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Nathan Peake #4
The Winds of Folly: A twisty nautical adventure of thrills and intrigue set during the French Revolution
The compelling fourth historical naval adventure from a master of maritime storytelling. Seth Hunter's electrifying series is the perfect read for fans of Master and Commander and novels by Iain Gale. 'Seth Hunter has a more natural storyteller's eye than Patrick O'Brian' Daily Telegraph 1796: Nathan Peake, captain of the frigate Unicorn is sent with a small squadron into the Adriatic to help bring Venice into an Italian alliance against the French. He establishes a British naval presence, harrying the French corsairs that swarm out of Ancona in Italy. While Nathan confronts the politics of 'intrigue, poison and the stiletto' in Venice, his mission is further complicated by the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte's aide de camp, Junot. Recognising Nathan as the 'American' who saved Bonaparte's life in Paris, Junot invites him to army headquarters where he unwillingly joins the French in a victorious battle against the Austrians. Meanwhile, in Venice, French troops move into the city and a new revolutionary government takes power. Nathan learns that Bonaparte is negotiating a peace deal with the Austrians - Britain's only remaining ally. Worse, the Spanish are about to ally with the French. Nathan returns to the Unicorn and rejoins Nelson for the decisive Battle of St Vincent against the entire Spanish fleet.What readers are saying about THE WINDS OF 'Full of action and intrigue mixed with a worldly view of historical figures. A non-stop read - his best yet''Another winning combination of naval action and espionage from Seth Hunter''More fascinating adventures through the Adriatic. The integration of old and new characters makes the story believable with its pieces of history woven through'
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
21 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Seth Hunter
12 books28 followersA pseudonym used by Paul Bryers
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author of a number of highly acclaimed and prize-winning adult and children's novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov. He is a member of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, the Director's Guild and PEN. THE TIME OF TERROR is the first novel in a trilogy of historical naval adventures. He lives in London.
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author of a number of highly acclaimed and prize-winning adult and children's novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov. He is a member of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, the Director's Guild and PEN. THE TIME OF TERROR is the first novel in a trilogy of historical naval adventures. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 25, 2017
3.5 stars
This book has some great sea battles. A little slow in parts with several loose ends left hanging.
Great story and a fun read overall.
This book has some great sea battles. A little slow in parts with several loose ends left hanging.
Great story and a fun read overall.
February 23, 2021
Fourth in the series. So well researched, well written! A compelling tale that contains the love component but is driven by the adventure component. The main male character's persona is so likable, it's easy to escape into the tale. Some reinforcement of geography and history is an added bonus. This installment set in 1796 has Nathan on a secret mission to Venice during Carnival, as Napoleon leads his forces across Italy towards Austria. It ends with the big battle of St. Vincent when Nelson (with Nathan) takes on the Spanish fleet.
October 25, 2023
I continue to enjoy the Nathan Peake novels, but the formula of "Nathan attempts espionage, is very bad at it and easily captured, tortured, and miraculously rescued" is wearing thin for me. In the latter half of this book Nathan had almost no agency, but instead was swept along from event to event in increasingly unlikely ways. I will continue to read them and enjoy the humor and the cinematic, swashbuckling action, but I hope future books show a protagonist actually doing things instead of being haplessly overwhelmed.
June 7, 2025
An interesting read littered with actual historic references of napoleon and his battles in Italy and sea battles as well as history around Venice. It almost seems if the story is clumsily fitted around all of the actual historic characters do that it in interesting but not really a page turner. This is my first novel set I. 1796 and maybe it is just not for me.
November 27, 2017
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it a local library.
August 3, 2017
Book 4 Captian Peake
Less interesting than previous books. Author needs to assume reader has read and is familiar with story line and move along. Onto the next one
Less interesting than previous books. Author needs to assume reader has read and is familiar with story line and move along. Onto the next one
June 2, 2019
Terrific series! Love the characters and intrigue.
March 21, 2025
3.5. Some good action and great Venetian atmosphere, but a circuitous and often unbelievable route for Peake; the plot gymnastics in this one just felt overwrought.
July 21, 2016
It is 1796 and General Napoleon Bonaparte leads the French Army against the Austrians. If he succeeds, they will lose the Italian provinces and leave Britain to fight alone. While the Council of Ten in Venice prefers to remain neutral in this war, the Venetian admiral would form an alliance with England and lead his navy in the fight against the aggressors. For a price. But before negotiations are completed, Il Diavolo (the Devil) has his assassins kill the admiral.
Nathaniel Peake captains HMS Unicorn and, having had a successful voyage, he looks forward to receiving the hefty sum his captured prizes will bring. Arriving at Leghorn, a major center of trade in the Mediterranean, he finds the city under attack from land, the citizens attempting to flee by sea, and French corsairs lurking on the horizon. Not only is he tasked with escorting the convoy of rescue ships, he must defend them against these sea marauders and transport the paramours of some officers, including Commodore Nelson, to safety. The last proves a trying and irritating duty that results in the loss of his quarters, but he succeeds in delivering the ladies as ordered.
Nelson and the British ambassador believe Nathan is the perfect candidate for a secret mission because of his previous service as the King’s agent. He needs to re-establish contact with Venice, notify the admiral that his price has been met, keep the Venetians from forming an alliance with France, and assess the seaworthiness and capabilities of the Venetian fleet. At the same time, he must take soundings of the harbors and lagoons while hunting down French corsairs prowling the Adriatic Sea. What he is not to do is to become embroiled in the politics of Venice, but that seems less likely when he hears rumors of the admiral’s death. Now he must confirm this report and determine if there is another willing to work with the British to stop Napoleon, and this requires him to enlist the assistance of the Deputy Prioress of a convent where the sisters are known for their gambling casino and carnal knowledge.
But Il Diavolo dispenses his own brand of justice in the name of the Venetian Republic and he knows of Nathan’s presence. He will do whatever is necessary to dispose of the British intruder, and it could cost Nathan his life.
Hunter includes several maps to orient readers unfamiliar with the region, as well as an author’s note explaining the history behind the novel. Since there are a variety of winds specific to the Mediterranean, he provides a brief explanation of these since they play important roles in the story.
This is the fourth installment in the Nathan Peake series, but readers unfamiliar with previous tales will have no problem following this story. (There are sufficient clues to tantalize such readers to go back and read these titles.) In many ways the opening chapters of The Winds of Folly mimic what it is like to sail aboard a wooden ship – manic high drama of short duration interspersed with long and tedious periods of mundane daily activity. Readers who survive the delivery of the officers’ women are richly rewarded with edge-of-your-seat adventure and dangerous intrigues that end with several unexpected and surprising twists.
Nathaniel Peake captains HMS Unicorn and, having had a successful voyage, he looks forward to receiving the hefty sum his captured prizes will bring. Arriving at Leghorn, a major center of trade in the Mediterranean, he finds the city under attack from land, the citizens attempting to flee by sea, and French corsairs lurking on the horizon. Not only is he tasked with escorting the convoy of rescue ships, he must defend them against these sea marauders and transport the paramours of some officers, including Commodore Nelson, to safety. The last proves a trying and irritating duty that results in the loss of his quarters, but he succeeds in delivering the ladies as ordered.
Nelson and the British ambassador believe Nathan is the perfect candidate for a secret mission because of his previous service as the King’s agent. He needs to re-establish contact with Venice, notify the admiral that his price has been met, keep the Venetians from forming an alliance with France, and assess the seaworthiness and capabilities of the Venetian fleet. At the same time, he must take soundings of the harbors and lagoons while hunting down French corsairs prowling the Adriatic Sea. What he is not to do is to become embroiled in the politics of Venice, but that seems less likely when he hears rumors of the admiral’s death. Now he must confirm this report and determine if there is another willing to work with the British to stop Napoleon, and this requires him to enlist the assistance of the Deputy Prioress of a convent where the sisters are known for their gambling casino and carnal knowledge.
But Il Diavolo dispenses his own brand of justice in the name of the Venetian Republic and he knows of Nathan’s presence. He will do whatever is necessary to dispose of the British intruder, and it could cost Nathan his life.
Hunter includes several maps to orient readers unfamiliar with the region, as well as an author’s note explaining the history behind the novel. Since there are a variety of winds specific to the Mediterranean, he provides a brief explanation of these since they play important roles in the story.
This is the fourth installment in the Nathan Peake series, but readers unfamiliar with previous tales will have no problem following this story. (There are sufficient clues to tantalize such readers to go back and read these titles.) In many ways the opening chapters of The Winds of Folly mimic what it is like to sail aboard a wooden ship – manic high drama of short duration interspersed with long and tedious periods of mundane daily activity. Readers who survive the delivery of the officers’ women are richly rewarded with edge-of-your-seat adventure and dangerous intrigues that end with several unexpected and surprising twists.
May 7, 2012
Review...
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author Paul Bryers ,highly acclaimed and prize-winning writer of adult and children`s novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov.
This latest book (4) Winds of Folly is the latest in the Nathan Peake series.
Nathan Peake
* The Time of Terror (2008)
* The Tide of War (2009)
* The Price of Glory (2010)
* The Winds of Folly (2011)
Product Description (from back of Book)
The compelling new historical naval adventure from a master of maritime storytelling.
1796: Nathan Peake, captain of the frigate Unicorn is sent with a small squadron into the Adriatic to help bring Venice into an Italian alliance against the French. He establishes a British naval presence, harrying the French corsairs that swarm out of Ancona in Italy. While Nathan confronts the politics of 'intrigue, poison and the stiletto' in Venice, his mission is further complicated by the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte's aide de camp, Junot. Recognising Nathan as the 'American' who saved Bonaparte's life in Paris, Junot invites him to army headquarters where he unwillingly joins the French in a victorious battle against the Austrians. Meanwhile, in Venice, French troops move into the city and a new revolutionary government takes power. Nathan learns that Bonaparte is negotiating a peace deal with the Austrians - Britain's only remaining ally. Worse, the Spanish are about to ally with the French. Nathan returns to the Unicorn and rejoins Nelson for the decisive Battle of St Vincent against the entire Spanish fleet.
Review Cont....
Unlike many books set in this time period while it contains detail it does not get bogged down in the detail, the author keeps the pace rattling along at a fair pace, the characters are very real and very vivid Hunter / Bryers does a fantastic job or breathing life into each one of them, although I do feel the one element that could for some be considered a draw back is that the books really need to be read in order, they don't come across as well as a stand alone, there is so much character growth, you the reader need to grow with them and understand that growth.
Hunter/ Bryers gives and excellent view of the time period, his descriptions are vivid enough to give you the sights the sounds and the smells, without going all Tolkien and the ents on the reader and spending pages describing the grain of the wood.
This is excellent Historical fiction well told I highly recommend the series, and not just to the fans of Naval history
(Parm)
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author Paul Bryers ,highly acclaimed and prize-winning writer of adult and children`s novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov.
This latest book (4) Winds of Folly is the latest in the Nathan Peake series.
Nathan Peake
* The Time of Terror (2008)
* The Tide of War (2009)
* The Price of Glory (2010)
* The Winds of Folly (2011)
Product Description (from back of Book)
The compelling new historical naval adventure from a master of maritime storytelling.
1796: Nathan Peake, captain of the frigate Unicorn is sent with a small squadron into the Adriatic to help bring Venice into an Italian alliance against the French. He establishes a British naval presence, harrying the French corsairs that swarm out of Ancona in Italy. While Nathan confronts the politics of 'intrigue, poison and the stiletto' in Venice, his mission is further complicated by the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte's aide de camp, Junot. Recognising Nathan as the 'American' who saved Bonaparte's life in Paris, Junot invites him to army headquarters where he unwillingly joins the French in a victorious battle against the Austrians. Meanwhile, in Venice, French troops move into the city and a new revolutionary government takes power. Nathan learns that Bonaparte is negotiating a peace deal with the Austrians - Britain's only remaining ally. Worse, the Spanish are about to ally with the French. Nathan returns to the Unicorn and rejoins Nelson for the decisive Battle of St Vincent against the entire Spanish fleet.
Review Cont....
Unlike many books set in this time period while it contains detail it does not get bogged down in the detail, the author keeps the pace rattling along at a fair pace, the characters are very real and very vivid Hunter / Bryers does a fantastic job or breathing life into each one of them, although I do feel the one element that could for some be considered a draw back is that the books really need to be read in order, they don't come across as well as a stand alone, there is so much character growth, you the reader need to grow with them and understand that growth.
Hunter/ Bryers gives and excellent view of the time period, his descriptions are vivid enough to give you the sights the sounds and the smells, without going all Tolkien and the ents on the reader and spending pages describing the grain of the wood.
This is excellent Historical fiction well told I highly recommend the series, and not just to the fans of Naval history
(Parm)
April 1, 2016
(My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but Goodreads forces me to choose between 3 and 4.)
The Napoleonic Era is a popular setting for historical naval fiction, it seems; this is the fourth such series I have encountered — following Forester's accounts of Horatio Hornblower, O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books, and Naomi Novik's Temeraire series — and I'm sure there are other works set during the same period. So there's plenty of competition. I get the impression that O'Brian's novels tend to be the most highly regarded among the company, but I've always preferred Hornblower myself. It's difficult to consider _The Winds of Folly_ (fourth in the Nathan Peake series, but the first one I've read) in isolation, so the big question is how it fares alongside its distinguished competitors. (I'll leave the Temeraire books out of the comparison, as they contain rather more dragons than the others.)
To cut to the chase, I'd place it in the middle of the pack: more fun than O'Brian but less compelling than Forester. As a character, Nathan Peake is vaguely reminiscent of Horatio Hornblower, prone to the same self-reflection, nagging doubts, and occasional awkward situations. However, I found that the story dragged and occasionally plodded through the first half of the book — perhaps because I found the political maneuverings to be somewhat confusing. Despite the occasional naval engagement or official encounter, it takes a while to get to the heart of the action.
When we do get there, the action picks up and the immediate situation and threats become more concrete. Unfortunately, once in the heart of the action, Peake becomes largely passive, carried by chance and circumstance through several layers of scheming and action without having much, if any, influence over their outcome — let alone over his own fate. This is undoubtedly a frustrating situation for a ship's captain to find himself in, but it's also a bit disappointing for the reader who expects a story's protagonist to be more proactive.
On a more positive note, I was pleased to find a story from this subgenre set before Napoleon's real rise to power. By chance, I've just finished listening to Mike Duncan's excellent _Revolutions_ podcast series on the French Revolution, and I was happy that I could recognize a number of names and events from the real history scattered throughout _Winds_.
I wouldn't mind trying one of the other books in Peake's story at some point ... but I'd be more inclined to reread the Hornblower saga first.
The Napoleonic Era is a popular setting for historical naval fiction, it seems; this is the fourth such series I have encountered — following Forester's accounts of Horatio Hornblower, O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books, and Naomi Novik's Temeraire series — and I'm sure there are other works set during the same period. So there's plenty of competition. I get the impression that O'Brian's novels tend to be the most highly regarded among the company, but I've always preferred Hornblower myself. It's difficult to consider _The Winds of Folly_ (fourth in the Nathan Peake series, but the first one I've read) in isolation, so the big question is how it fares alongside its distinguished competitors. (I'll leave the Temeraire books out of the comparison, as they contain rather more dragons than the others.)
To cut to the chase, I'd place it in the middle of the pack: more fun than O'Brian but less compelling than Forester. As a character, Nathan Peake is vaguely reminiscent of Horatio Hornblower, prone to the same self-reflection, nagging doubts, and occasional awkward situations. However, I found that the story dragged and occasionally plodded through the first half of the book — perhaps because I found the political maneuverings to be somewhat confusing. Despite the occasional naval engagement or official encounter, it takes a while to get to the heart of the action.
When we do get there, the action picks up and the immediate situation and threats become more concrete. Unfortunately, once in the heart of the action, Peake becomes largely passive, carried by chance and circumstance through several layers of scheming and action without having much, if any, influence over their outcome — let alone over his own fate. This is undoubtedly a frustrating situation for a ship's captain to find himself in, but it's also a bit disappointing for the reader who expects a story's protagonist to be more proactive.
On a more positive note, I was pleased to find a story from this subgenre set before Napoleon's real rise to power. By chance, I've just finished listening to Mike Duncan's excellent _Revolutions_ podcast series on the French Revolution, and I was happy that I could recognize a number of names and events from the real history scattered throughout _Winds_.
I wouldn't mind trying one of the other books in Peake's story at some point ... but I'd be more inclined to reread the Hornblower saga first.
February 26, 2016
I reciever Seth Hunter's The Winds of Folly through Goodreads Giveaway.
"The Captain smashed into her starboard quarter. Her bowsprit was thrust over the Spanish poop like a long lance, the spritsail yard locked into her mizzen shrouds. God what a mess, Nathan thought. What a bloody shambles."
Being the quintessential landlubber that I am, I could be easily lost with discriptiona such as posted above but the author's writing is so well paced that your mind registers a simblance of a concept and you are caught up once again in the current and flow of the story. There are no long boaring discriptians, there was no drop in the adventure that made me want to just get on with the story either. From the first to the last page, getting through this chapter or past this event never crossed my mind, I was so completley absorbed.
Many of the reviews I have read give the reader an idea of what the novel is about so I feel no need to add to them. I will have to disagree with one comment I have read from several people, this book stands on it's own very well. I feel that I would have had a better understanding of who some of the crew were had I read the first three novels but there was enough information and it left me with the desire to read the previous novels.
My personal opinion is that books such as The Winds of Folly are the reason that I read, the masterful telling of a tale that grabs my attention and holds it is what I search for when I browse through books online or in a stores. This is one of the stories that will remain with me for years to come while others will be lost to memory.
"The Captain smashed into her starboard quarter. Her bowsprit was thrust over the Spanish poop like a long lance, the spritsail yard locked into her mizzen shrouds. God what a mess, Nathan thought. What a bloody shambles."
Being the quintessential landlubber that I am, I could be easily lost with discriptiona such as posted above but the author's writing is so well paced that your mind registers a simblance of a concept and you are caught up once again in the current and flow of the story. There are no long boaring discriptians, there was no drop in the adventure that made me want to just get on with the story either. From the first to the last page, getting through this chapter or past this event never crossed my mind, I was so completley absorbed.
Many of the reviews I have read give the reader an idea of what the novel is about so I feel no need to add to them. I will have to disagree with one comment I have read from several people, this book stands on it's own very well. I feel that I would have had a better understanding of who some of the crew were had I read the first three novels but there was enough information and it left me with the desire to read the previous novels.
My personal opinion is that books such as The Winds of Folly are the reason that I read, the masterful telling of a tale that grabs my attention and holds it is what I search for when I browse through books online or in a stores. This is one of the stories that will remain with me for years to come while others will be lost to memory.
July 7, 2016
Oh how I love a good maritime story! Windswepts seas, hoisting the mail sail, scrubbing the poop deck, this book had it all. If your wish is to read a book set during the age of sail, this is it.
I won this book from Librarything not realizing it was book 4 of a series. The book can be a standalone if just for the sheer pleasure of reading about a man-o-war at the time of the Napoleanic wars. The author know his tall ships and vividly conjures up strong imagery of a battle ship at sea, coupled with plenty of action.
Captain Nathan Peake is portrayed as an intelligent, humble individual who at times doubts himself but can always admit he is infallible and capable of mistakes. He alone seems to dominate the story with his crew filling in as secondary characters and there are plenty.
In this story Captain Peake is on a mission to win Venice, a hotbed of vice and political intrigue, from allying with the French. This is where I found the author lacking in his storytelling capabilities. From the back cover "But Nathan is soon drawn into a much more sinister web. At its heart two of the most feared women of the age: Emma Hamilton, the courtesan turned courtier, and the nun Caterina Caresini, uncrowned queen of Venice", I expected more interaction with the two women and a dramatic impact to the plot. However, the plot was not very deep and the two central female characters roles were so minimal, I felt like a portion of the story was missing.
A definite read if you like historical maritime fiction.
I won this book from Librarything not realizing it was book 4 of a series. The book can be a standalone if just for the sheer pleasure of reading about a man-o-war at the time of the Napoleanic wars. The author know his tall ships and vividly conjures up strong imagery of a battle ship at sea, coupled with plenty of action.
Captain Nathan Peake is portrayed as an intelligent, humble individual who at times doubts himself but can always admit he is infallible and capable of mistakes. He alone seems to dominate the story with his crew filling in as secondary characters and there are plenty.
In this story Captain Peake is on a mission to win Venice, a hotbed of vice and political intrigue, from allying with the French. This is where I found the author lacking in his storytelling capabilities. From the back cover "But Nathan is soon drawn into a much more sinister web. At its heart two of the most feared women of the age: Emma Hamilton, the courtesan turned courtier, and the nun Caterina Caresini, uncrowned queen of Venice", I expected more interaction with the two women and a dramatic impact to the plot. However, the plot was not very deep and the two central female characters roles were so minimal, I felt like a portion of the story was missing.
A definite read if you like historical maritime fiction.
February 17, 2017
An English sea captain becomes a courier, a spy, a prisoner, an enemy combatant and a hero in the early part of the Napoleonic war in this exciting story of Captain Nathan Peake, which includes some genuine historic persons and events. In a plot with twists the reader will want to turn the pages of this book
March 30, 2016
When I was trying to come up with the appropriate description for this Goodreads Giveaway book, the term "swashbuckling" came to mind, over and over. And indeed, it IS. While the book begins and ends in Venice, the majority of the action takes place on a ship (the Unicorn) and its captain Nathan Peake. Once I realized this book was truly written to entertain the reader (not impart historical or moral lessons), I enjoyed it very much.
Part of the fun comes from the nautical jargon. The novel uses words like "frigate", "coxswain", and "larboard". I walked around during the day with those things threatening to tumble out of my mouth into general conversation.
There's murder, military manipulation, double-crosses, and certainly cannon fire at regular intervals.
If you want a purely entertaining story of maritime adventure, this book is for you.
(It got three stars from me because of the occasional "f-bomb" which seemed gratuitous. Without that, I may have given it four stars and recommended it to my son later.)
Part of the fun comes from the nautical jargon. The novel uses words like "frigate", "coxswain", and "larboard". I walked around during the day with those things threatening to tumble out of my mouth into general conversation.
There's murder, military manipulation, double-crosses, and certainly cannon fire at regular intervals.
If you want a purely entertaining story of maritime adventure, this book is for you.
(It got three stars from me because of the occasional "f-bomb" which seemed gratuitous. Without that, I may have given it four stars and recommended it to my son later.)
April 5, 2014
Another excellent outing in the Nathan Peake series which, oddly, I can only assume might have been less successful than its predecessors, due to it apparently being extremely hard to get hold of in paperback. iBooks came to my rescue on this occasion though, allowing me to continue reading Seth Hunter's work. A gripping read as always.
November 9, 2013
Another excellent outing in the Nathan Peake series which, oddly, I can only assume might have been less successful than its predecessors, due to it apparently being extremely hard to get hold of in paperback. iBooks came to my rescue on this occasion though, allowing me to continue reading Seth Hunter's work. A gripping read as always.
March 3, 2016
I enjoy Horatio Hornblower and Luck Jack Aubry, but I think these books are even better. Interesting characters, intrigue, action, and complex plots that keep you reading. Not to mention witty one-liners and great historical details.
My only caution is that these are best read in order, to fully appreciate the characters that show up from previous books.
My only caution is that these are best read in order, to fully appreciate the characters that show up from previous books.
August 26, 2012
Great character development and consistently good history.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews