Just Finished Reading: Guns Off Cape Ann by Kenneth Poolman (FP: 1961) [154pp] 

After years of having their ships harassed and their crews ‘pressed’ into service American patience finally gave way and war was declared. Already deep into its own war with Napoleon, Great Britain was dismissive of this latest act of an upstart nation and with good reason. The Royal Navy, who would be taking the first actions of the conflict, had over a thousand vessels it could call upon whilst the newly formed United States Navy had SIXTEEN. The ‘war’ was going to cause barely a ripple.  

The shock of the first ship to ship fight can be imagined. When the two frigates faced off the outcome was confidently expected – an easy and clear victory for the British. Unfortunately for the pundits at the Admiralty in London it was quite the reverse with the British ship being comprehensively defeated. Tricks, it was proposed, or bad luck! Yet when the navies met again, and again, each time the British ship was roundly defeated. Disbelief was followed by panic. Could the minute American navy really represent a credible threat? More ships were sent across the Atlantic to bolster the overwhelming force already present but it wasn’t a matter of numbers, not at all. It was a matter of neglect, pride and complacency. Something needed to be done to regain the pride and place of the senior service and the British had just the man to do it. 

Captain Philip Broke of the British frigate Shannon was a man who knew his ship and his crew very well indeed. They had sailed together and trained together for years and the ship was renowned for its skill in gunnery. Facing him, presently in Boston harbour, was his opposite number Captain James Lawrence of the American frigate Chesapeake. He was new to the ship (only taking command a matter of days previously) and had hardly begun to know the officers or crew who manned her. Without the benefit of a shakedown cruise or a much-needed refit, Lawrence was determined to make his mark and his name by continuing Britain’s humiliation. Sailing out of harbour he was determined that he would use no tricks, no finesse, no clever tactics but would face his British adversary broadside to broadside. That would be a fatal mistake. 

A mere 13 minutes after the sound of the first cannon shot had faded both ships were wrecked and over a hundred men lay dead or dying. But the Chesapeake took by far the most damage. Barely able to keep afloat and with all of its officers either dead, dying or injured (including its captain who was mortally wounded), boarded and with its ensign struck it was eventually towed to Halifax, Nova Scotia as a prize. Honour had been restored at a great cost to all involved and many lessons had been learned – at least for the British. 

The War of 1812 seems to have been largely forgotten by the world and by historians. Naturally it was overshadowed by the much larger and much more significant Napoleonic Wars but still it does seem somewhat more than an oversight. I can’t help wondering if both sides aren’t more than a little embarrassed about it all. The notable absence (or at least rarity) of books on the subject seems to point that way. I came across this old, slim and out of print volume almost by accident and have only managed to acquire two more books – one almost as old – on the subject. It was an interesting little scrap for a number of reasons and I’m interested to find out more about it. This book filled in a very small part of the story but I need something a bit more expansive. I hope that will be covered by my next book on the subject. A recommended read, especially for all Age of Sail enthusiasts, if you can source a copy.   

Just Finished Reading: Passage to Mutiny by Alexander Kent (FP: 1976) [319pp] 

Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, October 1789. Richard Bolitho, captain of His Majesties frigate Tempest is glad to finally arrive despite bearing disturbing news. Another of His Majesties ships, Bounty, has mutinied and could be in the area under her pirate crew. But as one of the only two Royal Navy vessels in that part of the Pacific Tempest and her captain have other tasks to perform. One of them is both a delight and a frustration – to escort a new island administrator and his wife to his post and provide security whilst there. Bolitho could care less about the new posting and administrator Raymond clearly returned the favour. His wife, Viola, was however another matter. Meeting again after years apart, Viola and Richard renew their love for each other much to the sympathy and worry of Tempest’s crew. Despite (some) friendly islanders, the Pacific is far from a friendly place – with storms, disease, aggressive natives, pirates and now news from France of Revolution it is not the time for a shipborne romance.  

This is actually the NINTH book in the authors Bolitho series – unknown to me – but that seemed to make little difference to the story. The author slipped in a few references to previous actions and events without overloading the pacing, so I never felt like I was missing anything substantial. I actually pick up this and three or four more from the series years ago from a random book buying trip. As they were originally published around 50 years ago they’re quite difficult to acquire in anything but Kindle format. But that’s OK. It’s not like I’m short of books to read – even ones with much wood and sail involved. This was actually a very easy novel to get into. There wasn’t a HUGE amount to learn about life in the Age of Sail after reading various novels based in the period. Some types of sail and other bits of the ship were mentioned from time to time, but I tended to pick these up through a process of literary osmosis. They certainly didn’t interrupt what was going on in the story. Being the time it was set and the nature of such things I found out very quickly not to get attached to anyone, even those you rightly suspect are main characters. It’s the kind of book where no one is ‘safe’ which makes each splinter and each sniffle a cause for concern, never mind flying cannon and musket balls. 

Overall, I can say this was a very creditable read. Maybe not in the Patrick O’Brian league, but then again who is? Definitely entertaining though – definitely. There are an impressive 30 books in the Bolitho series but I’m not aiming to read ALL of them – considering the difficulty in finding them – but I’ll pick up any I do find. Bolitho is an interesting and complex character, and I liked the interplay with his fellow officers and crew. Recommended for all sail and gunpowder fans and well worth the effort of searching them out. 

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Just Finished Reading: Victory by Julian Stockwin (FP: 2010) [339pp] 

England, 1805. After losing his beloved ship HMS Teazer to a French ambush, Commander Thomas Kydd is anxious to get back to sea at a time of England’s greatest need. With invasion in the air and Napoleon’s apparently unbeatable army ready to leap across the Channel it is only the Royal Navy’s ability to keep the enemy blockaded in their ports that keeps England safe. If any of the divided fleets can escape and join with the other blockaded forces the British would be seriously outnumbered and overwhelmed. Once that happened the way would be open and the Channel, Britain’s last defence, would be breached. When news arrives that he will be back in the fight soon enough Kydd, now the captain of a captured French frigate, is delighted to join Nelson’s fleet based in the Mediterranean. With everything resting on the great man’s shoulders and the stakes as high as they could be, Nelson needs the French to breakout so that he can catch them in the open sea. But when they do so and quickly disappear into the Atlantic vastness Nelson has a choice – does he go after them with the possibility of being led on a wild goose chase whilst England is being invaded or does he play it safe by protecting the entrance to the Channel. On his decision alone rests the fate of England and at the very heart of is the newly promoted Captain Thomas Kydd. Can he repay the Admiral’s confidence in him? Does he really have a choice with so much at stake? 

The Battle of Trafalger in 1805 is rightly regarded as one of the most important battles in British history. If it was lost the whole history of western Europe, indeed the world, might have been very different with Napoleon victorious in Europe and England defeated. Told through the viewpoints of Kydd in the frigate HMS L’Aurore as well as new Midshipman Charles Bowden on HMS Victory herself this is a very accomplished tale of some of the most exciting, most exacting and most important naval encounters in the 19th century. Despite this being 11th book in the Kydd sequence it is my first encounter with him. After reading this excellent novel it certainly won’t be my last – but I think I’ll go back to the start and work my way through them! The text isn’t quite as full of the naval terminology of the time as Patrick O'Brian's books but it still helps to know the difference between port and starboard and stern chasers might make all the difference in a close fight. The action is very well done – indeed often heart-pumping/palm sweating in intensity – and, as with all such books it’s often wise not to get too attached to minor characters who just might lose life or limb from a passing cannon ball or hail of wood splinters. This is definitely one of those books where you can taste the salt in the air, hear the decks creak under you and smell the gunpowder blowing across the ship after a broadside. I enjoyed this a lot and will be looking out for more. Definitely recommended for all Age of Sail enthusiasts.  

Just Finished Reading: Clarissa Oakes by Patrick O’Brian (FP: 1992) [256pp]

The Pacific Ocean, 2 days out from the penal colony at Botany Bay, Australia, early 19^th Century. Captain Jack Aubrey is not happy, not at all. One source of the unhappiness is clear to him – spending any time in Botany Bay. The other, at least for the moment, escapes him. After years aboard the Surprise, a vessel he knows well and loves more, something is….. off. He can’t place his finger on it but something is most assuredly wrong with the feel of the ship. Even the officers are behaving oddly. Then all is made clear and Jack is no longer unhappy. He’s furious. Not only has midshipman William Oakes smuggled a stowaway on board (and a woman!) but the officers and crew knew about it and kept it from him. As the Surprise is no longer under Admiralty regulations there is only so much he can do about the situation but still, it rankles. To make matters worse they are being hotly pursued by the British cutter Éclair. Convinced that the pursuit is to retrieve the stowaway Jack ensures that Oakes marries the woman in question to put an end to things. Naturally things are never that simple. The cutter carries dispatches (and personal mail!) regarding a privateer flying the American flag harassing British whalers. Sent in pursuit Jack is prevented from disposing of his stowaway and her new husband on the nearest inhabited island (or any passing British ship heading home). Forced now to entertain Mrs Oakes on board Jack discovers a young woman of surprising education and pleasing looks. His very good friend, ship’s surgeon and intelligence officer, Stephen Maturin discovers something else about her – she has information about a highly placed person with Bonapartist inclinations, information that must reach England.

This was my second Patrick O’Brian book picked up somewhere at random. I’d previously read ‘Far Side of the World’ (following seeing the movie) so had a good idea of what I was letting myself in for. Actually I was surprised that there was a lot less nautical terms scattered through this novel than I remember in his earlier work – or maybe I’m just getting used to jibs and studding sails? This is actually the 15^th book in the Jack Aubrey series with ‘Far Side’ being his 10^th. I really need to start back at the beginning especially as the 2^nd book has recently come into my possession. Anyway, at first I was unsure what to make of this novel. Most of the plot – well over half – revolves around the eponymous lady in question: Clarissa herself. At first I thought she was some kind of sociopath and was at Botany Bay for a host of horrible crimes. Criminal she definitely was but her back story was a very interesting and intriguing one. As a character she was a real gem – once you understood her a bit more fully. I think I’ll remember her for quite some time. The sub-plot (or at least one of them) revolved around a traitor in the British establishment with definite French sympathies. To be honest I’ve never given this aspect of the Napoleonic conflict much thought. Sure there would be spies on the ground ferreting out upcoming moves but traitors – especially in the establishment – had never crossed my mind, not once! Although quite a short book this is a delightful read giving an insight into life on board a small(ish) ship of the time and some of the events in the Pacific and on various chains of islands scattered throughout. I’m looking forward to wrapping myself deeper into the experiences of Aubrey & Maturin series – all 20 books of them! (not counting the ‘unfinished’ novel published after the authors death). Recommended for those who like their salt in the air and the smell of gunpowder. 

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.         

Just Finished Reading: The Guineaman by Richard Woodman (FP: 2000) [216pp]

England, 1755. William Kite is convinced that, despite his innocence, he will hang if they find him. So he runs towards the only place that he can think of to save himself – the port of Liverpool. Determined to gain access to the first ships master that will have him his luck suddenly changes and he is hired as ships surgeon on the Guineman Enterprize. Completely naïve to the ways of the sea, and even the very trade mission they are on, William throws himself into all aspects of the ships operation and even gains the grudging admiration of the captain and crew. But William is going to be tested to his very limit as the cargo of slaves bound for the West Indies is loaded and the awesome responsibility of ensuring that as many as possible of survive the passage rests on his shoulders. As he starts his duties he is torn by sympathy for his charges and his duty to the ship and its master. Crossing the Atlantic for his first time disaster strikes as Yellow Fever starts to ravage the ships compliment. If he can survive he might become a financially independent young man – but first he must bring the ship to port. Once in Antigua he is far from sorry to see the back of the slave trade but still needs to make a living for himself and his new ‘family’. Again at sea and trading throughout the Caribbean he is developing a deep love for the ocean only to see the dark clouds of war on the horizon. The Seven Years War is about to break out and throw all of Williams plans into doubt.

I picked up a two volume book – containing this and the second book in the series (reviewed shortly) – some years ago and, as usual, propped it up on my bookshelf and promptly forgot about it. But lately I’ve developed a strange hankering for all things nautical so thought it was about time to give it a go. I was so pleased that this rather short though packed book was a delight from end to end. Firstly William Kite is such a great character. He does have a slightly anachronistic ‘modern’ feel to him but that might either be to resonate more with a modern readership or it might simply be my misunderstanding or ignorance of the times he lived through. Either way he is definitely the true hero of the piece. As much of the time is spent either at sea or in conversation about trade at sea there is a heavy sprinkling of naval terms and much of this is not explained – as it shouldn’t be between people who have spent much of their lives on the oceans. Some is explained to the younger William but much needs to be picked up by context or a quick Google search if required. This is nowhere near as thickly spread as a Patrick O’Brian novel but be warned you might end up knowing more about spinnakers and reef sails that you ever imagined that you would need to. Naturally as a goodly chunk of the novel is about the trans-Atlantic slave trade there is a fair amount of brutality and offensive language that might upset more sensitive readers. But I certainly guarantee that any such imagery and language is many times less than the reality of the situation. The author handles the unfortunate trade in other humans with as much humanity as he can in the context of the times and, though both disturbing and distressing shouldn’t cause too much outrage – at least not enough to stop you reading. There is certainly nothing here for ‘entertainment’ value and the author, through his characters, gives a nuanced discussion of the trade a hearing that is worth reading. Overall this is an excellent book and a great introduction to the main character William. It is well paced and has very few faults (actually the only one that springs to mind is the too often repeated fear that William will need to answer for his suspected crime if he ever returns to England). I will definitely be searching out more of the author’s works. Many more naval adventures to come!   

Just Finished Reading: Darwin’s Armada – Four Voyages to the Southern Oceans and Their Battle for the Theory of Evolution by Iain McCalman (FP: 2009)

It was not an idea that struck him out of the blue out of a clear sky. On the contrary it was a long, long time coming. When the young Charles Darwin managed to get himself assigned to the HMS Beagle and its mission to map the Sothern Ocean the prevailing thought was that each species on earth was a special creation of God and though some local adaptation was possible the transmutation of species was not. Each species had been created in its place and time as part of a divine plan. So it was a shame that anomalies and unanswerable questions had steadily been accumulating. One thing was almost universally accepted now – that the Earth was more likely to be millions of years old that the previously accepted six thousand. There was enough time for oceans to fall and mountains to rise and for the land itself to be transformed. Darwin brought back (or often sent back) copious notes, observations and specimens from across the globe to investigate further on his return to England. But he was not the last to do so. Other intrepid explorers of the world – geological, geographical and natural – followed in his footsteps, added pieces to the jigsaw puzzle of life, sent specimens home (including to Darwin himself) and thought about what they had seen with their own eyes. Often they were the first European to have set foot on an island or to have observed the rituals of primitive peoples. Alfred Wallace in particular spent 8 long years in South-East Asia and in the Amazon basin cataloguing, observing and living in close contact with the natives of those far off lands. In the early 1850’s he wrote to Darwin expressing the ideas so close to his own that Darwin thought that his years of vacillation on the topic had undone him and that he could not, in all conscience, claim a prime place in the Evolutionary debate. His friends Thomas Huxley and Joseph Hooker (all three pallbearers at Darwin’s funeral) persuaded him otherwise and encouraged him to publish Origin of Species giving due credit to the work of Wallace. All four of the voyagers, each in their own way, contributed to getting Natural Selection accepted in the Victorian scientific establishment somewhat quicker than Darwin had anticipated. A revolution in human thought had taken place.

This was generally an excellent book focusing on the foundational voyages of Darwin, Hooker, Huxley and Wallace as each encountered, assimilated and speculated on what each had experienced away from the confines of Europe and how those encounters had convinced each of them that Evolution by Natural Selection was a scientific fact. The only wobble (for me) was the section on Huxley’s voyage to Australia which seemed concentrate on his love life and depressive tendencies rather than any scientific discoveries. Apart from Darwin’s voyage on the Beagle my favourite passages concerned the adventures of Alfred Wallace in South-East Asia and the Amazon. I have added his published book on the subject to my Wish List. It sounds amazing. If you’ve ever wondered where the ideas put forward in Origin of Species came from this entertaining work of popular science will answer many of your questions. Recommended. 

Just Finished Reading: Voyages of Delusion – The Search for the Northwest Passage in the Age of Reason by Glyn Williams (FP: 2002)

It HAD to be there. If only they could find it. Discovery meant fame, wealth both personally and for the Company and its shareholders and, more importantly, it would allow the British navy to dominate the Pacific in the same way that it now dominated the Atlantic. So it HAD to be there. The Northwest Passage running between the two great oceans would allow whoever could both find and defend it to shave weeks or even months off the voyages between Europe, India and the Orient which would enhance profits, undercut the commercial and political enemies of the British Empire and make her power unassailable. The search had already begun in the Hudson Bay with tantalising possibilities emerging out of the mists and between the icepacks that few ships could penetrate without difficulty. Rumours abounded – that a Spanish ship had already completed the voyage years or even decades before, that polar waters were ice free all year, the salt water simply couldn’t freeze, that native Indians had travelled days inland and had seen the Pacific ocean and returned with tales of great lakes linked by great rivers stretching across the continent. If only they could find the entrance to this interlinked system.

Despite being aware of the potential profits the secretive Hudson Bay Company was reluctant to search for the Passage themselves. They knew enough about their local environs to suspect that the Passage did not actually exist and, at every opportunity, called its existence into question. But obsessed men in London had other ideas and pressed Parliament to fund a survey of Hudson Bay beyond the area already mapped by the Company. This was the first of many private ventures and, later, Royal Navy missions sent to find the Holy Grail of navigation. Years of hardship in freezing temperatures the likes of which could scarcely be imagined, shipwreck, starvation and the ever present and mysterious scurvy, failed to blunt the search. As newly drawn maps arrived back in London, Madrid and St Petersburg the possible location of the Passage narrowed and narrowed again. But with the weather set against them for most of the year the journeys into the far North on the eastern seaboard gave way to the possibility of gaining access to the Passage on the Pacific side. The Russians had already discovered the Bering Strait and the edge of Alaska which showed great promise. To discover more the great navigator of the age – Captain James Cook – was sent to investigate the west coast north of Spanish California. After many months of travel and many more months of exploration and coastal mapping a few tantalising hints were found but there was no sight of the fabled inlet spoken of in awe in old Spanish texts. It was left to Captain George Vancouver to undertake the tedious task of mapping every twist of the western coast and the exploration of every river or estuary heading inland. Time and again hope turned to disappointment as the towering mountain chain (later known as the Rocky Mountains) seemed to be impenetrable. With ever more detailed treks inland failing to uncover any great east-west navigable watercourses hope of the true Northwest Passage began to fade and finally the much talked about earlier voyages were seen as fantasy and hoax. 

This is a brilliantly told tale of one of the driving obsessions of the 17th and 18th centuries in the seafaring nations of Europe. With competing expeditions from Britain, France, Spain and Russia a great deal of effort, time and gold was spent trying to find something that did not exist. In the Age of Enlightenment this was a very strange phenomena indeed but the author shows just how this drive came about and what sustained it for so long despite so many setbacks. Not only a fascinating tale of geographical exploration but also an interesting insight into the European mind of the time. Definitely recommended for naval history buffs. (R)

Coming next: The Cinema Book Blitz.

Just Finished Reading: In the Heart of the Sea – The Epic True Story that Inspired Moby Dick by Nathaniel Philbrick (FP: 2000)

There is nothing worse that sailing on a ship or with a Captain who is bad luck – except possibly for both at once. This, it seemed, was the fate of the famous whaling ship Essex ‘stove in by a whale’ in the deep Pacific on November 20, 1820. It all started rather badly with a green crew (by and large) and a somewhat over confident young captain out to prove himself. Trying to outrun a nasty squall the ship almost foundered mere days after leaving Nantucket. Putting into the Azores for repairs they decided to move on with reduced whaling boats confident that they still had enough to do the job ahead of them. But this was the age where whales in the Atlantic where scarcely sighted and the voyage was extended in range in the hope of filling their holds with the precious oil. With the hold less than a third full they decided to round Cape Horn and enter the Pacific praying that the largely untouched hunting grounds lived up to their reputation. At first everything seemed to be as they hoped and the number of whales seemed to be without count. As usual they were mainly females and their young calves but within each heard was a male known for their ferocity in defending what was his. But they had never seen or heard of anything quite like this. During the hunt, with several females already harpooned, the boat skippered by Owen Chase (played by Chris Hemsworth in one of my favourite movies of 2015) is savagely struck and damaged by a male bull and is forced to retire back to the Essex. Whilst hastily repairing his boat Chase notices that the bull has followed them back and is acting strangely close by. Suddenly the massive off-white creature begins to move towards the ship gathering speed as it does so – apparently intending to ram the Essex. Moments later the impact throws everyone on board off their feet. Only yards away the apparently stunned whale recovers its senses and slowly swims off. Checking the hull Chase is aghast to see that some serious damage has been caused as water is entering the hold. Not quite in danger yet Chase orders pumps and the start of repairs when the ship is hit again and mortally wounded. Already starting to list Captain Pollard (played by Benjamin Walker in the movie) in the other whale boat sees the trouble and returns to a scene of unbelievable carnage. Thousands of miles from land, with three boats and few supplies the officers and crew must decide how best to get home. Unfortunately their first decision, to sail for the coast of Chile rather than Tahiti, was a fatal mistake for most of the crew.

I can honestly say that I was completely entranced by the movie version of this book and thought it was one of the two best films I saw in 2015 – the other being Bridge of Spies. Just like this fascinating short history of those events it worked on multiple levels simultaneously – as the real events behind the American classic Moby Dick, as a tale of daring and adventure on the high seas, as an insight into one of the great industries of the 19th century on the edge of radical decline and as a tale of great fortitude (and incredible navigational skills) that became the talk of the age. The reality was, interesting enough, quite different in many ways from the movie which was rather more sensationalist that this work of history. Most of the elements are there but somewhat enhanced or ‘sexed up’ as if any greater drama needed to be added. What I found particularly interesting however was that the attack (and destruction) of the Essex by a whale was not the only such incident recorded just the most famous. It seemed that near the end of the industry that the supply chain had actually started fighting back! Fascinating from many points of view this book is a must read for anyone interested in 19th century industry, whaling in the age of sail, readers of Moby Dick or for those who saw the film and simply wanted to know more. Recommended.    

Just Finished Reading: Armada by John Stack (FP: 2012)

England, 1587. Everyone knows that it’s coming. It’s just a matter of when and where. Braced for an invasion few reckon can be resisted for long the only hope is the growing power of the English navy made up of a mixture of ‘race built’ galleons are armed merchantmen. But the odds are heavily against them. The Spanish Armada is rumoured to be the greatest naval force ever built and is believed to be all but unstoppable. The plan at hand is to harry the enemy enough to prevent any landing or any meeting of the fleet sent from Spain and the massed forces waiting transport across the English Channel from Holland. In the middle of events is newly promoted Captain Robert Varian, highly regarded by his crew and the senior officers for his skill and aggressive fighting stance. But Robert holds a secret close to his chest that he can never reveal to those around him. In a Protestant country fighting fir its life against Catholic Spain and her allies he is himself a secret Catholic who professes loyalty both to his country and his faith – something many see as an impossibility. But Robert’s secret goes deeper than that. Varian is not his real name and his real father is a traitor to the crown working for the Spanish against England’s interests. With Father and Son on opposite sides as the hammer of Spain begins to fall on her hated heretical enemies in England can the tiny English fleet hope to hold the enemy at bay and where will Robert’s loyalty finally rest when galleons exchange fire at point blank range?

The story of the Spanish Armada is well known to anyone who went through the English education system in the 1960’s and 70’s (I have no idea if they still teach this in these more enlightened times). Standing alone against the major powers of the day – a theme that seems rather familiar – with our backs to the wall and depending for our very survival on a comparatively small number of charismatic and often dangerously brilliant mavericks – another familiar theme – the rest of Christendom fully expected us to fail. Needless to say we didn’t – though luck, good (that is bad) weather, modern tactics and technological superiority and the over confidence of our adversary – yet another common theme!

Though not quite as entertaining as the author’s Roman trilogy I enjoyed this book a great deal. The whole Catholic thing was, I thought, a little over done and heavy handed but everything else was excellent in description and execution. From simple hand-to-hand fighting, through small (or single) ship actions, to whole battles covering miles of the English Channel each differently scaled encounter was very well told and absolutely gripping. The fight on a burning fire ship (not giving a great deal away here) had my heart in my mouth and the very close quarter contests between English and Spanish warships had be gasping and exclaiming out loud. Thrilling just doesn’t cover it. The short historical note backed up my opinion that the author followed the real story very closely and most certainly hit all of the highlights. The reason we won the numerous encounters revolved around tactics – modern versus archaic, the number and quality of cannon on each ship and the oft mentioned impressive fire rate of up to 4 shots per hour from the English guns. Firing these at ranges as low as 50 YARDS from the enemy (I kid you not) you can imagine the devastation which a great storm (Kamikaze anyone?) made worse by driving the Spanish ships around the island of Britain and, eventually back to their Spanish home bases much battered and much reduced. The defeat of the Armada heralded in the decline of Spain as a world power and the seemingly inexorable rise of England on to the world stage. Could it have gone the other way? Possibly, but the Armada was fatally flawed from the offset and its victory would have been a great uphill struggle. If you’re interested in naval warfare or Elizabethan history then this is certainly a book for you. Recommended.

Just Finished Reading: Admirals – The Naval Commanders who Made Britain Great by Andrew Lambert (FP: 2008)

Being an island a mere 26 miles off mainland Europe it should come as no surprise that not only does Britain have a long (indeed very long) maritime history but that, over the centuries, we have fought the other great European nations at sea. To do so effectively the British not only required to produce the ships to fight in and the captains to sail them but over and above everything else they needed the admirals to organise the fleet(s) into effective fighting units. No matter how good individual ships or captains became they would be at a huge disadvantage without efficient organisation at fleet level. The admirals outlined in this impressive volume did just that. The ten men covered here range from gifted amateur to steely professional, from commoner to royalty and covers a period of the last 400 years from Henry VIII to the end of the Second World War. Most of the names, if not the wars, were new to me. Some I recognised, Samuel Hood for example, because of ships named after them which fought in later conflicts. Others, such as John Fisher, David Beatty and Andrew Cunningham, I knew well enough from previous readings of WW1 and WW2 accounts. Of course what did surprise me was a particular absence – Lord Nelson. Thinking about it though I can understand the omission. Nelson was, and still is, a towering figure in British naval history. Adding a chapter in this volume would add little to the countless books and articles written about the great man and would have probably diverted this book away from its intended trajectory.

This is not to say that Nelson is forgotten or is relegated to the function of a ghost wandering the corridors of the Admiralty in Whitehall. Nelson is in fact mentioned time and time again. The admirals who saw action before Nelson was born helped him become a great commander and leader of men. He learnt both from his predecessor’s mistakes and successes. The admirals who followed him learnt from the great man to be aggressive in the face of the enemy and that every effort should be made to annihilate the enemy’s fleet. Only when such annihilation is complete can British interests be safe and trade flow. The lifeblood of the country travels by sea and only total command of that medium, brought about by the destruction of enemy shipping, ensures the survival of the nation. This was true when we fought the Dutch, the Spanish and the French. Each victory over their fleets pushed Britain one more step forward to world domination and to the possession of a global Empire the like of which had not been seen before or since. Of course this all came crashing down at the very height of British sea power at the end of WW2 when the emergent US Navy took centre stage as the most powerful maritime force in the world. But that, as they say, is another story.

Told with great knowledge and a great deal of admiration and affection for the naval service this is a must read for anyone interested in the rise of British power over the last 400-500 years. Full of expert analysis of the events that shaped the nation and the men that helped in the shaping this kept me interested from beginning to end even when the author delved into the intricacies of political manoeuvring both in parliament and the admiralty that often stymied rapid enough progress in an ever changing world. Definitely recommended for the naval history buffs out there.

Just Finished Reading: A Brief History of British Sea Power – How Britain became Sovereign of the Seas by David Howarth (FP: 1974)

You might think that 450 pages really doesn’t constitute a brief history of anything. But when you consider that the British maritime adventures extend back arguably 1500 years you can start to realise just how brief some of this volume needs to be. Luckily for most of the first 1000 years or so the British impact on the naval world was fairly minimal with the odd early voyage of exploration by Irish monks and, of course, the regular invasions the islands suffered from the time the Romans left to the final true invasion in 1066. Even for centuries after this cataclysmic event British sailors tended to stay close to shore either fishing the abundant seas or attempting to defend the land against would-be aggressors. Only with the on-again off-again conflict with France did British sailors gradually come of age but even here the ships where, by and large, cargo ships either converted to ships of war or troop transports. Only with the advent of reliable cannon did true warships come into the picture and only with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 did the British navy in a recognisable form show its capabilities and finally arrive on a world stage.

But, as is right and proper, power does not always come from the point of a gun. British ships especially during and after the age of Elizabeth roamed the world looking for new sources of trade and new peoples to trade with. The also searched, in vain, for the fabled North-West Passage that was reputed to link the great Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Whilst much was discovered in the frozen north no passage worth its name was ever discovered and many sailors lost their lives in the search. Meanwhile as ships of trade fanned out across the globe increasingly accurate charts began to be developed assisted with the new clockwork technology which enabled the accurate determination of Longitude.

As British maritime power and confidence increased it was only a matter of time before the new kid on the block began to rub against the great naval powers of the day. Spain had already been humbled and was in terminal decline but first the Dutch and then the French had to be bested at sea. By the time of Trafalgar in 1805 this had become a reality and Britain became the pre-eminent maritime power and stayed there for the next hundred years ushering in the age of Pax Britannica. Not only did British warships effectively eliminate the scourge of piracy from most of the world’s oceans they also helped to remove the slave trade. But the greatest contribution endures in the millions of detailed charts produced during this time of unprecedented peace which are still in use today in many navies across the globe. Along with the scientific expeditions – including those undertaken by Charles Darwin – these are one of Britain’s lasting contributions to the world. It is here, in the exercise of soft power rather than the use of gunships to crush any opposition, that Britain truly became the sovereign of the seas.

Oddly the authors saves the height of British sea power for a single final chapter covering both the First and Second World Wars followed by seemingly terminal decline (originally published in 1974 it obviously makes no reference to the naval operation to retake the Falkland Islands and the growth of a new far more powerful navy since then). Well known highlights of both World Wars, Jutland, The Graf Spee, Bismark and Tirpitz are noted but where probably considered to be too well known (and too often written about elsewhere) to need much retelling. Yet this did not detract from the overall thrust and tone of this often fascinating book. The narrative was primarily about the journey of how Britain became, however briefly, not only a power to be reckoned with but the only power to beat across all of the oceans of the world. Such power inevitably comes at a price and it became one that could no longer be afforded after the costs of the Second World War.

This is a well written (if occasionally – and understandably – a little too patriotic or jingoistic for more modern cynical audiences), detailed and knowledgeable account of the rise of British dominance of the oceans. Despite the fact that this has become somewhat dated since its original publication it still provides a useful introduction and overview to a huge subject. Recommended.

Just Finished Reading: The Far Side of the World by Patrick O’Brian

The Western Mediterranean: 1812. Captain Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe in the 2003 movie adaptation Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) is looking with regret at the probable end of his navy career and the breaking up of his beloved frigate Surprise. Awaiting orders to return to England he is given instead orders to pursue and engage an enemy frigate reported to be making its way to the Southern Pacific ocean in order to endanger the British whaling fleet based there. But to find such a mall target after a voyage of thousands of miles with a mixed crew of old salts and new recruits will test all of his abilities to the limit and that is even before they attempt to cross the treacherous waters of Cape Horn.

Despite not being Russell Crowe’s biggest fan I enjoyed this naval romp at the movies and even picked up the DVD once it hit the cheap box. So when I had the opportunity to pick up the 1984 novel I did so expecting a story of tense naval warfare in the Napoleonic Age. Without going into too much detail or giving too much away I really didn’t get what I expected. The first thing that jumped out at me was the rather fundamental difference in Aubrey’s enemy. In the movie it was quite clearly a French frigate up to no good although it had been built – if memory serves – in Boston. In the book the frigate was American and rather than being based during the Napoleonic War was instead based during The War of 1812 when Britain and American were at war with each other. As I read more and more of this comparatively brief novel (running to just over 340 pages) it dawned on me that this was a completely different story than that portrayed on film. Apart from the main players (including the good Doctor Maturin played by Paul Bettany) and the bare facts of the plot it transpired that nothing else made it from the book to the screen. That didn’t, however, make this any less interesting or readable. Within a handful of pages I found myself hooked by the early 19^th Century language (gleaned from actual Admiralty reports apparently) and the completely unapologetic – and unexplained apart from a detailed diagram in the preface – use of sailing terms used at the time. It did take a little while to get my head around the terminology but by the half way mark I was pretty confident that I could tell the difference between a studdingsail and a top gallant. Of course I already knew my jibs from my spankers but then who doesn’t?

I think what the author was going for, and admirably achieving, was a total emersion in a world long gone (unless that is you’re one of those people who can afford to go sailing on a regular basis). It was a world where it took weeks or moths to get any great distance and where being years away from home was hardly remarked upon. I did find myself more than once struggling to regain the 21^st Century after being lost in the early 19^th for more than half an hour. With an almost effortless style O’Brian managed to drop me right in the middle of things and expected me to get on with them and to, in effect, sink or swim. It was an interesting experience that I shall be repeating in the not too distant future. The only slight warning I would give is the unstated expectation that you are willing to learn your way around a Royal Navy frigate and to cope with a whole different set of terms I for one had never come across before. It is an effort (or it was for me) but it’s most definitely worth it. Recommended.    

Just Finished Reading: A Brief History of Fighting Ships – Ships of the Line and Napoleonic sea battles 1793 – 1815 by David Davies

I see to have developed quite an interest in naval history of late. I can probably date it back to reading the Roman naval trilogy by John Stack and, a little later, Bernard Cornwell’s description of Trafalgar. So it should come as no great surprise that I snapped up this book the moment I saw it and that I enjoyed it a great deal.

Davies is certainly a man who knows his stuff. Not only is he a sailor himself but he is also an ex-military engineer with a passion for all things Napoleonic and it shows in his writing. He is a man with an excellent grasp of his subject and possessed of the wit and skill to make even the apparently mundane details of the battleships-of-the-line (shortened to ‘battleships’ when they ceased to fight in rigid line formation) seem more than merely interesting. Here’s a few of the things I learnt:

At the time the two sides of the ship where Larboard and Starboard – Port only came into use from the middle of the 19^th century.

It took 80 acres of (preferably English) oak trees to build a single 74 gun ship.

Ships were built of oak, rather than the much more rot resistant teak, because of one very good reason. The majority of casualties in a sea battle were caused by flying splinters. Wounds made from teak splinters invariably turned sceptic whilst those from oak did not.

Rather surprisingly the smaller frigates where almost never fired upon by the battleships unless fired upon first. As a broadside from a capital ship could reduce the much smaller frigate to match wood in seconds such an engagement was considered unsporting.

Whilst the first quarter or so of the book dealt with the details of ship construction, weapons and so on the rest covered some of the crucial engagements of the period. Starting with the somewhat less than ‘Glorious’ First of June (1794) engagement of French forces protecting a much need grain shipment from America (then very much in favour of Revolutionary France), to more famous – and militarily significant – encounters at Cape St Vincent, Camperdown, The Nile, Copenhagen and (of course) Trafalgar in 1805. Each battle is brought to life with detailed maps showing the movements of the fleets involved and the tactical changes which eventually brought victory after victory against Spanish, Dutch and French opponents. At the heart of these developments were classic British heroes such as Admiral Lord Nelson who inspired a generation of intelligent and daring captains.

Written with verve and style this was a fascinating read which really put you at the heart of some of the most important battles of that time, battles which helped to defeat Napoleon on the European mainland and made the Royal Navy the world’s premier floating fighting force. A must read for anyone with an interest in the period or in naval affairs. 

Just Finished Reading: Sharpe’s Trafalger by Bernard Cornwell

India, 1805. Newly promoted Ensign Richard Sharpe is going back to England to join his new regiment. But before he leaves he has a score to settle. The Indian company who had been storing his belongings has lost everything in a fire – or so it seems. On the cusp of getting what he wanted he saves the reputation of the Captain Chase of his Majesties ship Pucelle – a captured French 74 gunner - and they become firm friends. Waving goodbye to India and Captain Chase, Sharpe embarks on the East Indiaman Calliope. Expecting a tedious voyage home he is pleased to find that a fellow passenger is a beautiful woman – Lady Grace Hale. Hardly believing his luck Sharpe has caught her eye too. But as things progress it becomes clear that the other passengers and even some of the crew have their own interests at heart which do not match the interests of the Crown. The Calliope presents a great prize to any French ship that can capture her and such an eventuality is not unwelcome to everyone on board. But unknown to everyone involved is that their final destination can only be arrived at by passing through the waters destined to be forever remembered for one of the greatest naval battles in British history – a battle that will decide the fate of the whole European continent.

This is my 11^th Sharpe novel and one which holds a special place on my book shelves. It was signed by the author, dedicated to me, on my 40^th birthday. Yes, it’s taken me 11 years to get around to finally reading it. I can tell you it was worth the wait. This is the first Sharpe book I have read in which the hero is literally out of his element. As the consummate land soldier Sharpe is conscious that much of what he has learnt up to that point is at best useless but quickly learns to put his native courage and natural fighting skills to good use doing the thing he loves best – killing Frenchmen. I understand that the author found writing this book difficult too as ships-of-the-line in those days were amongst the most complicated vehicles designed by humans. Although many of the terms were unfamiliar to me they didn’t get in the way of the story – indeed I now think I can recognise a mizzen mast! The most impressive thing I found about this novel was the battle of Trafalger itself. Explained masterfully, the brutality of naval warfare in the early 19^th century was brought home to me in ways that I could hardly imagine prior to reading this. The tactic or technique of raking – where a ship empties its guns into the stern of an enemy allowing unimpeded progress through the length of the enemy causing massive damage – was not completely new to me but to ‘see’ its effects was a revelation. The tactical innovations of Nelson – again very well explained in this novel – tipped the balance against a numerically superior Franco-Spanish force.

Rather sedate to begin with (without being in the least bit boring) and ending in a pages long battle this was a seriously fun read. I have definitely been away from Sharpe for far too long. I’m in the process of filling in my gaps in the narrative (3 books acquired so far) so will be returning to his adventures with increasing frequency. You’ll also notice more naval fiction in the future as well as some history books about naval warfare. As you can tell this has certainly piqued my interest – as a good book should. Highly recommended for anyone interested in military fiction or a cracking good read.