The First to Land

Blackwood Family #2

by Douglas Reeman

     1899, China. The Mandarins are becoming troublesome again and there are rumors that attacks will soon begin on British trade missions and legations. Captain David Blackwood of the Royal Marines, received a VC in the bloody battle for Benin, Africa but is now being packed off to this apparent backwater.

     But there are plenty of troubles in store for Blackwood in the shape of an errant nephew and a beautiful German Countess who insists he personally escort her up river on a small steamer into the heart of the country. China is a sleeping tiger that will soon awake when the Boxer Rebellion erupts into bloody war in 1900. True to their motto, the Royal marines are the first to land -- and the last to leave.

     This is the second novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family and the tradition in which they served.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, War, Military Fiction, China, Historical

300 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1984

About the author

AKA Alexander Kent.
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.

Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.

Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).

Series:
* Blackwood Family

Reviews

[Colin Mitchell]

The further adventures of the Blackwood family. This time Captain David Blackwood VC and his time in China and the Boxer rebellion. All the usual stuff heroic stands by the Marines. Dangerous, upriver expedition to reunite the beautiful Countess with her husband and then an epic retreat to the sea. Then on towards Peking with their back to the wall.

Quite similar to the first in the series but never the less a good swift paced read. All gung ho stuff. 3 good stars.

[Tim Armstrong]

I decided to read this solely based on the cover and description and I am glad I did. The novel is about Royal Marines and their actions during the Boxer Rebellion in China. It was a decent book, entertaining military fiction. I was unaware that it was part of a series of books, but I would read further entries if I come across them.

[Craig]

Not my normal reading material but it was okay. I suppose by definition the fighting scenes are detailed, which for me tends to slow down the pace of the story, but there were enough characters involved to make each one's development and outcome interesting enough.

I wouldn't avoid others in this series, but I won't be especially seeking them out either.

[Norman Smith]

I found this book to be rather formulaic. I read the first book in the series a couple of weeks ago, so perhaps I am seeing the formula rather more clearly than I would have had I let a couple of years go by. So, it is a ripping yarn, but I could not develop any enthusiasm for it.

It seems like I have read the last two books in this series as well. I think I will let this be enough.

[Peter Kreft]

I have to admit, i have been a Reeman fan for over thirty years now, in Germany he is sold under the pen name Alexander Kent (which he used only for the Bolitho series in the originals). Most of his books are very similar, but there are some which really stick out among the others.

[John Nino]

Boxers Knocked Out by the Blackwoods

Remarkable story lines around a good central plot. Wonderfully drawn characters. Fascinating love story. Engross action scenes. A recommended read.

[Don]

Yet another good adventure story by Douglas Reeman .This time we move on to the sons of our heroes in book one , but the story ( and sub- stories ) are still fast paced and just as gripping. Roll-on book three !

[William W.]

Reeman makes it. real

Reman’s battle descriptions made me feel as if I was there, feeling the fear, the desperation and the madness. Even to feel the pride mixed with loss for the friends who didn’t make it.

[Carl Nattrass]

A good historical novel

[Donald]

I've read two of the books in series seems to be a certain amount of repetition. Different people and places but repetition.

[Norman Larke]

Blackwood Saga

Another good read from an excellent author, his stories are full of history, heroes and romance, very un put downable

[Michael Burke]

Captivating

Good description of battle scenes and plotting future sorties and steamy hidden liaisons sexual
Cowardice and courage in equal measuu

[Vera Schofield]

Impelling read. You just have to keep reading hence to many late nights.

[James Dawson]

brilliant !

Loved it, and covers an area of history not normally covered. It also shows the true grit of the Royal Marines

[Frank]

Enjoyable Read

Excellent blend of action and romance. Easy read.
A little difficult to follow the family heirs, but doesn’t affect the novel,

[Gerold Whittaker]

Set in about 1900, Blackwood is a descendant of the hero of Badge of Glory. Although the Boer War is raging in South Africa, Blackwood and the Marines are sent to China to quell the Boxer rebellion. There Blackwood rescues a special lady. Steam ships, steam trains and the Royal Marines: an enjoyable book, Reeman's 2nd in the Blackwood series.

[Donna Maroulis]

This book gives you a very good taste of what everyday trench warfare was like for the British soldiers during the turn of the century Boxer Rebellion in China. It is also a bit of a romance novel as well. I might have enjoyed it a little more if the civilian side of the story had been there as a balance to the starkness of the military tale...

[Joseph Lockhart]

I read over twenty of his thirty or so Richard Bolitho series novels, written under the pen-name Alexander Kent, before they started to all seem the same, but the first in this series was pretty good so I tried this one. Seems the girls just, can't keep their hands off of all of his heroes...

[Ron]

Another of Reeman's military Historical Fiction. This is the 2nd in the Royal Marines Saga following the Blackwood family over a course of 75 to 100 years of military action.

[Phil]

Action packed adventure story at the time of the Boxer Rebellion.