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The French Prize: A Novel
Acclaimed, award-winning author James L. Nelson - praised as "a master of both his period and the English language" by Patrick O'Brian - returns to the world of sea and sail in The French Prize, a page-turning historical novel. Jack Biddlecomb has much to live up to, being as he is the eldest son of the esteemed Captain Isaac Biddlecomb, wealthy merchant captain, leading light of the War for American Independence, and newly minted congressman. Jack finds himself off to a promising start, however, when he's given command of the merchant vessel Abigail bound from Philadelphia for Barbados. But even before the dock lines are cast off, the voyage, which should have been routine, begins to look like a stormy passage indeed. Jack is saddled with two passengers, one as unpleasant as he is highborn, the other a confidant of the Abigail 's owner who cannot help meddling in the running of the ship. What's more, with the French making prizes of American merchantmen, Abigail 's owner has armed the ship and instructed Jack to fight if need be, thrusting the first-time captain and his small crew into a naval war for which they are totally unprepared. What Jack does not know, but soon begins to suspect, is that he is being used as part of a bigger plot, one that will have repercussions on an international scale.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2015
13 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
James L. Nelson
62 books359 followersJames L. Nelson (1962-) is an American historical nautical novelist. He was born in Lewiston, Maine. In 1980, Nelson graduated from Lewiston High School. Nelson attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for two years, and then transferred to UCLA, with the ambition of becoming a film director. Nelson, his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Betsy lived for two years in Steubenville, Ohio, while Lisa attended Franciscan University. They also have two boys, Nate and Jack. They now live in Harpswell, Maine, where Nelson continues to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 16, 2015
I read a number of James L. Nelson’s nautical novels when I stumbled on them in the local library about 10 years ago. I remember I enjoyed the novels, but my memory of the quality of the books is fairly minimal. For some reason, the novels were not on the shelves long and obviously weeded early, so I could not go back to renew my acquaintance. I had read Nelson’s Thomas Marlowe series and some of his Isaac Biddlecomb series. It was a pleasure to find that James L. Nelson has returned to a similar theme. Rather than Issac Biddlecomb, his new book The French Prize: A Novel focuses on his son, Jack Biddlecomb.
Jack becomes the captain of the merchant ship the Abigail and is caught up in behind the scenes political maneuvering between factions in the very new and evolving American government. An incident has been contrived to start a war or “diplomatic” crisis between the revolutionary French government and the James Adams administration. Nelson deftly moves between current events and the past to provide an excellent development of the character Jack Biddlecomb and of the historical background. A highlight is the often suspicious and tense relationship between Jack and a passenger William Wentworth. Interesting, as it reminds me of the beginning of the relationship between Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin in Patrick O'Brian' Aubrey/Maturin series. Altogether an excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to more sea adventures with Jack Biddlecomb.
Jack becomes the captain of the merchant ship the Abigail and is caught up in behind the scenes political maneuvering between factions in the very new and evolving American government. An incident has been contrived to start a war or “diplomatic” crisis between the revolutionary French government and the James Adams administration. Nelson deftly moves between current events and the past to provide an excellent development of the character Jack Biddlecomb and of the historical background. A highlight is the often suspicious and tense relationship between Jack and a passenger William Wentworth. Interesting, as it reminds me of the beginning of the relationship between Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin in Patrick O'Brian' Aubrey/Maturin series. Altogether an excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to more sea adventures with Jack Biddlecomb.
November 29, 2015
Another Aubrey and Maturin?
If you are a fan of literature with a nautical bent and were swept away by Patrick O'Brien's great series with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin then The French Prize is a must read. I have absolutely no reservation in giving this wonderful book a five star rating. I am a reasonably competent sailor and on more than one occasion have had the helm of a sailboat in thirty knot winds. This experience definitely enhances the reading but is NOT a prerequisite to enjoying this great novel. The storyline just couldn't be better. The characters are well developed and believable. And the setting in all it's details rounds out a novel that has the potential to become a series that may come close to the great work of Patrick O'Brien. And I am not the least bit concerned with the similarities between the main characters in this potential series and the characters created by Mr O'Brien. If you have read his work, I'm very sure you will love this book. If you have not read O'Brien yet then read his series (after you read The French Prize). I'm sure you you will be waiting and hoping for many more to follow.
If you are a fan of literature with a nautical bent and were swept away by Patrick O'Brien's great series with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin then The French Prize is a must read. I have absolutely no reservation in giving this wonderful book a five star rating. I am a reasonably competent sailor and on more than one occasion have had the helm of a sailboat in thirty knot winds. This experience definitely enhances the reading but is NOT a prerequisite to enjoying this great novel. The storyline just couldn't be better. The characters are well developed and believable. And the setting in all it's details rounds out a novel that has the potential to become a series that may come close to the great work of Patrick O'Brien. And I am not the least bit concerned with the similarities between the main characters in this potential series and the characters created by Mr O'Brien. If you have read his work, I'm very sure you will love this book. If you have not read O'Brien yet then read his series (after you read The French Prize). I'm sure you you will be waiting and hoping for many more to follow.
May 6, 2021
A good, engaging read. Would have liked just a bit more content at the end but the character development and pace of the novel were great.
May 10, 2018
Good Entertainment!
The author, Mr. Nelson, shows his approach to Viking Ireland works at least as well for the early US. This book shows an impressive mastery of the ships, seamanship, and politics of the time of the Quasi War with France. The glossary at the end is big enough to help even those who are familiar with the genre through Hornblower books. I would have liked a historical note too, telling me how much was fiction and how much was fact, but there isn’t one. But that’s a nit.
The plot follows a young merchant captain on his first voyage in command. The owner provides him a token armament of 6-pounders so readers know he’s going to see action. He sees so much action that we start to wonder if there’s a conspiracy behind it, and of course with lots of twists and turns that keep us guessing, the situation is resolved.
The author’s familiarity with the period and places (Mr. Biddlecomb’s home port, Philadelphia, the Caribbean, Delaware Bay) comes through on every page, and the ships handle as expected with orders given in the correct sequence. Maneuvering is totally believable in the battles although I found the text slightly less easy to follow than CS Forester’s; still, by far the best blow by blow accounts of naval battles since. A bonus: a spectacular sword duel between the Captain and his stuck up Boston Brahmin passenger, Wentworth “of the Boston Wentworths”, that brought back moves my fencing coach taught me 40 years ago and can truly be followed blow by blow!
It’s only after finishing the book that we wonder if the plot is entirely believable. An armed merchant ship crippling a real warship, not once but in two separate engagements? I’m beginning to wonder. Even the first scene in Philadelphia where the owner announces he’s arming the ship is questionable: most merchant ships of the time were armed. Why isn’t the “Abigail?” I also thought there are a few too many flashbacks. They are creatively used to develop character but they also slow down the action, and the book’s fast moving action is its greatest strength.
But those thoughts only come after you finish the book. A 5 star read.
The author, Mr. Nelson, shows his approach to Viking Ireland works at least as well for the early US. This book shows an impressive mastery of the ships, seamanship, and politics of the time of the Quasi War with France. The glossary at the end is big enough to help even those who are familiar with the genre through Hornblower books. I would have liked a historical note too, telling me how much was fiction and how much was fact, but there isn’t one. But that’s a nit.
The plot follows a young merchant captain on his first voyage in command. The owner provides him a token armament of 6-pounders so readers know he’s going to see action. He sees so much action that we start to wonder if there’s a conspiracy behind it, and of course with lots of twists and turns that keep us guessing, the situation is resolved.
The author’s familiarity with the period and places (Mr. Biddlecomb’s home port, Philadelphia, the Caribbean, Delaware Bay) comes through on every page, and the ships handle as expected with orders given in the correct sequence. Maneuvering is totally believable in the battles although I found the text slightly less easy to follow than CS Forester’s; still, by far the best blow by blow accounts of naval battles since. A bonus: a spectacular sword duel between the Captain and his stuck up Boston Brahmin passenger, Wentworth “of the Boston Wentworths”, that brought back moves my fencing coach taught me 40 years ago and can truly be followed blow by blow!
It’s only after finishing the book that we wonder if the plot is entirely believable. An armed merchant ship crippling a real warship, not once but in two separate engagements? I’m beginning to wonder. Even the first scene in Philadelphia where the owner announces he’s arming the ship is questionable: most merchant ships of the time were armed. Why isn’t the “Abigail?” I also thought there are a few too many flashbacks. They are creatively used to develop character but they also slow down the action, and the book’s fast moving action is its greatest strength.
But those thoughts only come after you finish the book. A 5 star read.
January 16, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Nelson helps readers along a bit more than O’Brien (not quite as much esoteric terminology, more explanation of why the sailors are doing something), which I appreciate. His battle and storm scenes are rather terrifying, although in this novel his use of multiple viewpoints to describe the same events, while interesting, can get every-so-slightly tedious.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Wentworth character, and I hope he becomes Captain Jack’s sidekick in future novels. Jack himself, well, he’s 19 and, while a fine seamen still a bit of an idiot. But room for growth there, no? Good plot, interesting setting and political background. Fun listen…
I thoroughly enjoyed the Wentworth character, and I hope he becomes Captain Jack’s sidekick in future novels. Jack himself, well, he’s 19 and, while a fine seamen still a bit of an idiot. But room for growth there, no? Good plot, interesting setting and political background. Fun listen…
April 18, 2021
Another great read from my favorite author. This is about the son of Isaac Biddlecomb (of the original sagas written) and no one in the colonies and elsewhere won't let him forget it. Adventure, intrigue, and the sailing descriptions that are so crisp and vivid you can feel the ropes in your hands and the sea breeze on your face.
May 30, 2018
Great book all around, a bit slow to start and ends once it picks up steam, hope to see more of the characters in later books!
April 6, 2020
Great if you like lots of details about ships, not so much for character development. It does give a bit of understanding of post American War of Independence.
October 19, 2020
Excellent
Excellent and well researched book. One of those books you just can’t put down.
Thanks for taking us along on this ride.
Excellent and well researched book. One of those books you just can’t put down.
Thanks for taking us along on this ride.
March 14, 2024
A great maritime novel in which I love to read great characters and lots of action. 4 and half stars
March 24, 2025
Really hard to get into, but I enjoyed the last 1/2 better. Too technical with too many details. However, I think the author wrote his characters well and helped me to really "see" them.
September 4, 2015
James L. Nelson wrote five very good books about Captain Isaac Biddlecomb a hotheaded hero of the US Navy during the Revoutionary War. They were well written and well plotted, but a sixth novel never appeared due to some kind of legal snarl. Nelson has jumped a generation in the form of an enjoyable novel about Biddlecomb's son, Jack. Isaac Biddlecomb is now a congressman. His son is the captain of a merchant ship and an experienced sailor at a young age. But his ship is somehow caught up in a domestic political plot to undermine the Adams administration by triggering a naval incident with the revolutionary French government, whose ships prey of English (and American) shipping in the West Indies. How Jack fights his way clear of the incident makes for an exciting novel.
July 27, 2015
A new series from one of the grand masters of naval historical fiction. This series gives us Jack Biddlecomb, son of Nelson's terrific Isaac Biddlecomb (of his Revolution at War sea saga).
Jack is the minted captain of the Abigail, a merchant ship bound for Barbados. What Jack doesn't know is that there is a plot for him to be captured by the French and start a war. Lead by one of the plotters Jack finds himself fighting a French Corsair in the West Indies. Alrhought he feels he's not like his hero father, Jack does come into his own.
Great characters, battle scenes, and plot (the Nelson touch, if you will) makes you wonder when Jack will return (2016?).
Highly Recommended
Jack is the minted captain of the Abigail, a merchant ship bound for Barbados. What Jack doesn't know is that there is a plot for him to be captured by the French and start a war. Lead by one of the plotters Jack finds himself fighting a French Corsair in the West Indies. Alrhought he feels he's not like his hero father, Jack does come into his own.
Great characters, battle scenes, and plot (the Nelson touch, if you will) makes you wonder when Jack will return (2016?).
Highly Recommended
January 13, 2016
The first in a new series by Mr. Nelson. It has the same strengths and shortcomings as his previous work--the action sequences are gripping and very well done, and well worth the reading time. The rest of the plot work and characters seem a bit forced, and Mr. Nelson uses a lot of colorless exposition in moving the story between the action scenes. Still, if you like historical fiction featuring exciting sailing ship adventure, you probably won't mind working your way through the slower parts.
August 28, 2015
Wow. I really enjoyed this book. So glad he returned to the Age of Sail. I really like the direction this series could go. Bringing in Jack Biddlecomb, son of Issac (ftom his earlier series) was great. I think casting him as a merchant sailor opens up a whole world of adventure and exploration. The next book cannot be too soon!
February 4, 2016
This book was so much fun to read. I know nothing of life at sea. Let alone on a merchant vessel during The USA's infancy as a nation. But this book made me feel like an old salt on the high seas. And Captain Biddlecomb is a character that I could easily empathize with. Great read. And to top it off, this book stands on its own. Not a series.
July 24, 2023
Capable narrative to the particulars a sea.
Good engaging plot with curves not always anticipated. Good read with great period detail. Characters are developed skillfully to keep the reader engaged. Thank you!
Good engaging plot with curves not always anticipated. Good read with great period detail. Characters are developed skillfully to keep the reader engaged. Thank you!
September 22, 2015
Great book! I'd say as good as Patrick O'Brian. Can't believe it took me so long to find Nelson.
September 12, 2015
Good yarn. Lots of ropes, lines, sails and other paraphernalia explained to boot!
May 23, 2016
Fun read with good character development.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews