Book Review of Fletcher’s Glorious 1st of June, by John Drake

A head spinning whirlwind of an adventure

Book II of the Fletcher series has a lot going on. It picks up where Book I left off. Jacob Fletcher has left the Royal Navy and instead of claiming the enormous wealth left to him by a father he never knew, he’s determined to make it on his own. He buys into a merchant ship and sails off as second mate to make his fortune in the West Indies.  

But things never go as planned

Fletcher’s adventures will cause him to battle the Americans, his fellow Brits, and ultimately fight the French at the Fourth Battle of Ushant, better known as the Glorious First of June for which the book is named and of which Drake gives a riveting account for those of us who like a good bit of real history in our historical fiction.

But the foes Fletcher faces at sea are nothing compared to the enemies waiting for him in England. 

His stepmother, Lady Sarah Coignwood and her maniacal son Victor were knocked down at the end of Book I, but they’re from out. Together, along with her new henchman lover, they plot to clear their names, seize Fletcher’s inheritance, and send him to the gallows.

Like the first book, Fletcher’s Glorious 1st of June has two storylines: Fletcher’s adventures at sea, which is narrated by Fletcher in first person, and his stepmother story in third. The author claims, fictitiously I believe, that he had won Fletcher’s memoirs in an auction along with enough historical documents to flesh out his stepmother’s story. This switch in narrative voice and story swings back and forth, chapter by chapter, even into the third act where the two storylines combine for a spectacular showdown of a climax.

I have to say, the darkest-hour-of-the-soul part was truly dreadful. I really had no clue how Fletcher would get out of it. However, the resolution was heroic and imaginative. 

I really enjoy Drakes writing. The first-person narrative of the old salty sea-dog Fletcher is delicious. Drake’s depiction of historical events and even the mundane ins and outs of navel and maritime culture of the time are easily understandable for a landlubber like me. I feel like  I learn a lot with each of these novels as well as enjoy a great high-seas adventure. I’m excited about reading the next one in this series!

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