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Nathaniel Drinkwater #3
A Brig of War
Based on the real-life career of eighteenth-century Royal Navy officer Nathaniel Drinkwater, the third adventure in the historical saga chronicles the lieutenant's confrontation with an old enemy, who is preparing his French Squadron to descend on India. Reprint.
308 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 1983
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116 people want to read
About the author
Richard Woodman
132 books71 followersCaptain Richard Martin Woodman was an English novelist and naval historian who retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career, mainly working for Trinity House, to write full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 15, 2021
I enjoy reading historical novels about the Royal Navy of the Napoleonic Wars Era. This book was provided to me by my Goodreads’ friend David E. Thanks, David, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
The book is well written and researched. I am reading the series out of order, but find each book is a good stand-alone. Woodman does very little rehashing of old material. In this book Admiral Nelson has sent Lieutenant Nathaniel Drinkwater to the Red Sea with a warning to the British Squadron about Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign. The Egyptian action begins. Woodman does a good job painting a picture of what life was like in the Royal Navy in the early 1800s. If you are interested in naval stories of this era, I highly recommend this book.
I read this book in hardback format. It was 233 pages. It was published in 1983 by John Murray Publishers London.
The book is well written and researched. I am reading the series out of order, but find each book is a good stand-alone. Woodman does very little rehashing of old material. In this book Admiral Nelson has sent Lieutenant Nathaniel Drinkwater to the Red Sea with a warning to the British Squadron about Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign. The Egyptian action begins. Woodman does a good job painting a picture of what life was like in the Royal Navy in the early 1800s. If you are interested in naval stories of this era, I highly recommend this book.
I read this book in hardback format. It was 233 pages. It was published in 1983 by John Murray Publishers London.
October 22, 2008
The Royal Navy of the Napoleonic Era, based on the historical novels set in this period, seems to have been as full of infighting, nepotism, and promotion of sycophantic underlings as the average U.S. corporation in this era of M.B.A. proliferation. As noted in my synopsis of A King's Cutter, there always seem to be Bolithos, Lewries, Aubreys, and Drinkwaters who are deserving of promotion but have no "influence."
Fortunately for our protagonists, the common sailors are more concerned with deeds rather than social status. And for Drinkwater in this novel, as in A King's Cutter, there are times that his captain's tropical illness requires him to command the ship. Indeed, things seem to be going well as Drinkwater actually ends up crossing paths with Nelson (sort of) after the Battle of Aboukir.
Unfortunately, an old acquaintance from his midshipman days appears and begins to spread his poison (and ironically, that poison is a classic example of the psychological phenomena known as projection). But there's a twist (more than one) when the old nemesis gets the upper hand.
The novel has a satisfying conclusion, but there are a couple of continuity problems. It appears that Woodman had intended for Drinkwater to become involved with a French noblewoman and spy as paramour in an earlier book. Unless I have accidentally read the books out of order, that never happened overtly. Yet, Drinkwater suffers plenty of guilt as a result of an action that was never spelled out. This continuity problem jerked me out of my suspension of disbelief and bothered me wherever it came up in the course of the book. Fortunately for my enjoyment, it wasn't often.
Fortunately for our protagonists, the common sailors are more concerned with deeds rather than social status. And for Drinkwater in this novel, as in A King's Cutter, there are times that his captain's tropical illness requires him to command the ship. Indeed, things seem to be going well as Drinkwater actually ends up crossing paths with Nelson (sort of) after the Battle of Aboukir.
Unfortunately, an old acquaintance from his midshipman days appears and begins to spread his poison (and ironically, that poison is a classic example of the psychological phenomena known as projection). But there's a twist (more than one) when the old nemesis gets the upper hand.
The novel has a satisfying conclusion, but there are a couple of continuity problems. It appears that Woodman had intended for Drinkwater to become involved with a French noblewoman and spy as paramour in an earlier book. Unless I have accidentally read the books out of order, that never happened overtly. Yet, Drinkwater suffers plenty of guilt as a result of an action that was never spelled out. This continuity problem jerked me out of my suspension of disbelief and bothered me wherever it came up in the course of the book. Fortunately for my enjoyment, it wasn't often.
September 16, 2024
The third novel in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series, continues with all the excitement, battle actions and intrigues. I continued to be drawn in with the characters and the detailed descriptions of the workings of the ships. A quick read with many unexpected twists and turns. It appears that Nathaniel's nemesis from the past may finally have received his comeuppance. Though I anxiously want to follow his Naval career, I do tire from long series (14 books). So, I will take a pause until the urge again tells me, "I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her by". Then to Novel #4.
April 14, 2014
I am a fan of this genre and this is the third installment of Woodman's Drinkwater series that I have read. I've read all of O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series and I have to say in all honesty that so far I much prefer Woodman's books. The sailing history is accurate and the naval action authentic in all respects. O'brian's characters might be more endearing but Woodman's characters are no less engaging. Woodman's plots, however, have a much more emotional, visceral appeal that O'Brian's books never had. On to installment #4.
December 28, 2015
As with the two earlier installments, the book starts slow and gradually picks up the pace to a satisfying tempo. Still not quite as good as the initial installment (Midshipman) but I will continue -- also, at a leisurely pace -- with the series until I reach my fill, or completion.
June 20, 2022
If you only consider the story, this book - like the others I've read in the series - is very good. The problem is that I've now read four of them (I wound up starting with #4, which moved me to read the whole series), and I'm getting fairly annoyed with a couple or three things.
1. Edouard Santhonax is this series' counterpart to the stereotypical omnipotent, omnipresent serial murderer who infests far too many mystery series. He shows up everywhere, he always manages to escape, and he acts as a nefarious deus ex machina to bollix up whatever good Nathaniel Drinkwater is engaged in.
2. Woodman's punctuation is eccentric in one book - but when it's the same in book after book it's not eccentric, it's irritating, with the irritation rising all the time. Woodman can't punctuate properly, which leads to dialogue reading all wrong until you go back and correct it in your mind, and apparently his editor is of the lazy modern variety who thinks that a spell checker is all you need. I'd have flunked elementary school English class if I'd punctuated like this.
3. Midshipman August Morris isn't as omnipresent as Santhonax, but it is really hard to credit that he pops up at intervals to bedevil Drinkwater. And the manner in which he received a lieutenant's commission that properly belonged to Drinkwater just isn't believable.
If someone, anyone, had corrected these irritants before the books hit the stores, this series would be much better. As it is, I have to just read around them, as I eat around the bones when dealing with a cooked fish, and enjoy the actual Royal Navy parts of the books.
1. Edouard Santhonax is this series' counterpart to the stereotypical omnipotent, omnipresent serial murderer who infests far too many mystery series. He shows up everywhere, he always manages to escape, and he acts as a nefarious deus ex machina to bollix up whatever good Nathaniel Drinkwater is engaged in.
2. Woodman's punctuation is eccentric in one book - but when it's the same in book after book it's not eccentric, it's irritating, with the irritation rising all the time. Woodman can't punctuate properly, which leads to dialogue reading all wrong until you go back and correct it in your mind, and apparently his editor is of the lazy modern variety who thinks that a spell checker is all you need. I'd have flunked elementary school English class if I'd punctuated like this.
3. Midshipman August Morris isn't as omnipresent as Santhonax, but it is really hard to credit that he pops up at intervals to bedevil Drinkwater. And the manner in which he received a lieutenant's commission that properly belonged to Drinkwater just isn't believable.
If someone, anyone, had corrected these irritants before the books hit the stores, this series would be much better. As it is, I have to just read around them, as I eat around the bones when dealing with a cooked fish, and enjoy the actual Royal Navy parts of the books.
August 20, 2024
This my third reading of the Drinkwater series. The more I read the more I enjoy them. In this Drinkwater is still trying to gain promotion in the Royal Navy without much luck. However he is still first officer Lieutenant Griffriths and that is not so bad. This time he also has a run in with Morris from the first book, who is definitely a bad penny. Then there are the French trying to invade India by way the Red Sea. All in all it is a close run race to stop the French and gain honors to help with a promotion. If you like the other books of the Age of Sail. Then I recommend this book and its other volumes to the you.
July 16, 2023
I have no idea why these nautical novels are so entertaining to me. I have read several series of books describing the large boats of every size and variety that sailed for England. I really enjoyed this trilogy, though suspect that are a great many more concerning the adventures of Nathaniel Drinkwater. Lots of fun.
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September 16, 2023Book one was okay. At last I thought, something almost as good as Forrester and O'Brien.
Book 2 started to be a bit dodgy.. A liberal kings officer, wouldn't really work at the time.
Book 3 , do me a favour, the brave lieutenant was actually quite pleased that his cannonade shot missed the horrible evil French spy.
Won't be reading any more, even free on z library
Book 2 started to be a bit dodgy.. A liberal kings officer, wouldn't really work at the time.
Book 3 , do me a favour, the brave lieutenant was actually quite pleased that his cannonade shot missed the horrible evil French spy.
Won't be reading any more, even free on z library
July 4, 2019
A thoroughly satisfying entry in the Drinkwater Saga. Woodman is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in ship and boat handling, has an accurate understanding of human nature, and paints physical and emotional pictures very well.
June 21, 2021
Another great book
Full of dark meaning. The storyline from the previous book runs through well and you are always wondering who (or what) is coming next. Recommended !
Full of dark meaning. The storyline from the previous book runs through well and you are always wondering who (or what) is coming next. Recommended !
October 11, 2022
Bad editing too many errata
I liked the book but hated the editing it spoiled the continuity of reading it. Thus the bad review. Sorry.
I liked the book but hated the editing it spoiled the continuity of reading it. Thus the bad review. Sorry.
December 28, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 as per 5th grade math class.
Spoilers ahead: I'm on the fence about this series. I really liked the first book and gave it 5 stars but I didn't like the 2nd because it had a boring setting. The 3rd book was ok. Primarily I don't like this series because it has a long time antagonist or arch enemy. I don't like that because it limits the plot. It always has to do with the "bad man" who has to get away at the last moment in order to appear again.
In this case, Drinkwater's (ND) arch enemy is Santhonax, a French low level mover and shaker who is at the Red Sea to figure out a road for the French to descend down towards India. I mean, if this guy is so smart and so talented why does he antagonize the locals so much that they hate him and want to kill the French.
And what's worse is there is another "arch enemy", the midshipmen and now Lt. Morris who has seniority over him. The only reason to have these antagonists is for the protagonist to have some obstacle to overcome, a very cliched, overused and old fashioned plot device.
Summary: ND's commander Griffiths has now been promoted into a brig-sloop (Hellebore) and ordered to the Red Sea to put a spoke in Santhonax's wheel and find out what's going on. After half the book is over, the Hellebore is destroyed when 2nd Lt. Rogers runs it into a shoal in milky seas, then they find Santhonax careening his ship. Since their ship is gone, they get help from their Arab allies. They simultaneously attack the French on land and the ship and manage to capture it and sail it away.
They get back to base where the frigate is to sail home. Griffiths died in the attack and ND is promoted into commander of it but somehow Morris gets the command because the admiral wants to get rid of him. Morris proves to be a sadistic commander and everyone hates him.
They meet a French frigate on the way back and is only saved by Capt. White (who ND saved from Morris as a midshipman) appearing on the scene with his frigate. They finally reach the Cape of Good Hope. Morris sends a damning report to the commodore commanding but is countered by Capt. White and ND's own report. Morris has to go ashore because he's a sick man and ND is given command of the frigate to sail home.
But apart from the main story, there are a lot to like. I like the small subplots of which there are many, all character based. There is the story of Catherine Best, a prostitute convict being transported to Australia. Their ship was sunk by a storm and the Hellebore rescues the survivors. While on the ship she sleeps with a lot of the men to gain favors but ND finds out and stops her. He makes her the surgeon's assistant where she turns over a new leaf but then develops a serious relationship with the surgeon. At the end, Morris turns her in and she is forced to go to Australia but Appleby the surgeon decides to go with her.
Next is the redemption of 2nd Lt. Rogers who started out as an enemy of ND but due to the shared hardship and experiences ends as a friend and ally. After that is the midshipman Mr. Q, who is unfailingly helpful eager to learn. He loses his hand in a battle but I'm sure will turn up as part of ND's crew in the next book. Lastly is the colorful character Wrinch, who is the British representative in that area. He is also unfailingly cheerful, knowledgeable and helpful. Like Morris he is also a pederast but is given a pass in the book because he is ND's ally.
I think these character subplots are what distinguishes the ND books from the other ones like Ramage, Stockwin or Lambdin. In fact, this is what makes the Hornblower books great.
Overall, the writing is ok, the action is good and I like the character driven stories. I just hate to see the old arch enemies being recycled over and over again. I will try the 4th book and see if I want to continue.
Spoilers ahead: I'm on the fence about this series. I really liked the first book and gave it 5 stars but I didn't like the 2nd because it had a boring setting. The 3rd book was ok. Primarily I don't like this series because it has a long time antagonist or arch enemy. I don't like that because it limits the plot. It always has to do with the "bad man" who has to get away at the last moment in order to appear again.
In this case, Drinkwater's (ND) arch enemy is Santhonax, a French low level mover and shaker who is at the Red Sea to figure out a road for the French to descend down towards India. I mean, if this guy is so smart and so talented why does he antagonize the locals so much that they hate him and want to kill the French.
And what's worse is there is another "arch enemy", the midshipmen and now Lt. Morris who has seniority over him. The only reason to have these antagonists is for the protagonist to have some obstacle to overcome, a very cliched, overused and old fashioned plot device.
Summary: ND's commander Griffiths has now been promoted into a brig-sloop (Hellebore) and ordered to the Red Sea to put a spoke in Santhonax's wheel and find out what's going on. After half the book is over, the Hellebore is destroyed when 2nd Lt. Rogers runs it into a shoal in milky seas, then they find Santhonax careening his ship. Since their ship is gone, they get help from their Arab allies. They simultaneously attack the French on land and the ship and manage to capture it and sail it away.
They get back to base where the frigate is to sail home. Griffiths died in the attack and ND is promoted into commander of it but somehow Morris gets the command because the admiral wants to get rid of him. Morris proves to be a sadistic commander and everyone hates him.
They meet a French frigate on the way back and is only saved by Capt. White (who ND saved from Morris as a midshipman) appearing on the scene with his frigate. They finally reach the Cape of Good Hope. Morris sends a damning report to the commodore commanding but is countered by Capt. White and ND's own report. Morris has to go ashore because he's a sick man and ND is given command of the frigate to sail home.
But apart from the main story, there are a lot to like. I like the small subplots of which there are many, all character based. There is the story of Catherine Best, a prostitute convict being transported to Australia. Their ship was sunk by a storm and the Hellebore rescues the survivors. While on the ship she sleeps with a lot of the men to gain favors but ND finds out and stops her. He makes her the surgeon's assistant where she turns over a new leaf but then develops a serious relationship with the surgeon. At the end, Morris turns her in and she is forced to go to Australia but Appleby the surgeon decides to go with her.
Next is the redemption of 2nd Lt. Rogers who started out as an enemy of ND but due to the shared hardship and experiences ends as a friend and ally. After that is the midshipman Mr. Q, who is unfailingly helpful eager to learn. He loses his hand in a battle but I'm sure will turn up as part of ND's crew in the next book. Lastly is the colorful character Wrinch, who is the British representative in that area. He is also unfailingly cheerful, knowledgeable and helpful. Like Morris he is also a pederast but is given a pass in the book because he is ND's ally.
I think these character subplots are what distinguishes the ND books from the other ones like Ramage, Stockwin or Lambdin. In fact, this is what makes the Hornblower books great.
Overall, the writing is ok, the action is good and I like the character driven stories. I just hate to see the old arch enemies being recycled over and over again. I will try the 4th book and see if I want to continue.
March 26, 2014
Muy buen libro para continuar la saga de Drinkwater, mientras haya existido Patrick O'Brian jamás podré ponerle a otro autor de la armada inglesa 5 estrellas. Una de las cosas buenas de la saga de Drinkwater es que es más fiel a la historia que la Aubrey y Maturin. Muy bien tocado el tema del intento de invasión de la india del joven General Napoleón Bonaparte a principios del siglo XIX. Muy buena descripción de los acontecimientos y de los personajes que participaron en los eventos en el Mar Rojo. A esperar los libros que faltan para culminar la historia de Nathaniel Drinkwater
May 21, 2022
Good read
I really did think this was going to be a typical fighting sail story. And it was for the most part. However, when Morris became a commander I was livid! Not too many books elicit that kind of stuff.
I really did think this was going to be a typical fighting sail story. And it was for the most part. However, when Morris became a commander I was livid! Not too many books elicit that kind of stuff.
August 8, 2013
A very good historical fiction story of the British Navy during the Napoleonic War.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews