Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "american-revolution"

HMS Seawolf by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Set early in the Revolutionary War, HMS SeaWolf is the second installment in The Fighting Anthonys saga. It recounts a fictional version of the very real threat that American privateers posed, attacking merchant shipping to acquire much needed gunpowder and armament for General Washington’s Continental Army, but seen from the perspective of the men and officers of the Royal Navy.

Stationed in the north Atlantic, Admiral Lord Gil Anthony’s squadron must cruise from Nantucket to Sable Island, east of Nova Scotia. His orders are to protect merchant shipping convoys from privateers who consider these waters their personal raiding grounds. Although he misses his half brother, who is in the Caribbean, he also realizes that keeping him close hinders Gabe’s career.

Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony doesn’t necessarily agree with the war between the American colonies and the British, but that doesn’t keep him from doing his duty. His current assignment has taken him to Barbados to deliver dispatches, which is why the commander in the Caribbean slightly alters those orders. His Majesty’s troops stationed in Halifax have dire need of the convoy slated to deliver gunpowder and troops there. Under no circumstances can the Royal Navy afford to lose another cargo to the rebels, which is why Gabe finds himself inching his way northward playing nursemaid to the ships. HMS SeaWolf and her men prefer to run free, but can only go as fast as the slowest vessel under their protection.

One master, however, disregards Gabe’s commands and sets out ahead of the convoy. As all the vessels head toward Charleston, South Carolina, they encounter a storm that separates the ships where the enemy privateers are known to hunt. When all but Turtle are accounted for, Gabe suspects that her master may be in league with strange sails sighted by the lookout. As SeaWolf pursues, his suspicions are confirmed. During the offloading of this precious cargo by the enemy, Gabe attempts a daring plan to retake Turtle. An unexpected consequence results in an explosion that sends Gabe, the men who accompany him aboard the wayward vessel, and Turtle’s master to kingdom come.

Aboard SeaWolf everyone mourns Gabe’s loss, except for his uncle. Although chances of surviving the conflagration are slim, Dagan Dupree is certain his nephew yet lives, but he is unable to do anything about it. And it would be wrong for Lord Anthony to hear the news from anyone else’s lips. Reluctantly, Dagan sails north with the rest of the convoy, while at the same time vowing to return to find Gabe and bring him home.

A few early scenes are a bit disjointed; their purpose for inclusion is uncertain and they aren’t connected to the main plot. Nor are pronouns always clear as to who is who, as in the scene with a commodore before the convoy leaves Barbados. In the EPUB format that I read, there were several explanatory notes, but the numbers aren’t linked to the endnotes, requiring readers to manually go to the end of the book and then return to the story where they left off reading.

Aside from these minor issues, Aye weaves together the intriguing topics of gunpowder thefts, white slavery, sexual abuse, romance, and a planned invasion of Nova Scotia to craft a fast-paced novel that holds the reader’s attention from first page to last. Original poetry introduces each part of the story, and Aye also includes a glossary for those unfamiliar with nautical terminology. He further spices the tale with a strange alliance between enemies with Dagan on one side and Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, on the other. Equally satisfying are resolutions to several questions that Gil and Gabe were left to ponder when the first book in the series ended. Whether old fans or new, HMS SeaWolf is a delightful addition to the stories about the Anthony brothers and the men of the Royal Navy who served with them.




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Barracuda by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A mail packet pounded to bits, a flagship sunk, and a devastating attack on a 64-gun ship send Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his squadron to Saint Augustine, Florida. His mission is twofold: protect the British port and its merchant shipping, and stop American privateers’ raids in 1776. Gil and his men enjoy the warmer climate after a stint in the North Atlantic during winter, but these waters are prime hunting grounds that also provide excellent hiding places for the rebels and their allies.

After delivering dispatches on their way to Florida, Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony, captain of HMS SeaWolf, and his longtime friend, Lieutenant Francis Markham of HMS Swan, investigate distant gunfire. What they witness are two ships attacking a brig. The red and yellow sails identify one of the attackers as a Spanish frigate; instead of allowing the prey to surrender, the Spaniard pounds the brig into oblivion. Only twenty-seven men survive.

Nor is this the Royal Navy’s only encounter with the Spanish “ghost ship,” as she becomes known because the frigate always seems to vanish afterward. Although the reason for such viciousness and the identity of her master are unknown, the Anthony brothers realize that they must stop this Spaniard and his vendetta against the British. When patrols prove fruitless, Gil alters his strategy. They will seek out as much intelligence as possible before launching any attacks. Information provides clues that lead them to the Keys, but it will take skill and cunning, as well as luck, to bring the enemy to heel.

This third installment in this nautical series weaves together high action with numerous subplots providing vivid glimpses into rivalries, long absences from family, life at sea and in port, love between enemies, and a court martial involving ear biting. There are some minor irks – a wounded character who miraculously heals, incorrect words (i.e., “to” for too, “partial” for “parcel”), and a climactic battle that ends too quickly – but the humor, longing, and adventures overcome these. Fans will enjoy this fast-paced and satisfying episode in the saga of the Fighting Anthonys.




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American Privateers of the Revolutionary War by Angus Konstam

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Any examination of the colonies’ war for independence usually focuses on the land battles. Although the naval war, at least as regards the Continental Navy, is negligible, it is an important aspect of the conflict that should not be overlooked. Konstam attempts to examine this aspect of the war since both sides were dependent on the sea for supplies and reinforcements, as well as maritime commerce. This vulnerability gave rise to privateers, privately armed ships that preyed on enemy shipping.

Since the Continental Congress lacked sufficient funds and vessels to create a full-fledged navy, especially one that could match the manpower and armament of the Royal Navy, individual colonies and the Congress relied on private citizens willing to risk their lives and fortunes to acquire, man, and arm a maritime fleet to strike at the enemy. In exchange for this private funding, both colonial governments and the Congress granted these vessels licenses called “letters of marque” to go out on legal “pirating” ventures. In return, the governments asked for a portion of the proceeds garnered from whatever prizes were brought back and declared legitimate. Nor was this solely an American practice. Loyalists in the colonies and Canada, as well as England itself, participated in such cruises.

The word “privateer” can refer to a ship, her captain, or her crew. In the case of this book, it is the first definition that is the principal concern here. This isn’t necessarily evident from the table of contents: Design and Development (design and shipbuilding, vessel types and rigs, and purpose-built privateer); Business of Privateering (owners and captains; letters of marque and instructions); Life on Board; and Privateers in Action. Only in reading the narrative and viewing the illustrations is this fact made abundantly clear.

In combination with an introduction, a background summary, a bibliography, and an index, volume #279 of Osprey’s New Vanguard series serves as an introduction to privateering ships of this period. The majority of illustrations pertain to the vessels and the original artwork depicts side views of a number of privateers: Tyrannicide, Hope, Rhodes, King George, Fair American, Washington, Mohawk, Berbice, and General Pickering. There is also a two-page spread showing a cutaway view of Rattlesnake, as well as one of Saucy Jack in action against HMS Observer. The artwork is a vital part of this work and, when combined with the captions, provides glimpses into the compelling world of privateering.

The narrative itself is a somewhat dry recitation of facts and figures that merely skim the surface of the Revolution’s privateering history. Individuals are mentioned, but the text doesn’t go into any great detail on the daring escapades of the more legendary men. One such example mentions Captain Jonathan Haraden who captures the Golden Eagle after threatening to deliver a broadside at night if she doesn’t surrender. There is more to the story than these simple facts, but rather than treat readers to the whole story, only a few facts are shared. Although some attempt is made to explain nautical vocabulary, readers with more than a rudimentary knowledge of ships and sailing will better comprehend what is discussed. For those seeking the adventure and dangers associated with privateering, you might want to look elsewhere. For readers seeking knowledge about privateering ships, this serves as a good introduction to the topic.




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The Sugar Sands by Lyle Garford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cashiered from the Royal Navy after being found guilty of trumped-up charges of thievery, Owen Spence vows that one day there will be a reckoning with his accuser, a member of the same family that ruined his father. Until then, he must find a new path in life, preferably one involving the sea. A beautiful innkeeper, with whom Owen has an affair, helps in this endeavor, and he soon commands a sloop ferrying cargo and passengers for a plantation. The brutal treatment of the slaves disturbs him, but he is in no position to intervene and desperately needs money to survive. The monotony of his work has him wishing for another job – a real possibility when he happens upon his uncle, whom he hasn’t seen in years.

Alan Giles runs a successful trading company and is seeking a new captain for one of his vessels because he wants to spend time with his family on Barbados. Happening upon his nephew is pure luck, but the more they become reacquainted, the more Alan believes that Owen might be just the man to replace him. And not just in commanding the ship. With his naval training and sea experience, Owen could also surreptitiously gather information for the Foreign Office. After all, Alan’s trading ventures extend from Boston to Porto Bello, and the news he has acquired leads himself and spymaster Sir James Standish to believe that war is in the offing. Should that happen, it would be devastating to the West Indies where more sugarcane is produced than foodstuffs.

This first title in the Owen Spence trilogy takes place between 1772 and 1775, but the series will cover the entire span of the American Revolution. The opening scenes involving Owen and the Royal Navy are quite visual and easily capture the reader’s attention. Once he’s dismissed, the novel serves to set the stage for the forthcoming books. There is some action, as well as an additional romantic angle – both draw readers into the story and make them care about the characters – but the majority of the book involves gathering information and run-ins with a shadowy French ship with an American first mate, who is related to the same radical family that drove Owen’s first mate out of Virginia. This setup promises that when the final confrontation comes between Owen and his crew versus the Frenchmen, more than sparks will ignite. Equally propitious is the expected comeuppance of the family that destroys Owen’s naval career.

Much of the story consists of dialogue, but where action, such as the raid on Bermuda or the confrontation in a Boston tavern where rebels meet, takes center stage Garford keeps the reader riveted. What makes The Sugar Sands different from other stories of the Revolutionary War is its perspective. It unfolds from a Caribbean colonial viewpoint, one rarely covered in works of either fiction or nonfiction. Garford also ably demonstrates how the laws and tariffs that England institutes set the colonists on a war footing. The story is more land-based than sea-based, but incorporates thought-provoking topics – slavery, taxation, conflicting loyalties – that remain relevant today.




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The Untold War at Sea: America’s Revolutionary Privateers by Kylie A. Hulbert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Once the thirteen original colonies had enough of a king’s tyranny, they declared war and fought for independence. Much has been written about the American Revolution on land and at sea, but the members of the colonial army, militias, and navy weren’t the only ones to fight. Some chose to fight an economic war. These privateers held legal commissions that permitted them to attack enemy ships during times of war. History books may or may not mention them, even though they played an integral part in the war. This book corrects this dearth of information; Hulbert recounts their stories from financing and building the ships, to recruiting crews and setting sail, through navigating the admiralty courts that decided whether a prize was legally or illegally captured. Once deemed heroes, they came to be treated as pariahs and Hulbert shows how and why this happened.

The story of privateering unfolds in five chapters, each titled after a line from a popular song of 1776 about a privateer named Manly. Chapter one, “Hardy Sons of Mars,” focuses on how privateering came to be one of the avenues that the colonies and Continental Congress pursued as a means of fighting the war. It also concerns the steps in acquiring a ship, manning it, and acquiring the necessary legal documents for a privateering venture. The second chapter, “A Privateering We Will Go,” shares what life at sea was like, from the mundane to the exciting, while chapter three discusses actual engagements from the sighting of a potential prize to pursuit and capture. “Make Your Fortunes Now, My Lads,” the fourth chapter, examines the prize court system and how it could be as perilous or as rewarding to privateers as the actual captures were. The final chapter, “To Glory Let Us Run,” scrutinizes how privateers were viewed during and after the conflict.

Those who participated in privateering, either in actual combat or behind the scenes, came from different walks of life. Some were prosperous. Some dreamt of becoming so. The gamut of motivations ranged from patriotism to self-interest. What cannot be denied is that the privateers and their deeds impacted the war effort. Initially, they were hailed as heroes, especially when most reports of the conflict were grim. Later, their reputations became tarnished and didn’t fit the persona of how the fledgling nation wished to be portrayed.

Declaring independence was a bold deed, especially when the new nation had no navy to speak of. Privateers filled that void and took the war directly to the British. Among the events discussed in the book are the Rhode Islanders’ attack on HMS Gaspee before the war, Massachusetts’s determination to lead the way in authorizing privateering, and case studies from the prize courts. Many individuals are introduced, some of whom are unknown to most readers, such as Elbridge Gerry, Thomas Willing, John Langdon, Josiah Bartlett, and Gustavus Conyngham. Others – John Adams, Edward Rutledge, Elias Hasket Derby, Captain Jonathan Haraden, and Benjamin Franklin to name a few – are more familiar. End notes provide source citations and additional information, while the bibliography provides additional avenues to explore, and the index permits readers to locate information directly. In addition, occasional illustrations enhance the reading experience.

One of Hulbert’s goals in writing The Untold War at Sea is to show the complexity of privateering and how it was viewed. In doing so, she demonstrates that the American Revolution was far more complex than we think and that privateers played a pivotal part in helping the colonies win their independence from Great Britain. This facet of maritime history and culture needs to be better understood and integrated into the historical narrative, and she does an excellent job in laying the groundwork for this. Even readers knowledgeable about privateering and the War of Independence will be surprised by what she has unearthed. All readers come away with a better understanding of who the privateers were, how they did what they did, and why it’s taken so long for their stories to be shared.

(Review originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)




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Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution by Eric Jay Dolin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Off the coast of Bilboa, Spain, Captain Jonathan Haraden decided that 3 June 1780 was a perfect day to again test the mettle of his crew of thirty-eight. They had already captured an enemy privateer; taking on another was a risk, but Haraden wasn’t one to back down from a fight. Even when his opponent had 130 men and more than twice the number of his guns, the majority of which were heavier and more powerful armament than his. For more than two hours the American Pickering and the British Achilles fought. The British took back the captured privateer, but broke off the engagement and fled the scene once the Americans loaded their inferior cannons with bar shot. The Spaniards celebrated the Pickering’s victory, and once she set sail for home, the privateersmen snared three more prizes before arriving in Salem.

This is but one encounter between private enemy vessels during the American Revolution. Other books have covered the war from many different perspectives, but only a few spend time on privateering. Of these, even fewer delve into the role they played in winning the war and, when these volumes do, the view is more negative than positive. Dolin sets out to right this wrong, providing a more inclusive study of revolutionary privateers and their significance in the conflict to gain American independence from Britain. “Rebels at Sea places privateersmen, most of whom were not famous or even well-known individuals, at the very center of the war effort. It demonstrates that, when the United States was only a tenuous idea, they stepped forward and risked their lives to help make it a reality.” (xxiv)

Dolin shows successes and failures, as well as the impacts colonial privateers had on the British economy, which compelled the enemy to redirect critical military and naval resources from land and sea campaigns to protect commercial shipping. Prizes taken helped supply the rebels with much-needed resources, raised colonists’ spirits, and assisted in the efforts to bring France and Spain into the conflict on the American side. He also includes notes that cite consulted sources, a select bibliography, an index, footnotes to explain terminology or provide further explanations, and illustrations.

This is not, however, just a one-sided presentation of facts. Dolin also delves into negative issues and people critical of the use of privateers. Some felt it was a less savory way to fight, one that bordered on piracy. Others believed the men and weaponry should be saved for use by the Continental Army and Navy. There were also those who decried profit making over patriotism.

Within the nine chapters, readers meet people from various walks of life who supported privateering, denigrated privateering, and sometimes flipflopped on the issue. The legality of privateering is discussed, with Massachusetts leading the way months before Congress passed the necessary laws to address the issue. The cast of characters include privateersmen – Offin Boardman, James Forten, David Ropes, Luke Ryan, and Andrew Sherburne to name a few beside Haraden – and Founding Fathers – John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Robert Morris – and involved citizens, such as Elbridge Gerry, Elias Hasket Derby, Blair McClenachan, Nathaniel Greene, and John Paul Jones. Dolin also explores how the British viewed American privateers and what happened to those who became prisoners of war whether they were incarcerated in English prisons and on prison ships closer to home.

Even readers familiar with privateering history and/or privateers during the American Revolution will learn fascinating facts not previously found in other books. Examples include two American privateers named for Benedict Arnold when he was still seen as a hero rather than a traitor; or John Greenwood, a privateer and a militiaman better-known as the dentist who made George Washington’s false teeth.

Rebels at Sea may not be as engrossing as other Dolin titles, but it is an important, compelling, and comprehensive examination of privateers in the thirteen colonies’ struggle to gain their independence. This volume will appeal to a general audience, be they well-versed in privateer or revolutionary history or newcomers to the subject. When paired with the more academic volume, The Untold War at Sea written by Kylie A. Hulbert, Rebels at Sea provides readers with a well-rounded and enlightening understanding from all perspectives about privateers and their importance to American freedom.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Dolin.html...



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Dark Voyage: An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade by Christian M. McBurney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When Thomas Jefferson penned an early draft of the Declaration of Independence, one passage condemned slavery. Those words were omitted from the final document, in part because many considered the practice of enslaving people acceptable in the 18th century. Another practice during the American Revolution was the issuance of letters of marque that allowed individuals to profit from seizing enemy shipping regardless of whether they did so because of patriotic fervor or for personal gain. Some of these privateers captured British slave ships, although the majority of these were homeward bound after delivering their African cargo in the Caribbean. One man, however, devised a plan to strike at the heart of the British slave trade.

John Brown was a prominent merchant in Providence, Rhode Island. He was also a fervent patriot who supported American independence. The information he gleaned from slave ship captains and privateers, as well as his knowledge of trade, permitted Brown to think beyond the normal parameters of privateering. He wanted to make a statement, and he did so with his plan to attack the British slave trade where no one else had: the west coast of Africa. First, to up his chances of success, he needed a new vessel.

Marlborough was a brig of 250 tons, with two gun decks housing twenty guns. She was sleek and fast, essential qualities for a privateer. Her full crew complement was set at 125 officers and sailors, although when she set sail from Martha’s Vineyard in January 1788, she carried only 96 men. Brown selected a virtual unknown for her captain, although he was already acquainted with the man who had served aboard two of Brown’s other privateers.

George Waite Babock was already an experienced ship’s officer when he took command of Marlborough in late 1787, even though he was only in twenty-seven at the time. He wasn’t one to discipline those who served under him with the whip. When decisions needed to be made, he often sought the counsel of his officers before making a decision. He demonstrated boldness and courage. Among the crew that he handpicked were John Linscom Boss, who kept the ship’s log – one of many documents the author consulted in writing this book – and his younger brother, Samuel Babcock.

Their journey began with running a Royal Navy blockade. After making the dangerous 3,800-mile trek across the Atlantic, the men aboard the Marlborough struck, attacking and seizing not only British slave ships but also a British factory (trading post). The damage done exceeded any wrought by other American privateers during the revolution, with an unexpected consequence; they disrupted the enemy’s slave trade, albeit only temporarily. While they captured both ships (twenty to twenty-eight) and their cargoes, as well as merchandise stored at the British factory, they also solicited assistance from native peoples and captured captains, such as William Moore, the shipmaster of Sally who possessed local knowledge that Babcock lacked.

Dark Voyage relates the stories of the men and the vessel, from John Brown’s original idea through its fruition. Specific episodes examine life at sea (including an attempted revolt, illness, accidents, legal obstacles, and encounters with Royal Navy warships). In between, McBurney weaves details about privateering in general, dangers privateers faced, and the slave trade in Britain as well as Rhode Island. He also shares what is known or can be assumed about the Marlborough and her prizes on their return voyages and what became of the men who crewed them. In some regards, the author views the 18th century through a 21st-century lens, rather than strictly relating the history from a contemporary perspective. This is not a flaw, but rather an aspect that readers should keep in mind as they read. He provides a wealth of information often overlooked in other accounts of privateering during the Revolutionary War, which he supplements with maps, pictures, end notes, a bibliography, an index, and appendices. The last include lists of those who served aboard the Marlborough and other people who appear in the ship’s log; a comprehensive record of British slave ships captured by revolutionary privateers; the numbers of enslaved Africans carried on British and American ships between 1752 and 1792; and Liverpool merchants involved in the slave trade who declared bankruptcy as a result of seizures by American privateers.

Dark Voyage is a provocative account of a little-known facet of American privateering during our fight for independence. The writing is both expressive and enlightening. The book is a must-read for anyone seeking information on the American Revolution, privateering, or the slave trade.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)



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Christopher Hawkins and His Daring Escapes: A Revolutionary War Novel by Jeanne Brownlee Becijos

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Forethought and enterprising best describe young Christopher Hawkins. He has a dream and wants to be ready when the day comes to make that dream a reality, which is why he practices stowing away on a boat docked in Providence, Rhode Island. On the day the colony declares it no longer owes its loyalty to King George, he asks to join his best friend as a cabin boy aboard Commodore Whipple’s ship in the Continental Navy. Despite his father’s support for independence, his answer is a resounding “No!”

Mr. Hawkins has other plans for Christopher, and they have nothing to do with sailing. Instead, when Christopher turns twelve in 1776, he begins his seven-year apprenticeship at a tannery where the air reeks and danger abounds. Plus, one worker likes to torture Christopher and the other young apprentice. Too young to do anything about his father’s promise or the situation, Christopher accepts his fate and bides his time. One day, he will go to sea and fight for America.

On the one-year anniversary of his apprenticeship, he reads an advertisement for work aboard a privateer. Even though he knows there will be severe consequences for breaking his contract at the tannery, he reckons the owner will have to catch him first. That will be difficult if he’s at sea, so Christopher runs away and signs aboard the Eagle as a cabin boy. The tannery owner isn’t the only one looking for him. So are the British. Sooner than he expects, Christopher finds himself a prisoner aboard one of His Majesty’s ships. He does as he’s told, but he also plans. One day, he will be free!

This novel is based on the real-life exploits of Christopher Hawkins, a young New England lad determined to fight for his country. His actual memoir – written at age seventy, in 1834 – is currently housed in the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although the author, one of his descendants, felt others needed to know his story, she wanted to fill in the blanks not discussed in the memoir. This fictional version of his early life abounds with determination and ingenuity, for Christopher escaped several times during the war, including from the notorious prison hulk Jersey, which was a death trap for anyone imprisoned there.

Christopher Hawkins and His Daring Escapes is more than just a tale of war. It’s also a coming-of-age tale that shows how Christopher learns and matures as he faces new and difficult situations, including the tearing apart of his family and the death of friends. No matter how dire the situation, he never gives up and one of the most important lessons he comes to understand is the meaning of freedom.

Although written for pirate apprentices, adults will enjoy this adventure too. The narrative is fast-paced and easy to read. Several pictures are also included, as is a map of Christopher’s escape route. Anyone wishing to view the American Revolution, colonial life, and privateering from a child’s perspective will find this a gripping tale intertwined with historical details that enrich the setting.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Becijos.html)



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The Sugar Storm by Lyle Garford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oranjestad on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean has gone from a small, unimportant town to a burgeoning seaport where ships of all nations come to trade. In late 1775, rumors of a smuggling operation reach the ears of spymaster Sir James Standish. The colonists are not happy with British dominance, and if the French are supplying weapons and ammunition to the Americans, it means serious trouble is in the offing. Since his operative, Owen Spence, makes frequent voyages to gather much-needed food supplies for the English Caribbean islands, he is best situated to investigate.

When Owen and his crew arrive in the neutral Dutch port, what they find is beyond imagination. The place teems with ships and a wide variety of cargo, all of which is available . . . for a price. This is good for Barbados, where food is always at critical levels since the island is unable to produce sufficient supplies to feed everyone because so much of the arable land is reserved for growing sugarcane. There seems to be a preponderance of American and French ships and their seamen, not to mention the presence of the all-too-familiar Le Mystere, which belongs to the French spymaster in the Caribbean. There is also an underlying current of antagonism flowing through the streets, which causes more than a few problems between crews and with authorities.

Realizing there is far more to learn and that there is a need to monitor the situation more frequently, Owen sets up a spy network at Oranjestad. When sailing between Barbados and the Dutch island, he also puts in at Dominica where farmers on the less-inhabited side of the island also have food to sell. It doesn’t take long to garner information that eventually leads him to believe that the French have designs on retaking the ideally-situated island from the British, especially once the American colonies declare independence and formally ally with the French.

The Sugar Storm is the second in the Owen Spence trilogy and takes place between 1775 and 1778. While most events occur on land, a few involve the sea. Unfortunately, one raid takes place off-stage, but the recounting makes for interesting reading. When there is action, it can be tense and dangerous. Once or twice, readers are left hanging, but eventually Garford provides the necessary follow through; one reason for this is to convey a sense of just how much time passes between the inciting incident and the resolution because immediacy of communication just didn’t exist back then. One slightly annoying aspect of the story is the frequent references to hurricane season but no actual hurricanes.

Aside from shining a light on the Caribbean during the American Revolution from a British perspective, Garford also focuses on the difficulties that arose once the war cut off American trade with the islands, which was essential to the English colonies’ survival. He populates the story with a wide variety of characters which are well-drawn and come from different backgrounds. Owen comes face-to-face with the man responsible for his dismissal from the Royal Navy, which occurred in the first book, but one of the most interesting new characters adds a few ripples to the re-encounter with his nemesis. Even John Adams and Benjamin Franklin make cameo appearances. This historical novel may not be a nail-biting, action-packed thriller, but it is a unique tale of an often-overlooked aspect of the War of Independence.


(This review first appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Garford.ht...)



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