Just Finished Reading: The Privateersman by Richard Woodman (FP: 2000) [250pp]

Back in Liverpool everything has changed for Captain William Kite. With his business partners turning against him and his wife and child dead from an epidemic sweeping the city he heeds the call of the sea and returns to Antigua to start trading along the Eastern coast of America. Now reacquainted with business partners in the Caribbean and Rhode Island William hopes that he can steer a new course and become the successful businessman he knows he can be. But it’s not only Williams’s life that is going through significant change. All along the Eastern seaboard there are rumblings of discontent and even talk of rebellion against the British establishment. When William’s ship is taken by ‘patriots’ to furnish their ‘Continental Navy’ the British authorities are either unwilling or unable to help in its recovery. Burning with indignation and seeking revenge against the men who took his livelihood away from him William returns again to the Caribbean where he takes command of his old sloop and fits her out as a privateer. When the British refuse his offer of assistance and any official capacity in the growing rebellion against British rule William and his crew decide to take things into their own hands. He will take back his lost ship and punish those who took it – no matter the consequence or the cost.

Following on from The Guineaman (this was actually both books wrapped in a single cover hence why I read them so close together) this was an even better adventure as William fought for his livelihood against the backdrop of the American Revolution. Although much time was spent at sea a fair amount of time was spent in Providence, Rhode Island where William and his business partners were regularly harangued by trouble makers describing themselves as ‘patriots’ which ended with William losing his ship but gaining a future wife. I have actually long wondered at what happened to loyalists both as the Revolution grew and afterwards. Presumably some of them fought with the British, some moved West(?), some moved to Canada or to England and others stayed in place and took whatever consequences came their way. Presumably some of this was of the more nasty kind? Obviously as this was William Kite’s story it colours the books views of the rebel forces which are generally seen as loudmouthed bullies and braggarts picking on the weak. The British authorities are treated almost as harshly seen as arrogant and, frankly, stupid in the face of real revolutionary fervour. This is encapsulated in the Battle of Bunker Hill which William witnesses and is tangentially involved in which should have been a walk in the park to the British army but turns into a political and military disaster because of astonishingly poor British leadership. I actually know very little about the Revolutionary War – but that will change – so can’t vouch for the veracity of the tale but it did have the feel of correctness about it. Overall this was a cracking read with lots of interesting asides, plenty of sailing around (including during a hurricane) and even a bit of (very clever) naval combat to round things out. I’ve been impressed with both of these books but this one took things to the next level for me. I shall try to pick up the next book – only available presently in expensive hardback or Kindle – at some point next year. I’ll also be seeking out other books by this author. Definitely recommended and more naval adventures to come from the steam age as well as the age of sail.