The Far Side of the World, by Patrick O’Brian

May 23, 2011

Once again we follow the exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey, a British naval officer, and Stephen Maturin, Aubrey’s particular friend, ship surgeon and spy. The Far Side of the World, an excellent navy fiction novel by Patrick O’Brian, is the book that gave name to the movie with the same title, which featured Russell Crow [...]

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The Privateersman, by Richard Woodman

May 14, 2011

This is the second book in Richard Woodman’s trilogy about William Kite, and the sequel to The Guineaman. The action in The Privateersman takes place at the beginning of the American Revolution. William Kite is now a widower, a ship-owner, and exiled from Liverpool, where Puella died of grief over their son’s death from cholera [...]

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Ramage and the Renegades, by Dudley Pope

May 1, 2011

Ramage and the Renegades is a great historical fiction book and important in the Lord Ramage series. In this book, the Marchesa of Volterra, who has been Lord Ramage’s love through the series so far, realizes that marriage is not going to happen. The Marchesa has decided to return to Italy despite the fact her [...]

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Revolution at Sea Trilogy: By Force of Arms, James L. Nelson

April 19, 2011

This is the first book in James L. Nelson’s series of nautical fiction set in the revolutionary war era. The key character is Captain Isaac Biddlecomb, an American smuggler. He is not a hero, but rather an ordinary American living in an extraordinary time. Biddlecomb’s sidekick is Ezra Rumstick, part-time patriot, part-time smuggler, full-time friend, [...]

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Commodore Hornblower, by C.S. Forester

April 14, 2011

Commodore Hornblower (UK title: The Commodore) was the fourth Hornblower book to be written, but in the internal chronology of the Hornblower saga it is the eight. It is among the best books in the Hornblower Saga, It is now 1812, and Hornblowerhas been knighted for his gallant escape from France, has purchased the manor [...]

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The Admirals’ Game, by David Donachie

March 31, 2011

The Admirals’ Game is the fifth book in David Donachie’s series about John Pearce. It is 1794, and John Pearce is now a Lieutenant. He has recently returned from the Atlantic. As usual, he gets caught up in power struggles between his superiors. He seems to have a knack for that. Now he is caught [...]

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Pirates of Barbary, by Adrian Tinniswood

January 21, 2011

The full title of this book is Pirates Of Barbary: Corsairs, Conquests And Captivity In The 17th Century Mediterranean. I have a strong interesting in naval fiction (or, if you prefer, maritime fiction). And while this is a non-fiction book, the topic of pirates and their history is something that interests me as well. And, [...]

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Victory, by Julian Stockwin – the Thomas Kydd series

January 17, 2011

Victory, the latest installment in the Thomas Kydd series, brings us to the epic Battle of Trafalgar and the events leading up to it. Napoleon has amassed a huge invasion army and wants to take his troops across the Channel and seize Britain. And there is little doubt that he will succeed, should he be [...]

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