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Isaac Biddlecomb #5
All the Brave Fellows
James L. Nelson, "the American counterpart to L. Patrick O'Brian" (David Brink), writes breathtaking descriptions of the age when saliors became warriors and warriors became legends. Now his acclaimed Revolution at Sea Saga continues as General George Washington fights a loosing battle to keep Philidelpia from the hands of the British.
ALL THE BRAVE FELLOWS
It is 1777, the Year of the Hangman, and Captain Isaac Biddlecomb is bound for Philidelphia with his wife and child in the Continental brig of the Charlemagne. His orders are to take command of the newly built 20-gun frigate Salmouth and get her out to sea before she is taken by General Richard Howe's invading army.
Unbeknownst tp Biddlecomb, the entire British fleet stands between him and the new nation's capital. Forced to run his beloved Charelmagne aground, Biddlecomb comes face-to-face with his mortal enemy, Lt. John Smeaton.
Meanwhile, General Washington has yielded Philidelphia to Britain's might. As Biddlecomb and his crew battle to reach the prized Falmouth, only shipwright Malachi Foote and a ragtag band of deserters from the Continental Army stand between the vessel and the seemingly unstoppable British Army.
ALL THE BRAVE FELLOWS
It is 1777, the Year of the Hangman, and Captain Isaac Biddlecomb is bound for Philidelphia with his wife and child in the Continental brig of the Charlemagne. His orders are to take command of the newly built 20-gun frigate Salmouth and get her out to sea before she is taken by General Richard Howe's invading army.
Unbeknownst tp Biddlecomb, the entire British fleet stands between him and the new nation's capital. Forced to run his beloved Charelmagne aground, Biddlecomb comes face-to-face with his mortal enemy, Lt. John Smeaton.
Meanwhile, General Washington has yielded Philidelphia to Britain's might. As Biddlecomb and his crew battle to reach the prized Falmouth, only shipwright Malachi Foote and a ragtag band of deserters from the Continental Army stand between the vessel and the seemingly unstoppable British Army.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
40 people are currently reading
116 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 26, 2020
In this, the last book in James Nelson's Revolution at Sea Saga, Isaac Biddlecomb spends most of his time on rivers and inlets, not the ocean. He's just been give command of the unfinished 28-gun Continental frigate Falmouth, which is waiting for him in a shipyard in Philadelphia. The British army, under Lord Howe, is on his way to capture Philadelphia and Biddlecomb must get the Falmouth to sea before Howe captures the city. Knowing he has plenty of time, Biddlecomb takes his wife and baby son along with him on his trusty brig of war Charlemagne to drop off in Philadelphia.
As luck would have it, a British ship intercepts the Charlemagne, destroying it. Biddlecomb and his surviving crewmembers are left on the beach many days' journey from Philadelphia. They begin the long trek to the city.
Unfortunately, Biddlecomb and the other survivors might not complete the journey. The British Navy controls the waterways to Philadelphia from Biddlecomb's side and Lord Howe's troops are closing in on the city from the other side. Biddlecomb's old enemy, British Second Lieutenant John Smeaton, is out to kill him. And Malachi Foote, who is in charge of building the Falmouth was abandoned by his workers because of Lord Howe's approach. Foote desperately wants to take the ship upriver to prevent the British from capturing it, but the ship hasn't been fitted out with masts and spars and sails yet.
Biddlecomb's situation brings up a lot of questions: What will happen to his wife and child, who are caught in the middle of a vicious battle? Will Biddlecomb make it to Philadelphia through enemy-controlled waterways? And if he does, will the Falmouth be waiting or will it have been seized by the British? Or, if Foote does manage to move the Falmouth upriver, will Biddlecomb ever find it? And will Biddlecomb survive his inevitable encounter with Smeaton?
As with Nelson's other novels, this one was an enjoyable read. The only complaint I have is that Nelson treats Foote and some American deserters in a semi-comical manner which, for me, detracts from the narrative. But that's small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. Nelson's a certified square-rig sailor, and knows how to sail the type of ships used in the 1700s. So his descriptions of shipboard life are accurate.
The Revolution at Sea Saga has been a wonderful series and I'm sorry to see it end. However, All the Brave Fellows takes place a few years before the Revolutionary War ended. So perhaps in the future Nelson will add a few more novels to this wonderful series.
As luck would have it, a British ship intercepts the Charlemagne, destroying it. Biddlecomb and his surviving crewmembers are left on the beach many days' journey from Philadelphia. They begin the long trek to the city.
Unfortunately, Biddlecomb and the other survivors might not complete the journey. The British Navy controls the waterways to Philadelphia from Biddlecomb's side and Lord Howe's troops are closing in on the city from the other side. Biddlecomb's old enemy, British Second Lieutenant John Smeaton, is out to kill him. And Malachi Foote, who is in charge of building the Falmouth was abandoned by his workers because of Lord Howe's approach. Foote desperately wants to take the ship upriver to prevent the British from capturing it, but the ship hasn't been fitted out with masts and spars and sails yet.
Biddlecomb's situation brings up a lot of questions: What will happen to his wife and child, who are caught in the middle of a vicious battle? Will Biddlecomb make it to Philadelphia through enemy-controlled waterways? And if he does, will the Falmouth be waiting or will it have been seized by the British? Or, if Foote does manage to move the Falmouth upriver, will Biddlecomb ever find it? And will Biddlecomb survive his inevitable encounter with Smeaton?
As with Nelson's other novels, this one was an enjoyable read. The only complaint I have is that Nelson treats Foote and some American deserters in a semi-comical manner which, for me, detracts from the narrative. But that's small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. Nelson's a certified square-rig sailor, and knows how to sail the type of ships used in the 1700s. So his descriptions of shipboard life are accurate.
The Revolution at Sea Saga has been a wonderful series and I'm sorry to see it end. However, All the Brave Fellows takes place a few years before the Revolutionary War ended. So perhaps in the future Nelson will add a few more novels to this wonderful series.
November 18, 2020
The fifth and apparently final book in James Nelson’s Revolution at sea saga. Different from the previous books in the series with more characters and plots. But still great historical writing. Guess I had enough of Captain Biddlecomb. So I will be looking forward to reading about his son Jack in “The French Prize” by J. Nelson.
June 2, 2016
This is a fascinating story that blends fact and fiction seamlessly, the fifth in the Revolution at Sea Saga. This saga follows the main character Captain Isaac Biddlecomb as he tries to get to his new ship near Philadelphia, the capital city of the US at the time, after the British have taken control of the city but not yet the waterway to it. While I like Biddlecomb better than I did early in the series (now that he has a few faults showing), in this book it is the relationship between the master shipwright Malachi Foote and the soldier/sailor Sgt. Angus McGinty that steals the show. It's a macho male relationship that starts off badly but evolves as each begins to appreciate the valuable qualities of the other. Respect and friendship grow despite, in order to maintain their own self-respect, having to maintain the outward appearance of continuing animosity.
I had to laugh. Fabulous!
From a historical perspective, after reading this book I learned what a chevaux-de-frise is and I gained a new appreciation for the narrowness of our victory over Britian. I enjoyed it very much!
Foote pulled his plug of tobacco from his coat pocket, tore a piece off with his teeth, handed it to McGinty. "You know, McGinty, you ain't so bad for a fucking lazy Irishman." Then, embarrassed by this display of raw and unchecked emotion, Foote spit into the bilge and hurried back on deck.
I had to laugh. Fabulous!
From a historical perspective, after reading this book I learned what a chevaux-de-frise is and I gained a new appreciation for the narrowness of our victory over Britian. I enjoyed it very much!
April 10, 2020
This really doesn't seem like the grand finale of a 5 part series. There's a surprising lack of emphasis on the main characters and it's main focus seems to just be setting up the main hero for his continuing adventures. It works really well as a "middle book of a trilogy", but not as a last book in the series.
November 9, 2023
Captain Isaac Biddlecomb of the Continental Navy, is sailing toward Philadelphia in the opening of this volume of the Revolution at Sea Saga, when his ship is attacked and grounded on the New Jersey coast of the Delaware river by a British warship. Biddlecomb was to take command of the Continental Navy's newest and most powerful ship. His wife and child are with him when they are forced to abandon ship. The rest of the book is his convoluted pathway to reaching his new ship, just launched and not even rigged yet. He is plagued by old enemies, last seen in the previous books of the series, and is aided by new friends.
If you enjoy the tales of the British Navy during the American and Napoleonic wars, this is a very enjoyable addition to those histories.
If you enjoy the tales of the British Navy during the American and Napoleonic wars, this is a very enjoyable addition to those histories.
November 26, 2020
enjoyable series
I have read several stories about Captain Biddlecomb and the United Staes Navy, they have all been very well worth the read. Rip roaring naval tales of the days of sail when it was very hard work being a sailor!
I have read several stories about Captain Biddlecomb and the United Staes Navy, they have all been very well worth the read. Rip roaring naval tales of the days of sail when it was very hard work being a sailor!
April 19, 2020
More adventure on the high seas
September 17, 2020
If you're a fan of Patrick O'Brian you'll love James Nelson, this series is a must read, everything you could wish for , leaves you wanting more.
November 9, 2024
Fabulous! Another gripping chapter in the adventures of Isaac Biddlecombe.
February 19, 2015
The entire Revolution at Sea series is excellent. Perhaps not quite to the level of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin series, but no historical novels (naval or otherwise) match them for me. I highly recommend the series.
September 20, 2009
Swashbuckling sea yarn, great fun.
July 30, 2011
Great historical fiction about navy warfare during the Revolutionary War.
April 1, 2017
Badass series!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews