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Alexander Clay #5
The Distant Ocean
Newly returned from the Battle of the Nile, Alexander Clay and the crew of the Titan are soon in action again, just when he has the strongest reason to wish to abide in England. But a powerful French naval squadron is at large in the Indian Ocean, attacking Britain’s vital East India trade. Together with his friend John Sutton, he is sent as part of the Royal Navy’s response. On route the Titan runs to ground a privateer preying on slave ships on the coast of West Africa, stirring up memories of the past for Able Sedgwick, Clay’s coxswain. They arrive in the Indian Ocean to find that danger lurks in the blue waters and on the palm-fringed islands. Old enemies with scores to settle mean that betrayal from amongst his own side may prove the hardest challenge Clay will face, and a dead man’s hand may yet undo all he has fought to win. Will the curse of the captain’s nephew never cease to bedevil Clay and his friends?
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2019
291 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Allan
18 books407 followersI am from the UK where I live with my wife and daughters. My writing combines my passion for ships and the sea, with intelligent writing and pacey plots.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 22, 2022
I thought that it was only a couple of weeks ago since I had read a book by PHILIP ALLAN but it turns out it has been more like 10 months. THE DISTANT OCEAN is book five in the Alexander Clay of the British Royal Navy in which the author continues to follow, very ably, in the footsteps of C.S. Forester (Horatio Hornblower series) and Patrick O’Brian (Master and Commander series). As in his previous books, there is history and there is fiction melded into a seamless adventure story. The series takes place in the late 18th Century to the early 1800s.
Captain Alexander Clay’s latest campaign takes him and his frigate HMS Titan from England to the east coast of Africa where they deal with the thorny issue of the slave trade. Next, they visit Cape Town, South Africa for resupplying the four ships. Thence into the Indian Ocean to eliminate a French naval force preying on English commercial ships.
His best friend, Captain John Sutton of the sloop HMS Rush, is part of the squadron. Captain Nicholas Windham, long time tormenter of Sutton and Clay, commands another sloop, HMS Echo. Commodore Sir George Montgomery, captain of the big frigate HMS Black Prince, is new to the series. He was a good friend of Windham’s uncle who died under mysterious circumstances in an earlier book. Windham blames Sutton and Clay for his death even though the Royal Navy had cleared them of any responsibility.
In Clay’s crew are a number of continuing characters. One is Able Sedgwick, a freed (escaped) slave from a plantation in Barbados whom Clay, his wife Lydia and his sister Betsey have taken under their wings. He is Clay’s coxswain on the Titan as well as a friend. Lydia has taught him to read and write. Betsey is a published, bestselling author and helps to educate Able.
During this story, Sedgwick has a tremendous surprise coming. Betsey and John Sutton also continue their relationship, which creates tension between Sutton and Clay. Just before the story begins, Clay finds out he is going to be a father. The birth will occur while he is away on the assignment.
During a naval battle, Echo and Rush take on a French frigate off the coast of southeast Africa. The battle does not end well causing more tension to arise between Clay and Windham. Eventually a plan is devised to lure the French ships out of their base on Reunion Island. In a climatic naval battle the British persevere but not without consequences for Clay.
I cannot tell you how much I really enjoy Mr. Allan’s books. There is history, there is action, there are great characters and there is romance. The books are fast paced. Rarely does it take me more than a couple days of reading to get through one. At which point I feel glad there are more to read. My problem is a happy one, there are just too many good books to read and I want to read them all! Do yourself a favor, if this type of story interests you, begin with book one in the series. There are nine to read so far. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ!
Captain Alexander Clay’s latest campaign takes him and his frigate HMS Titan from England to the east coast of Africa where they deal with the thorny issue of the slave trade. Next, they visit Cape Town, South Africa for resupplying the four ships. Thence into the Indian Ocean to eliminate a French naval force preying on English commercial ships.
His best friend, Captain John Sutton of the sloop HMS Rush, is part of the squadron. Captain Nicholas Windham, long time tormenter of Sutton and Clay, commands another sloop, HMS Echo. Commodore Sir George Montgomery, captain of the big frigate HMS Black Prince, is new to the series. He was a good friend of Windham’s uncle who died under mysterious circumstances in an earlier book. Windham blames Sutton and Clay for his death even though the Royal Navy had cleared them of any responsibility.
In Clay’s crew are a number of continuing characters. One is Able Sedgwick, a freed (escaped) slave from a plantation in Barbados whom Clay, his wife Lydia and his sister Betsey have taken under their wings. He is Clay’s coxswain on the Titan as well as a friend. Lydia has taught him to read and write. Betsey is a published, bestselling author and helps to educate Able.
During this story, Sedgwick has a tremendous surprise coming. Betsey and John Sutton also continue their relationship, which creates tension between Sutton and Clay. Just before the story begins, Clay finds out he is going to be a father. The birth will occur while he is away on the assignment.
During a naval battle, Echo and Rush take on a French frigate off the coast of southeast Africa. The battle does not end well causing more tension to arise between Clay and Windham. Eventually a plan is devised to lure the French ships out of their base on Reunion Island. In a climatic naval battle the British persevere but not without consequences for Clay.
I cannot tell you how much I really enjoy Mr. Allan’s books. There is history, there is action, there are great characters and there is romance. The books are fast paced. Rarely does it take me more than a couple days of reading to get through one. At which point I feel glad there are more to read. My problem is a happy one, there are just too many good books to read and I want to read them all! Do yourself a favor, if this type of story interests you, begin with book one in the series. There are nine to read so far. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ!
March 6, 2023
Another in the series of sea novels, this one particularly great for its lower decks conversation and action. Allan does well differentiating characters by their voice and social status, background, etc.
This book finds our heroes in the Indian Ocean tracking down French frigates preying on East India Company merchants. It also brings back Windham, the angry and bitter son of a captain who died in a battle that led Clay to gaining his promotion to master and commander. This has long been a moral dilemma and one cannot feel some sympathy for Windham, whose loyalty to his incompetent and drunken father leads him to seek vengeance for how the man died.
Sedgewick, the escaped slave / now Coxswain for Clay has finished his book about his life and struggles and it has been published to some acclaim. Sedgewick features strongly in this book as the ship returns to his homeland and he is able to guide the sailors through it effectively.
Overall its pretty well done, if not enormously innovative and new, and the characterization is well done.
This book finds our heroes in the Indian Ocean tracking down French frigates preying on East India Company merchants. It also brings back Windham, the angry and bitter son of a captain who died in a battle that led Clay to gaining his promotion to master and commander. This has long been a moral dilemma and one cannot feel some sympathy for Windham, whose loyalty to his incompetent and drunken father leads him to seek vengeance for how the man died.
Sedgewick, the escaped slave / now Coxswain for Clay has finished his book about his life and struggles and it has been published to some acclaim. Sedgewick features strongly in this book as the ship returns to his homeland and he is able to guide the sailors through it effectively.
Overall its pretty well done, if not enormously innovative and new, and the characterization is well done.
September 20, 2019
Three French ships plague British merchantmen in the Indian Ocean, and the mounting losses necessitate the departure of Captain Alexander Clay from his wife. Their parting is bittersweet; his orders come just as he learns of his impending fatherhood, and he may be gone a long time. Duty, however, takes precedence, and he joins Commodore Sir George Montague’s squadron. In addition to their two warships, which are tasked with ending the French depredations, are two sloops. One is commanded by his closest friend, John Sutton, and the other, by their nemesis, Nicholas Windham.
Windham has never accepted the story of how his uncle died, and he craves justice. “Dismal George” – better known for his penchant for his ship’s appearance than his fighting capabilities – overlooks some of Windham’s disgruntlement, but cannot abide dissension among his officers. He fears that Windham’s idée fixe will cause injury to his own career and orders his friend’s nephew to set aside the need to make Sutton pay and reconcile.
On their way to their destination, Clay escorts several Guineamen to the Gold Coast, while Dismal George and the sloops accompany another convoy to Gibraltar. Floating corpses off Africa introduce Clay and his men to one of the horrific realities of slavery, and when the truth of what occurred is discovered, Clay sets in motion a scheme to thwart the French privateer responsible for the deaths. Coxswain Able Sedgwick plays a key role in the plan, for he grew up on these shores, but the outcome has unforeseen and deadly consequences.
The initial blockade of Reunion Island, a French stronghold in the Indian Ocean, fails to lure the enemy warships from their safe haven. Clay and Sutton have words over the latter’s intentions toward Clay’s sister, causing a rift between the friends. Then Wyndham puts forth a new plan to deal with the French that Sutton supports. Their two sloops will ferret out the weakest of the three enemy vessels and launch a two-pronged attack. During the hunt, Dismal George will escort a convoy to Bombay while Clay accompanies another ship – one already attacked by the French – to Cape Town. Wyndham’s gambit has definite merit, but his motivation differs from Sutton’s, much to his chagrin.
Distant Ocean, the fifth book in the Alexander Clay series, is an incisive and accurate depiction of life in the Georgian navy. Allan incorporates a humorous portrayal of a Crossing the Line ceremony, a poignant farewell to men lost, and a harrowing escape at sea into this beguiling tale of friendship, guilt, obsession, retribution, and determination.
Windham has never accepted the story of how his uncle died, and he craves justice. “Dismal George” – better known for his penchant for his ship’s appearance than his fighting capabilities – overlooks some of Windham’s disgruntlement, but cannot abide dissension among his officers. He fears that Windham’s idée fixe will cause injury to his own career and orders his friend’s nephew to set aside the need to make Sutton pay and reconcile.
On their way to their destination, Clay escorts several Guineamen to the Gold Coast, while Dismal George and the sloops accompany another convoy to Gibraltar. Floating corpses off Africa introduce Clay and his men to one of the horrific realities of slavery, and when the truth of what occurred is discovered, Clay sets in motion a scheme to thwart the French privateer responsible for the deaths. Coxswain Able Sedgwick plays a key role in the plan, for he grew up on these shores, but the outcome has unforeseen and deadly consequences.
The initial blockade of Reunion Island, a French stronghold in the Indian Ocean, fails to lure the enemy warships from their safe haven. Clay and Sutton have words over the latter’s intentions toward Clay’s sister, causing a rift between the friends. Then Wyndham puts forth a new plan to deal with the French that Sutton supports. Their two sloops will ferret out the weakest of the three enemy vessels and launch a two-pronged attack. During the hunt, Dismal George will escort a convoy to Bombay while Clay accompanies another ship – one already attacked by the French – to Cape Town. Wyndham’s gambit has definite merit, but his motivation differs from Sutton’s, much to his chagrin.
Distant Ocean, the fifth book in the Alexander Clay series, is an incisive and accurate depiction of life in the Georgian navy. Allan incorporates a humorous portrayal of a Crossing the Line ceremony, a poignant farewell to men lost, and a harrowing escape at sea into this beguiling tale of friendship, guilt, obsession, retribution, and determination.
March 7, 2020
Distant Waters
In this next novel after the one featuring the Battle of the Nile, Capt clay and his ship are sent to the Indian Ocean to counter a squadron of French frigates. It quickly becomes an epic struggle for mastery of the region and events from previous books in the series cast a long shadow. It’s a compulsive read with lots of bloody action.
However, I thought much of it was covering familiar ground both literally and figuratively. The plot is much like “The Commodore” in the Aubrey/ Maturin series and many of the landmarks are also familiar from that book. Another deficiency is that Some of the battle sequences are not completely thought out so that ships back their topsails to stop but don’t seem to gather sternway. In another instance a foretopsail is backed but it just slows the ship, no mention of the powerful turning moment that would produce (bow to leeward). That some of these sloppy details happened in the climactic battle that ends the story is disappointing. In the beginning of any battle sequence from the age of fighting sail, the author can’t avoid telling the audience which way the wind is blowing, yet I found myself unsure who had the weather gauge in that final battle!
The author wrote an astounding good story in the previous book but this one wasn’t quite so outstanding.
In this next novel after the one featuring the Battle of the Nile, Capt clay and his ship are sent to the Indian Ocean to counter a squadron of French frigates. It quickly becomes an epic struggle for mastery of the region and events from previous books in the series cast a long shadow. It’s a compulsive read with lots of bloody action.
However, I thought much of it was covering familiar ground both literally and figuratively. The plot is much like “The Commodore” in the Aubrey/ Maturin series and many of the landmarks are also familiar from that book. Another deficiency is that Some of the battle sequences are not completely thought out so that ships back their topsails to stop but don’t seem to gather sternway. In another instance a foretopsail is backed but it just slows the ship, no mention of the powerful turning moment that would produce (bow to leeward). That some of these sloppy details happened in the climactic battle that ends the story is disappointing. In the beginning of any battle sequence from the age of fighting sail, the author can’t avoid telling the audience which way the wind is blowing, yet I found myself unsure who had the weather gauge in that final battle!
The author wrote an astounding good story in the previous book but this one wasn’t quite so outstanding.
February 11, 2020
Hugely enjoyable read
Another huge!y enjoyable tale from Mr Allan, this time the hero and his supporting cast of characters is in the Indian Ocean chasing three French frigates predating on British merchantmen . Whilst Alexander Clay and the squadron are ultimate!y successful, there is plenty of plotting and skullduggery in the unfolding tale. There's even a whodunit along the way. Again the author does not confine himself to the Captain's cabin or Waterloo and there is a huge and varied cast of detailed characters
Another huge!y enjoyable tale from Mr Allan, this time the hero and his supporting cast of characters is in the Indian Ocean chasing three French frigates predating on British merchantmen . Whilst Alexander Clay and the squadron are ultimate!y successful, there is plenty of plotting and skullduggery in the unfolding tale. There's even a whodunit along the way. Again the author does not confine himself to the Captain's cabin or Waterloo and there is a huge and varied cast of detailed characters
June 18, 2019
Another successful work.
I have read 5 books in the series. I have found all to be very thrilling, easy reads, extremely entertaining, and with enough historical significance to make the story believable. I would certainly recommend the book to those wishing to learn a bit of what life on a tall ship might have been. Also, someone like myself that has an unreasonable fondness and fear of the sea.
I have read 5 books in the series. I have found all to be very thrilling, easy reads, extremely entertaining, and with enough historical significance to make the story believable. I would certainly recommend the book to those wishing to learn a bit of what life on a tall ship might have been. Also, someone like myself that has an unreasonable fondness and fear of the sea.
May 10, 2020
I hate to come to the finish
But look forward to book 6. I also wish Capt. Sutton's
'problem ' had gone into the ocean too.
I intended to mention sooner but I think I enjoyed the books by reading them in order, though it is not
imperative that one do so.
I'm glad I I had these books. They have made my virus quarantine time less unpleasant for me.
But look forward to book 6. I also wish Capt. Sutton's
'problem ' had gone into the ocean too.
I intended to mention sooner but I think I enjoyed the books by reading them in order, though it is not
imperative that one do so.
I'm glad I I had these books. They have made my virus quarantine time less unpleasant for me.
March 14, 2024
I will say this was probably the most enjoyable story of the Clay series so far.
That being said, the volume of spelling errors littered throughout the book really make it impossible to give anything more than 3 stars.
That being said, the volume of spelling errors littered throughout the book really make it impossible to give anything more than 3 stars.
December 5, 2024
Good story, good writing, just a small black mark for a fair number of proofreading errors, which was surprising because I didn’t notice anything of the sort in the previous four volumes of Mr. Allan’s series. Other than that niggle, a perfectly enjoyable read.
March 4, 2019
I have the whole series, and 3 thru 5 twice. As Tony the Tiger says "Thierr Greeaaat!
March 20, 2019
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"...excellent seafaring descriptions... Mr Allan knows his stuff!"
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"...excellent seafaring descriptions... Mr Allan knows his stuff!"
April 23, 2019
Great read
Good read it you like the British baby in the late 1790s. As good as Alexander is in action reallity.
Good read it you like the British baby in the late 1790s. As good as Alexander is in action reallity.
October 17, 2020
Another Fantastic Read
Again we have Alexander Clay and the Titans reeking havoc. John Sutton's adventure is wonderfully detailed. I look forward to the next installment
Again we have Alexander Clay and the Titans reeking havoc. John Sutton's adventure is wonderfully detailed. I look forward to the next installment
May 12, 2023
great storyteller
The characters are filling out and becoming something to look forward too. I will be reading the next in the series to see where the Sutton Wyndham issue will go.
The characters are filling out and becoming something to look forward too. I will be reading the next in the series to see where the Sutton Wyndham issue will go.
February 14, 2024
Yet another great story from Philip Allan.
August 26, 2022
I'll be honest - I didn't think they were going to return to the major plotline that was started in the first novel and seemed to have been shelved. Despite the standard comic villainy that seems to be a hallmark of Allan's writing, this novel is unique in continuing a major arc and giving Clay a ton of serious character development. Definitely better than the rest.
December 23, 2022
Enjoying Allan's writing style emulating the time period.
May 25, 2020
Sailing ship actions
I always enjoy sailing ship stories and when they also contain naval action and maneuvers, then it is really enjoyable
I always enjoy sailing ship stories and when they also contain naval action and maneuvers, then it is really enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews