to the sea, but he has a way of leading and training them that strikes a jealous chord with the first lieutenant, Camille Dupotet. The rivalry deepens after Redoubtable fails to elude the British patrol blockading the harbor and Francois is the only officer to suggest a creative way that might give them the edge the next time they confront the enemy.

Successfully preventing the French from capturing a convoy from China provides Captain Alexander Clay and his men the opportunity to return to England. Monsoon winds are less accommodating, requiring him to venture close to the French base in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the Griffin is doggedly pursued by three enemy ships; an ingenious ruse allows him to escape unnoticed. Once they are in the Atlantic, they happen upon a French fleet and Clay faces a dilemma: pursue this fleet or head to the nearest British base to report the enemy’s whereabouts.

A bit closer attention to copyediting would have corrected some misspellings, but these are not sufficient to disturb the reader’s enjoyment of this tenth adventure in the Alexander Clay series. My one complaint is that the French characters speak more like their English counterparts than as Frenchmen. This tends to weaken the feel of the French world they inhabit.

Allan does a commendable job portraying both the tedium of daily ship life and the intensity of those occasional bouts of nail-biting action. He deftly weaves humor or anguish into his scenes. One example of the former occurs when one of Sean O’Malley’s schemes backfires. One example of the latter takes place aboard Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Clay and the Immortal Memory is a tale of Napoleon’s successful maneuverings to strike a devastating blow against the British that eventually culminates in the Battle of Trafalgar. Readers get to view these events from both perspectives. The focus, however, is on the aftermath of the clash, which proves just as riveting as the battle. Fans of this series will enjoy this latest adventure.


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




View all my reviews

Review of Julian Stockwin's Treachery

Treachery by Julian Stockwin by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Neither Kydd nor Renzi are in good places when this latest Kydd Sea Adventure begins. Renzi suffers from guilt for abandoning his friend when he needed him most. Kydd wallows in grief at the sudden loss of his beloved. Renzi makes a new vow to help Kydd, but it takes an encounter with footpads and the press gang to draw Kydd sufficiently out of his anguish to at least do his duty as captain of Teazer.

This Thomas Kydd is not the one that his men admire and willingly follow. This is a harsh, unyielding commander who demands immediate obedience. As a result, unease and possible mutiny ripple through the crew, though Kydd is too blinded to see or listen to Renzi’s warnings. It takes another to turn the tide before it’s too late.

Teazer and her crew have been relegated to the isolated station of the Channel Islands, where Admiral Saumarez is in charge. For Renzi, this provides him with new opportunities to continue his research. For Kydd, he is given a chance to show his mettle; Saumerez judges by deeds and courage instead of hearsay and innuendo. Kydd accepts the chance to prove himself worth; in doing so, he draws the ire of those who have been on station longer than he has. Then Kydd receives secret orders, which he successfully carries out. Upon returning to home port, his ship is boarded and he is accused of smuggling, which is against Admiralty rules. And the admiral denies ever giving him secret orders.

Treachery is the tale of what happens when an officer loses his command and must seek employment on land. It is also about backstabbing and vowing to clear one’s name, as well as following paths that go against one’s beliefs. Privateering and espionage play key roles in these struggles. The machinations behind a plot to kidnap Napoleon Bonaparte show the tenuous scheming between the English government, French émigrés, and French royalists. The action is riveting and the emotions are profound. Internal struggles play out alongside external ones. This ninth title in the series is one that fans will enjoy not only for these reasons but also because it delves further into multi-dimensions of character.


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




View all my reviews

Review of Colin Martin's and Geoffrey Parker's Armada

Armada / A Little History of the World by Colin Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In late July 1588, two fleets engaged off the coast of England in what has become known as the Spanish Armada. It was King Philip II’s attempt to invade England and return her people to the Catholic faith. Queen Elizabeth and her ministers took the threat seriously, and all understood the stakes should England lose. To Philip, this was an operation blessed by God and He would not allow Spain to fail. But the endeavor did fail and the reasons for that failure were many, as Martin and Parker deftly show.

The authors explain the historical background, starting with King Henry VIII’s setting aside his wife, the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, in favor of Anne Boleyn through to Queen Elizabeth’s execution of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. We meet the key players on both sides of the conflict, including the monarchs and their ruling styles, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the admirals, the navies, and the ships. Also shared is information gleaned from exploring the shipwrecks and artifacts that have been found.

This book is divided into four parts: The Fleets Assemble, God’s Obvious Design, “It came, it saw, it departed,” and The Aftermath. It contains more than 155 illustrations and six tables, as well as a glossary, a chronology, notes, a bibliography, and an index. There is also a URL to a downloadable digital file that contains five appendices. The majority of illustrations are in color – some artifacts are black-and-white renderings, rather than photographs – and these are spread throughout the book rather than in separate sections.

This new edition of Armada, which was previously published in 1988, has been revised and expanded. At over 700 pages, it is a comprehensive and highly readable account of this well-known event. Written by an underwater archaeologist and a historian, it incorporates artefacts and contemporary documents to entertain, enlighten, and separate reality from myth. Archives around the world have been searched to provide the most comprehensive account of the events and people involved in this historical milestone.

What also makes this a compelling read is that the authors allow the participants to tell the story without relying on the myths and nationalistic fervor that have colored many previous histories of the Armada. In addition, the authors explore the failures on both sides, the aftermath of the attack, who should take the blame, lessons learned and not learned, survivors’ stories, what if’s, how England and Iberia remember the Armada, and what we might learn in the future. For those seeking an informative account of the events that occurred in the summer of 1588, Armada is well-worth the read and a bargain since readers are left with a clear understanding of who was involved, what happened, and why it unfolded as it did without needing to undertake the depth of research that Martin and Parker have.


This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/Martin-Par...)




View all my reviews