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In the tradition of C.S. Forester, ex-sailor Richard Woodman brings history to life in a rousing tale of daring deeds and clashing cutlasses. it is the summer of 1804 and Napoleon is massing his vast army for the invasion of England. His powerful Combined Fleet is preparing to meet Admiral Nelson's British Fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar. In the annals of history this battle completely decimated the Combined Fleet, ranking second in destructiveness only to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater, newly appointed commander of the frigate Antigone, is preparing for battle off the French coast, as part of Admiral Nelson's highly effective blockade. As the fleets draw together, Drinkwater is unprepared for the irregular role destiny deals him when he becomes a prisoner of the French and takes the brunt of the British bombardment in the orlop of an enemy ship.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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About the author
Richard Woodman
131 books70 followersCaptain Richard Martin Woodman was an English novelist and naval historian who retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career, mainly working for Trinity House, to write full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 17, 2021
This is another exciting historical naval novel about one of my favorite times in history, The Napoleonic Wars.
The book is well written and researched. The book starts in the summer of 1804 with Napoleon massing an invasion force to invade England. Our protagonist, Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater, of the HMS Antigone is on blockade duty off of Cadis. The book ends with the Battle of Trafalgar.
The story is easy to read and covers a lot of information in its 209 pages. If you are interested in this period of history, you will enjoy this book. I want to thank my Goodreads’ friend, David Eppenstein, for introducing me to Richard Woodman’s books and for providing me with some of his books.
I read this as a hardback book. It is 209 pages and was published in 1985 by John Murray Publishing of London.
The book is well written and researched. The book starts in the summer of 1804 with Napoleon massing an invasion force to invade England. Our protagonist, Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater, of the HMS Antigone is on blockade duty off of Cadis. The book ends with the Battle of Trafalgar.
The story is easy to read and covers a lot of information in its 209 pages. If you are interested in this period of history, you will enjoy this book. I want to thank my Goodreads’ friend, David Eppenstein, for introducing me to Richard Woodman’s books and for providing me with some of his books.
I read this as a hardback book. It is 209 pages and was published in 1985 by John Murray Publishing of London.
April 15, 2025
Novel #6 in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series continues to be an excellent read for me. I thought the first half of this book was slower than the previous books so far. Drinkwater is now elevated to a Post Captain commanding a Frigate, on tedious blockade duty with not much action. But the activity picked up greatly in the second half. Drinkwater is captured by the Spanish and brought aboard a Spanish Admiral's flag ship. As a prisoner he becomes a witness to the famous 1805 sea battle of Trafalgar, in which Admiral Lord Nelson's British fleet smashed the combined Franco-Spanish fleet. The brutality of battle was graphically described by the author. I will certainly continue in the series.
April 11, 2017
This book was third in an Omnibus. Read all in one go as I found them a compelling read. I would place the author as successor to Captain Marryat who had commanded ships of the era Woodman now writes of.
October 26, 2014
Another excellent addition to the Drinkwater series. This volume uses the Battle of Trafalgar as the backdrop for the adventure. Any fan of Patrick O'Brian will enjoy these books.
July 1, 2022
This book very nearly gets five stars. After all the years he's been at sea, in the Royal Navy and with Trinity House, Nathaniel Drinkwater is finally a post captain in command of a real fighting vessel - the former French frigate Antigone. Things are leading, though the characters don't know it, to the climactic sea fight of the Napoleonic Wars - the Battle of Trafalgar. And just before the English and Franco-Spanish fleets meet off the Spanish coast, Drinkwater receives orders to leave the Antigone in the hands of his first lieutenant, and take command of a 74 - a real line of battle ship.
And there's where the book loses half of that fifth star. On his way to take up his new command, the lugger in which he's sailing lies becalmed, and the Spaniards capture him. There are some vicissitudes, and he winds up on the Bucentaure, one of the French ships, when Nelson attacks. Drinkwater has to endure the battle not in command of his own vessel, but in the orlop assisting the French surgeon. The whole episode is a kick in the teeth for Drinkwater - and for the reader, who's been anticipating the big battle and Drinkwater's part in it. It would've been better to have Drinkwater with the Mediterranean fleet than a prisoner on the other side - as Woodman wrote it, it's a betrayal of the reader.
The rest of the fifth star vanishes with the appearance of Edouard Santhonax. One begins to wonder if Woodman is using the character as an easy way out - by having a ubiquitous, omnipotent Frenchman pop up like an evil deus ex machina, Woodman doesn't have to create new enemy characters, leaving him free to focus on the English side of the story. I don't like mystery series where an apparently superhuman serial murderer pops up time after time, and I don't like the same device here.
But this is still the best of the series so far. Woodman's description of the wrecked and intermingled fleets as the battle winds down and Drinkwater goes on deck is the clearest description of naval sailing ships at sea I've ever read, and I can visualize the scene even better than I can visualize the fight between the Natividad and the Lydia in C.S. Forester's Beat To Quarters, which is a work of genius. Drinkwater's part in things (until his capture) is eminently believable, and I can "see" the Spanish coast as Drinkwater carries out his duties. If Woodman will stop blocking Drinkwater every time he has a chance to be right on the scene for the important stuff, and if he'll kill of Santhonax or otherwise get him decently out of the way, this series will become very high class.
And there's where the book loses half of that fifth star. On his way to take up his new command, the lugger in which he's sailing lies becalmed, and the Spaniards capture him. There are some vicissitudes, and he winds up on the Bucentaure, one of the French ships, when Nelson attacks. Drinkwater has to endure the battle not in command of his own vessel, but in the orlop assisting the French surgeon. The whole episode is a kick in the teeth for Drinkwater - and for the reader, who's been anticipating the big battle and Drinkwater's part in it. It would've been better to have Drinkwater with the Mediterranean fleet than a prisoner on the other side - as Woodman wrote it, it's a betrayal of the reader.
The rest of the fifth star vanishes with the appearance of Edouard Santhonax. One begins to wonder if Woodman is using the character as an easy way out - by having a ubiquitous, omnipotent Frenchman pop up like an evil deus ex machina, Woodman doesn't have to create new enemy characters, leaving him free to focus on the English side of the story. I don't like mystery series where an apparently superhuman serial murderer pops up time after time, and I don't like the same device here.
But this is still the best of the series so far. Woodman's description of the wrecked and intermingled fleets as the battle winds down and Drinkwater goes on deck is the clearest description of naval sailing ships at sea I've ever read, and I can visualize the scene even better than I can visualize the fight between the Natividad and the Lydia in C.S. Forester's Beat To Quarters, which is a work of genius. Drinkwater's part in things (until his capture) is eminently believable, and I can "see" the Spanish coast as Drinkwater carries out his duties. If Woodman will stop blocking Drinkwater every time he has a chance to be right on the scene for the important stuff, and if he'll kill of Santhonax or otherwise get him decently out of the way, this series will become very high class.
December 23, 2021
Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater and his crew sail in search of the Channel Fleet. They are to help with blockading the French, preventing the enemy from leaving their home ports. It is a tedious duty, but essential. It prevents Napoleon from invading England. There are interludes where Drinkwater’s participation in the blockade is interrupted, episodes that make his life more interesting and dangerous. One involves conveying a high-ranking French duke into enemy territory. Another requires him to rescue a British agent who may be behind a plot to assassinate Napoleon.
A third instance involves a meeting with the prime minister and Lord Dungarth, who heads the Admiralty’s intelligence network. They seek Drinkwater’s thoughts on a French invasion, something that has been occupying his thoughts of late. Evidence shows that the French are embarking troops, and should the French fleet join with Spain’s, he is certain they will attack. But the invasion won’t be a direct one. He believes they will come through a backdoor, which will provide them with a slim chance of success.
Gales provide the French with the perfect opportunity to elude the British blockade. Although Drinkwater cannot stop their emergence into open waters, he is determined to keep sight of them. But that is easier said than done, especially when he must battle enemy ships at sea during a snow storm. When word arrives that France and Spain have combined forces as he feared, Drinkwater must warn his superiors.
This sixth book in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series is divided into three parts: Blockade, Break-out, and Battle. It opens in 1804, when a midshipman rouses Captain Drinkwater from the depths of sleep just as HMS Antigone is about to wreck on a dangerous shoal near St. Michael’s Mount, and ends with the Battle of Trafalgar. Maps are provided to orient readers. Sea battles are riveting, while scenes aboard Drinkwater’s vessel provide vivid snapshots of life at sea. What makes this tale different from others that depict this victorious, but tragic affair, is that Drinkwater is not aboard a British ship at the time of the battle. Instead, he is a prisoner aboard a French ship of the line and the battle is poignantly experienced through senses other than sight.
A third instance involves a meeting with the prime minister and Lord Dungarth, who heads the Admiralty’s intelligence network. They seek Drinkwater’s thoughts on a French invasion, something that has been occupying his thoughts of late. Evidence shows that the French are embarking troops, and should the French fleet join with Spain’s, he is certain they will attack. But the invasion won’t be a direct one. He believes they will come through a backdoor, which will provide them with a slim chance of success.
Gales provide the French with the perfect opportunity to elude the British blockade. Although Drinkwater cannot stop their emergence into open waters, he is determined to keep sight of them. But that is easier said than done, especially when he must battle enemy ships at sea during a snow storm. When word arrives that France and Spain have combined forces as he feared, Drinkwater must warn his superiors.
This sixth book in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series is divided into three parts: Blockade, Break-out, and Battle. It opens in 1804, when a midshipman rouses Captain Drinkwater from the depths of sleep just as HMS Antigone is about to wreck on a dangerous shoal near St. Michael’s Mount, and ends with the Battle of Trafalgar. Maps are provided to orient readers. Sea battles are riveting, while scenes aboard Drinkwater’s vessel provide vivid snapshots of life at sea. What makes this tale different from others that depict this victorious, but tragic affair, is that Drinkwater is not aboard a British ship at the time of the battle. Instead, he is a prisoner aboard a French ship of the line and the battle is poignantly experienced through senses other than sight.
September 8, 2021
Spoilers ahead:
A pretty solid book in the series. I'm already deep into the next book so my memory is a bit hazy.
Summary: The book can be divided into 2 parts. The first part is basically blockade duty and Drinkwater (ND) spends his time in little vignettes. The second part is the Battle of Trafalgar. Most of the Hornblower clones have done this battle and all the ones I have read have them in a frigate. This book is unusual in that ND was captured by the Spanish and transferred to the French where he is put on board Villeneuve's ship as a prisoner.
Villeneuve sails out and he experiences Trafalgar from the ship. However we don't get to see too much of the battle. In the early part of the battle he is stuck in the orlop where he listens to the sound of the French getting ready, running the guns out and then firing them from inside the ship.
Then as casualties start coming down to the orlop, he helps the French surgeon. Once the battle starts dying down he climbs up to the deck and sees the carnage and experiences the surrender of Villeneuve. He is still on board as the storm arrives two days later and throws the ship on to the rocks.
Another opportunity for promotion was missed here. Before the battle, he was "promoted" into the ship of the line Thunderer which took part in the battle. However he was captured when being transported to the ship in a lugger during a calm and missed the battle. He starts the next book still as the captain of the Antigone.
A pretty solid book in the series. I'm already deep into the next book so my memory is a bit hazy.
Summary: The book can be divided into 2 parts. The first part is basically blockade duty and Drinkwater (ND) spends his time in little vignettes. The second part is the Battle of Trafalgar. Most of the Hornblower clones have done this battle and all the ones I have read have them in a frigate. This book is unusual in that ND was captured by the Spanish and transferred to the French where he is put on board Villeneuve's ship as a prisoner.
Villeneuve sails out and he experiences Trafalgar from the ship. However we don't get to see too much of the battle. In the early part of the battle he is stuck in the orlop where he listens to the sound of the French getting ready, running the guns out and then firing them from inside the ship.
Then as casualties start coming down to the orlop, he helps the French surgeon. Once the battle starts dying down he climbs up to the deck and sees the carnage and experiences the surrender of Villeneuve. He is still on board as the storm arrives two days later and throws the ship on to the rocks.
Another opportunity for promotion was missed here. Before the battle, he was "promoted" into the ship of the line Thunderer which took part in the battle. However he was captured when being transported to the ship in a lugger during a calm and missed the battle. He starts the next book still as the captain of the Antigone.
August 25, 2024
Drinkwater is in the thick of again. This time he and his crew are on blockade duty along the coast of France and Spain. This one is set in the period just before the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. However Drinkwater is is not in the Battle because he is a prisoner of the French and not only that he is aboard the flagship of the French Fleet. So now he is on the receiving end of the Royal Navy's bombardment. It is also a time of him meeting with the French spy,Santhonax, again. Although Drinkwater has been advised to shoot Santhonax on sight, he is in no position to do so. How will it all end? Well Trafalgar is a victory for the British, but at a cost. Will Drinkwater escape the clutches of the French to reach his destiny? Guess you will just have to read and find out, but a hint there are still more books to read.
July 4, 2021
A good read, again dark in places
I liked this book. Great continuity from the earlier novels and good character development. Woodman has the knack of being the dark side into his work and this contrasts well with his contemporaries, who talk about the battles, but not the back story. I've become a fan!
I liked this book. Great continuity from the earlier novels and good character development. Woodman has the knack of being the dark side into his work and this contrasts well with his contemporaries, who talk about the battles, but not the back story. I've become a fan!
May 12, 2019
again a fine woven story through the annals of Nava History
Enjoyed another of this author's works . Hard to not start to list him along Kent and Forrester. mayb e passing Lambdin .
Enjoyed another of this author's works . Hard to not start to list him along Kent and Forrester. mayb e passing Lambdin .
December 25, 2019
I LIKE THIS BOOK.
April 10, 2021
Trafalgar
Its a really brilliant read,which brings the story of Trafalgar from a completely different angle,that of a prisoner aboard a French battle ship.
Its a really brilliant read,which brings the story of Trafalgar from a completely different angle,that of a prisoner aboard a French battle ship.
June 23, 2023
Not nearly as interesting as the previous Nathaniel Drinkwater books. You could quite easily give this one a miss if you are enjoying the other volumes.
Read
March 17, 2025Trafalgar.
December 30, 2016
This was number six in the series and a great read so I am looking for the rest of them.
December 10, 2008
Imagine getting the job you’ve always wanted and then, being waylaid before you could report for duty. Next, imagine that you have a ringside seat to watch someone else participate in the event where you thought you would have a major role. Such is Nathaniel Drinkwater’s experience in this novel. In an incredibly refreshing departure from Hornblower, Bolitho, and the like, Drinkwater observes a historic battle rather than participating in it. On the other hand, authors of Napoleonic naval sailing series often give their fictional commanders a minor role on the outskirts of major historical battles, to this may not be that much of a departure.
What Woodman does accomplish in this novel is to generate a certain amount of suspense—even though we know that the Battle of Trafalgar was fought and we know that Nelson was killed in that battle. In spite of prior knowledge, I found myself in the same tension as Drinkwater himself as he worried about whether Nelson would be in the right position to intercept Villaneuve or whether the French admiral would slip by with an easterly wind. Even with prior knowledge, I felt some of the same grief upon receiving the announcement of Nelson’s death in the story as I did when I visited the Victory and stood on the very spot on the deck where Nelson was hit. As far as Drinkwater’s adventures, this one lacks a lot. For historical perspective on a momentous confrontation, this book was better than the last biography on Nelson I read.
What Woodman does accomplish in this novel is to generate a certain amount of suspense—even though we know that the Battle of Trafalgar was fought and we know that Nelson was killed in that battle. In spite of prior knowledge, I found myself in the same tension as Drinkwater himself as he worried about whether Nelson would be in the right position to intercept Villaneuve or whether the French admiral would slip by with an easterly wind. Even with prior knowledge, I felt some of the same grief upon receiving the announcement of Nelson’s death in the story as I did when I visited the Victory and stood on the very spot on the deck where Nelson was hit. As far as Drinkwater’s adventures, this one lacks a lot. For historical perspective on a momentous confrontation, this book was better than the last biography on Nelson I read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2016
Another solid installment to the Drinkwater saga.
… 'nuff said
Four Stars!
… 'nuff said
Four Stars!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews