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Alan Lewrie #2
The French Admiral
Midshipman Alan Lewrie disembarks from the frigate H.M.S. "Desperate" to take part in the fierce land battle at Yorktown, where he meets the Chiswick brothers and their lovely sister and uncovers clues to his mysterious past
414 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
256 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Dewey Lambdin
70 books278 followersDewey Lambdin (1945-2021 ) was an American nautical historical novelist. He was best known for his Alan Lewrie naval adventure series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Besides the Alan Lewrie series, he was also the author of What Lies Buried: a novel of Old Cape Fear.
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 14, 2012
I picked this up to sate my need for more Patrick O'Brian and while I would (and do) read each of the 21 over and over again, once of this Dewey Lambdin is enough for me.
Lewrie spends quite a bit of energy trying to get ashore and into someone's bed in this book. While that in itself is not unusual for a sailor tale, it's the (too-high) level of details that turns me away from this character. Lewrie, as he gains his sea-legs through this book, matures as both man and sailor and it's that part of the plot that redeems the book for me. Perhaps not surprisingly, his attitudes towards women matures through this timeline as well.
There's some good adventure during the evacuation as he matures as a leader that bears some further inspection. And certainly there are some flashes of recognition from him that he is maturing in various forms along his journey.
I liked this one enough to seek out the first in this series to see where Lewrie starts. Since I prefer the Lewrie at the end of The French Admiral to the beginning, I'm not certain if I will like The King's Coat any more than this one. Stay tuned, etc.
Lewrie spends quite a bit of energy trying to get ashore and into someone's bed in this book. While that in itself is not unusual for a sailor tale, it's the (too-high) level of details that turns me away from this character. Lewrie, as he gains his sea-legs through this book, matures as both man and sailor and it's that part of the plot that redeems the book for me. Perhaps not surprisingly, his attitudes towards women matures through this timeline as well.
There's some good adventure during the evacuation as he matures as a leader that bears some further inspection. And certainly there are some flashes of recognition from him that he is maturing in various forms along his journey.
I liked this one enough to seek out the first in this series to see where Lewrie starts. Since I prefer the Lewrie at the end of The French Admiral to the beginning, I'm not certain if I will like The King's Coat any more than this one. Stay tuned, etc.
June 9, 2019
A lot better character development than the first volume, but at the cost of pacing and action.
February 2, 2020
When Royal Navy officers take part in warfare on land it's usually a bit hit and miss and I end up wishing they'd just get back on their damn ships. That's not the case with this book, though, and, even though it takes place almost entirely off the water it remains (almost) as interesting.
May 18, 2024
This is one of a series that follows the career of a British naval officer in the "Age of Fighting Sail," aping similar series by C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, but it is far inferior. It is in abrupt turns corny, wooden, didactic, treacly, lewd, sentimental, brutal, squeamish, tender. There is little convincing period detail--these are 21st-century people playacting in the 18th. And I could do without all the whoring.
So are there any redeeming qualities? I have to admit there are. The setting during the Yorktown campaign of the War of Independence is interesting. Some of the nautical detail seems genuine, though it's often dumped in a bucketload that is hard to follow. Our hero is a conscienceless rakehell one would do much to avoid, but he does discover that he is a good leader and has the makings of an ingenious and energetic officer. Against his better judgment he discovers that he really loves his ship.
So are there any redeeming qualities? I have to admit there are. The setting during the Yorktown campaign of the War of Independence is interesting. Some of the nautical detail seems genuine, though it's often dumped in a bucketload that is hard to follow. Our hero is a conscienceless rakehell one would do much to avoid, but he does discover that he is a good leader and has the makings of an ingenious and energetic officer. Against his better judgment he discovers that he really loves his ship.
February 22, 2022
Dewey Lambdin has been writing historical novels set in the late Eighteenth Century for decades but this is the first occasion I've had to read one of the series about Alan Lewrie.
Lambdin is an American in a field where the writers seem to all have been English (and male), so not surprisingly, the novel is about several incidents in the later stages of the American War of Independence.
Beginning with The Battle of the Chesapeake, (5 September 1781) the French Admiral, by winning the battle prevented the British from relieving General Cornwallis. The central character then takes part in the Siege of Yorktown but the story comes alive when in charge of a barely sea worthy barge Alan Lewrie, his men and a detachment of Loyalist troops work a miracle and escape the American French army which occupies the area around Yorktown.
I have noted that some contemporary writers of this nautical type of historical fiction have much of the events in their novels set on land. Alas, this is also true of The French Admiral. Lambdin does succeed in showing what life would have been like during the siege. He also shows how the war was an international affair with French and Hessian troops fighting as well. The Americans were bitterly divided between loyalists and revolutionaries with some truly terrible atrocities as in other civil wars.
However, it is Lewrie's escape in something like The Flight of the Phoenix which is the highlight of the novel, and that seems to have been pure invention.
Lewrie is a character more in the mould of Harry Potter or Oliver Twist than Horatio Hornblower or Thomas Cochrane. Yet his backstory of being the dupe of his evil unscrupulous father does engage the writer's sympathy and encourage the reader to move on to the next novel in the series.
The novel also has a romantic interest. We can see how the story could lead to a rather unusual love triangle or will Lewrie abandon Caroline Chiswick who is now a penniless refugee in favour of the heiress Lucy Beauman. Frankly, I find this part of the novel a distraction and wonder if it does have the effect of increasing the readership of the novel.
I used to dislike the formulaic nature of Alexander Kent's novels but at least his novels were unified and all the earlier events built up to the climax. Like Julian Stockwin's novels, this novel is episodic and can lead to long periods of dulness.
I liked Lambdin's research into the historical events except the description of the massacre of the farmer's family, and, while I didn't understand it all, liked his knowledge of seamanship and navigation in the coastal waters of Virginia and South Carolina.
Just one thing puzzles me. Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, who presumably is the French Admiral of the title does not feature in the novel except that he was the French Commander in the The Battle of the Chesapeake. So why is he the subject of the title?
Lambdin is an American in a field where the writers seem to all have been English (and male), so not surprisingly, the novel is about several incidents in the later stages of the American War of Independence.
Beginning with The Battle of the Chesapeake, (5 September 1781) the French Admiral, by winning the battle prevented the British from relieving General Cornwallis. The central character then takes part in the Siege of Yorktown but the story comes alive when in charge of a barely sea worthy barge Alan Lewrie, his men and a detachment of Loyalist troops work a miracle and escape the American French army which occupies the area around Yorktown.
I have noted that some contemporary writers of this nautical type of historical fiction have much of the events in their novels set on land. Alas, this is also true of The French Admiral. Lambdin does succeed in showing what life would have been like during the siege. He also shows how the war was an international affair with French and Hessian troops fighting as well. The Americans were bitterly divided between loyalists and revolutionaries with some truly terrible atrocities as in other civil wars.
However, it is Lewrie's escape in something like The Flight of the Phoenix which is the highlight of the novel, and that seems to have been pure invention.
Lewrie is a character more in the mould of Harry Potter or Oliver Twist than Horatio Hornblower or Thomas Cochrane. Yet his backstory of being the dupe of his evil unscrupulous father does engage the writer's sympathy and encourage the reader to move on to the next novel in the series.
The novel also has a romantic interest. We can see how the story could lead to a rather unusual love triangle or will Lewrie abandon Caroline Chiswick who is now a penniless refugee in favour of the heiress Lucy Beauman. Frankly, I find this part of the novel a distraction and wonder if it does have the effect of increasing the readership of the novel.
I used to dislike the formulaic nature of Alexander Kent's novels but at least his novels were unified and all the earlier events built up to the climax. Like Julian Stockwin's novels, this novel is episodic and can lead to long periods of dulness.
I liked Lambdin's research into the historical events except the description of the massacre of the farmer's family, and, while I didn't understand it all, liked his knowledge of seamanship and navigation in the coastal waters of Virginia and South Carolina.
Just one thing puzzles me. Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, who presumably is the French Admiral of the title does not feature in the novel except that he was the French Commander in the The Battle of the Chesapeake. So why is he the subject of the title?
September 1, 2021
We binge a lot of TV but I haven’t run into too many book series that are compelling enough for a real binge. The Alan Lewrie series may be one as I have finished book two and am into book 3 which I must say, starts with a rousing and bloody sea battle. Book 2, The French Admiral, is a really excellent piece of historical fiction that covers the final days of the America Revolution with the British defeat at the Battle of Yorktown. It’s the first thing I’ve read from the British perspective although it’s written by an American author. What came through more clearly is that the American Revolution was, in fact, a civil war that pitted a large number of royalists (loyalists) against the revolutionaries. The loyalists according to figures I’ve been able to find amounted to perhaps 20% of the population of the colonies. Many loyalists were more established property owners who were resistant to change. A majority of these people lost their property and even emigrated to Canada or back to Britain. The Cornwallis surrender was brought about, in part, by the failure of one British admiral to support another. In this story our hero, who always appears to be heading for disaster somehow manages to come out of trouble as a hero. In this story he helps evacuate the British army from Yorktown to Glouchester but gets caught in a storm and blown away down the channel. He along with a continent of sailors and North Carolina militia end up at a plantation where all the men have been killed. From there they rebuild their barges and manage to make their way back to the fleet where Alan is promoted to acting Master’s mate. In many ways, Alan Lewrie, our protagonist reminds me of Flashman from the George MacDonald Fraser series. Like old Flashy, Alan is a rake, a misogonist and homophobe. Unlike Flashman, Alan is not a coward but seems to excel in battle and tense situations. Like Flashman he is a devil with the ladies and his sex life gets a lot of detailed treatment in the books. In this book he meets and is charmed by a Miss Chissock who is the sister of two of the militia men he rescued. Presumably she will reappear in future books. Lucy Bowman featured prominently in book one. Carolyn Chissock in book two. In book three he has an affair with a lovely young widow named Holly. In between he beds whores and sexually ravenous middle aged women who have inattentive husbands. The dialogue in each book is sharp and realistic. As read by John Lee these books are great entertainment.
April 2, 2015
“The French Admiral” is book two in Dewey Lambdin’s Alan Lewrie series. Lewrie was sent off by his father to the Royal Navy. Alan finds he is a born sailor and is enjoying his life at sea.
As a Midshipman we find him in this book at the siege of Yorktown, near the end of the American Revolutionary War. The Royal Navy, with heavily-armed frigates, is posed to break the French blockade. The French Navy is commanded by Admiral de Grasse.
Lewrie is aboard HMS Desperate. Midshipman Lewrie is in charge of 24 pounder guns firing broadsides at the French vessels.
The book is well written and researched but I am still having trouble liking the hero of the book Alan Lewrie. I shall read a few more books in the series while I look for another series about the Royal Navy vs. Napoleon.
I read this book as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators, John Lee is narrating the book. That alone keeps me listening.
As a Midshipman we find him in this book at the siege of Yorktown, near the end of the American Revolutionary War. The Royal Navy, with heavily-armed frigates, is posed to break the French blockade. The French Navy is commanded by Admiral de Grasse.
Lewrie is aboard HMS Desperate. Midshipman Lewrie is in charge of 24 pounder guns firing broadsides at the French vessels.
The book is well written and researched but I am still having trouble liking the hero of the book Alan Lewrie. I shall read a few more books in the series while I look for another series about the Royal Navy vs. Napoleon.
I read this book as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators, John Lee is narrating the book. That alone keeps me listening.
January 9, 2017
great book , next please
June 11, 2021
Despite having a lot of criticism about this book I still give it 4 stars.
Spoilers ahead:
This is the second book in the Alan Lewrie series which I'm reading chronologically.
Firstly the author seems to be a fan of Hornblower as some things seem to be copied from it. There's a passage where signals from another ship are flying straight towards the Desperate. The midshipman can't read it and the officer says "that's what the repeating frigate is for". This seems to be taken verbatim off a HH book. The other part is Captain Treghues who goes more insane after the concussion and that seems to be copied from Captain Sawyer from the book Lieutenant Hornblower. Another things is I think Symonds seems to be a name from HH and Knevet is almost the name of the packet captain (Kynvette?) from Admiral Hornblower. And these are just from the top of my head.
Secondly Lambdin is not a very good writer. There are long boring passages about minute things which I had to fast read. His explanations of history and the events are also overwritten, boring and unclear. Anything strategic or technical is poorly written or explained. The dialog between the characters don't appear to be realistic for the time period or between the different grades of officers (per HH) and overall the writing is not as polished as that of an experienced writer.
A lot of events happen in these 446 pages and if I don't write a review immediately they tend to run together as if this was one continuous book. I mean, after reading it I'm still not sure what events were in book 1 and which in book 2. It's a good thing in book 3 which I am reading now, there is an immediate intro that summarizes everything in books 1 and 2.
So what do I like about this book? I like the characters and I like the relationships between them. I like it that Lewrie has made firm friends. It's like the relationships between HH and Bush and Brown. Friendships are important and it makes me feel good reading about them. The author has definitely found that an anti-hero has a hard time being popular. I like the interaction between Lewrie and his friends (of both sexes). I like the action sequences. I like it when the protagonist wins in easy mode, I like it when things goes his way, in the same way that I dislike books where protagonists get blocked or stymied all the time - that just makes reading frustrating.
An interesting thing is that as an American, this is the first time I've read about the revolution from the British point of view. I've always read how great it was that we beat the Brits and sent them back home. Reading from this POV makes me pause and realize that both sides are human.
I think this would be a better book if Lambdin cut down on the clutter and streamline his writing. Do a better and shorter job or writing about the strategic moves that don't really concern the characters directly. Apart from that I hope his writing improves and get better from book to book.
Spoilers ahead:
This is the second book in the Alan Lewrie series which I'm reading chronologically.
Firstly the author seems to be a fan of Hornblower as some things seem to be copied from it. There's a passage where signals from another ship are flying straight towards the Desperate. The midshipman can't read it and the officer says "that's what the repeating frigate is for". This seems to be taken verbatim off a HH book. The other part is Captain Treghues who goes more insane after the concussion and that seems to be copied from Captain Sawyer from the book Lieutenant Hornblower. Another things is I think Symonds seems to be a name from HH and Knevet is almost the name of the packet captain (Kynvette?) from Admiral Hornblower. And these are just from the top of my head.
Secondly Lambdin is not a very good writer. There are long boring passages about minute things which I had to fast read. His explanations of history and the events are also overwritten, boring and unclear. Anything strategic or technical is poorly written or explained. The dialog between the characters don't appear to be realistic for the time period or between the different grades of officers (per HH) and overall the writing is not as polished as that of an experienced writer.
A lot of events happen in these 446 pages and if I don't write a review immediately they tend to run together as if this was one continuous book. I mean, after reading it I'm still not sure what events were in book 1 and which in book 2. It's a good thing in book 3 which I am reading now, there is an immediate intro that summarizes everything in books 1 and 2.
So what do I like about this book? I like the characters and I like the relationships between them. I like it that Lewrie has made firm friends. It's like the relationships between HH and Bush and Brown. Friendships are important and it makes me feel good reading about them. The author has definitely found that an anti-hero has a hard time being popular. I like the interaction between Lewrie and his friends (of both sexes). I like the action sequences. I like it when the protagonist wins in easy mode, I like it when things goes his way, in the same way that I dislike books where protagonists get blocked or stymied all the time - that just makes reading frustrating.
An interesting thing is that as an American, this is the first time I've read about the revolution from the British point of view. I've always read how great it was that we beat the Brits and sent them back home. Reading from this POV makes me pause and realize that both sides are human.
I think this would be a better book if Lambdin cut down on the clutter and streamline his writing. Do a better and shorter job or writing about the strategic moves that don't really concern the characters directly. Apart from that I hope his writing improves and get better from book to book.
December 20, 2024
Author Lambdin continues to provide good entertainment for Age of Sail action fans. The author is American but he's writing from the British point of view. That's no problem unless you're looking for British spellings for the words that are used in both dialects but spelled differently on each side of the pond. I got used to it quite soon. He has the ship's routine, the complex gradations of status of the ranks, the terminology, and the ship handling and seamanship totally nailed as do very few of those writing in this genre. His battle scenes are a joy to contemplate (even when the reality is scary to imagine).
Quite a bit of the action takes place on land. That's not all bad, as the plot centers on the siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War and a lot of the action really was on land.
Those of us who have visited the site of the Battle of Yorktown and have some notion of the defensive works will appreciate the gritty, bloody description of the siege. Those who think that the preceding naval maneuvering was one where the admirals did very little, and that not very well, and the result was a pivotal battle that changed history will find little to disabuse themselves of their convictions but maybe that's a good thing.
On the other hand, the aftermath of the siege where Midshipman Lewrie is ordered to evacuate soldiers from the siege works and bring them across the river in a makeshift, cobbled together scow is a masterpiece of plot and characterization. In modern sailboat racing, there are two major night races on the Chesapeake, one to St. Mary's City and the other to Solomon's Island. Both start from Annapolis in the evening, finishing the next morning. I've done both of them and had the weather go bad in the middle of the night both times. Even though the races are timed to correspond with a full moon, and electronic navigation is allowed, those were not my favorite maritime memories. The author describes doing that in an open boat with a crew of RN seamen and an equal number of landlubber soldiers with no instruments but a compass, while the boat can't go where the midshipman wants to take it because that causes it to leak more and lose directional control. Everything's pitch black until the next lightning flash. They eventually fetch up on a neck of land that's practically an island. There are lots of places like that on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. It's a priceless sequence. It's OK that their escape from the siege is a little contrived, I accepted it as the best part of the plot.
Quite a bit of the action takes place on land. That's not all bad, as the plot centers on the siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War and a lot of the action really was on land.
Those of us who have visited the site of the Battle of Yorktown and have some notion of the defensive works will appreciate the gritty, bloody description of the siege. Those who think that the preceding naval maneuvering was one where the admirals did very little, and that not very well, and the result was a pivotal battle that changed history will find little to disabuse themselves of their convictions but maybe that's a good thing.
On the other hand, the aftermath of the siege where Midshipman Lewrie is ordered to evacuate soldiers from the siege works and bring them across the river in a makeshift, cobbled together scow is a masterpiece of plot and characterization. In modern sailboat racing, there are two major night races on the Chesapeake, one to St. Mary's City and the other to Solomon's Island. Both start from Annapolis in the evening, finishing the next morning. I've done both of them and had the weather go bad in the middle of the night both times. Even though the races are timed to correspond with a full moon, and electronic navigation is allowed, those were not my favorite maritime memories. The author describes doing that in an open boat with a crew of RN seamen and an equal number of landlubber soldiers with no instruments but a compass, while the boat can't go where the midshipman wants to take it because that causes it to leak more and lose directional control. Everything's pitch black until the next lightning flash. They eventually fetch up on a neck of land that's practically an island. There are lots of places like that on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. It's a priceless sequence. It's OK that their escape from the siege is a little contrived, I accepted it as the best part of the plot.
December 26, 2022
6.6/10
I liked this book. There were some parts that went on a luttle too long. Lewrie is aboard his ship the Desperate during the revolutionary war and takes part in the battle of Yorktown where he is assigned to an artillery outpost with loyalists and some German mercenaries. Once the battle of Yorkout is all but over he is tasked with ferrying troops accross the river to a safer area where they can regroup for a new fight. That never happens for Lewrie who ends up caught in a storm and stranded on a rebel farm where two sisters and a son live as well as some slaves. The son, Rodney, alerts the French troops that there are British and rebel troops on their farm and a bloody battle takes places where dozens of men are killed. Lewrie and the survivors are able to make their escape on a barge down the river where he meets up with the Desperate again. He helps out the family of one of the rebels he fights with (the Cheswicks) and finds out that his father is a liar and a theif and he is very wealthy. The book ends in the Carribean where the Desperate learns that the French fleet is set to attack English garrisons in the Carribean. The Desperate sails on looking to protect the British interests and people in the area.
I liked this book. There were some parts that went on a luttle too long. Lewrie is aboard his ship the Desperate during the revolutionary war and takes part in the battle of Yorktown where he is assigned to an artillery outpost with loyalists and some German mercenaries. Once the battle of Yorkout is all but over he is tasked with ferrying troops accross the river to a safer area where they can regroup for a new fight. That never happens for Lewrie who ends up caught in a storm and stranded on a rebel farm where two sisters and a son live as well as some slaves. The son, Rodney, alerts the French troops that there are British and rebel troops on their farm and a bloody battle takes places where dozens of men are killed. Lewrie and the survivors are able to make their escape on a barge down the river where he meets up with the Desperate again. He helps out the family of one of the rebels he fights with (the Cheswicks) and finds out that his father is a liar and a theif and he is very wealthy. The book ends in the Carribean where the Desperate learns that the French fleet is set to attack English garrisons in the Carribean. The Desperate sails on looking to protect the British interests and people in the area.
December 12, 2018
I'm liking this series more and more. I find it a more natural and authentic version of the life of a British sailor in the Age of Sail. There's a liberal - but not gratuitous - use of profanity, and the action is realistic.
I particularly liked this volume as it deals with the battle of Yorktown and related nautical events. It's a subject I know well having lived and worked there over the years as well as sailed and motored around the waters of the rivers and lower Chesapeake depicted. A chunk of the story even takes place around the Guinea Marshes of Gloucester County, showing the author has done his research well.
Looking forward to following the travels and exploits of this young man through his naval career.
I particularly liked this volume as it deals with the battle of Yorktown and related nautical events. It's a subject I know well having lived and worked there over the years as well as sailed and motored around the waters of the rivers and lower Chesapeake depicted. A chunk of the story even takes place around the Guinea Marshes of Gloucester County, showing the author has done his research well.
Looking forward to following the travels and exploits of this young man through his naval career.
May 10, 2022
Lessons for a Young Officer
While the majority of the action in this installment of the series occurs on land, there is much to like in this story. First, there is the location set during the American revolution. The British Army led by Cornwallis is bogged down in Yorktown, Virginia surrounded by the American rebel army.
Into this conflict in Virginia, the British Navy is thrown into the breach providing support and fighting with the British Army. If you crave naval action at sea this installment is not for you. However, if you stick with it you will learn how our young hero, Alan Lewrie, learns important lessons in leadership and grows in confidence as a leader and young officer.
With this experience under his belt, Alan Lewrie grows to appreciate his role in the leadership of men to whom his care is entrusted.
While the majority of the action in this installment of the series occurs on land, there is much to like in this story. First, there is the location set during the American revolution. The British Army led by Cornwallis is bogged down in Yorktown, Virginia surrounded by the American rebel army.
Into this conflict in Virginia, the British Navy is thrown into the breach providing support and fighting with the British Army. If you crave naval action at sea this installment is not for you. However, if you stick with it you will learn how our young hero, Alan Lewrie, learns important lessons in leadership and grows in confidence as a leader and young officer.
With this experience under his belt, Alan Lewrie grows to appreciate his role in the leadership of men to whom his care is entrusted.
August 12, 2024
The title is a misnomer as the French Admiral does not feature in the book! Also most of the story is set on dry land, so seafaring readers swill be disappointed. The hero gets into prostitution, which may be accurate historically for young officers of the time but does not endear one to the main character.
The author is keen to demonstate his knowedge of 18th century sailing but most readers won't know what he's talking about.
The author tries to mimick the dialect of 18th century English sailors to such an extent it becomes annoying and difficult to follow. Despite the attempts a accuracy there are glaring mistakes with the use of the American word "gotten", not used in the UK today never mide 200 years ago and also referrences to condoms - really!
Disappointing book.
The author is keen to demonstate his knowedge of 18th century sailing but most readers won't know what he's talking about.
The author tries to mimick the dialect of 18th century English sailors to such an extent it becomes annoying and difficult to follow. Despite the attempts a accuracy there are glaring mistakes with the use of the American word "gotten", not used in the UK today never mide 200 years ago and also referrences to condoms - really!
Disappointing book.
September 22, 2020
I have a great joy in reading historical books. Although this is a mere story taking place around 1780, concerning the actions of a Royal Navy vessel and the main character Alan Lewrie, it portrays a wealth of knowledge and research of life in those times. The harsh realities of life then.
The story is very gripping and holds one to the last page. I wish now I had read the first book in the series first entitled “The Kings Coat” which presumably introduces the stories main character.
The knowledge and historical terms of sailing a British naval ship in this book were educational and fascinating. Life was cruel and harsh!
A highly recommended read!
The story is very gripping and holds one to the last page. I wish now I had read the first book in the series first entitled “The Kings Coat” which presumably introduces the stories main character.
The knowledge and historical terms of sailing a British naval ship in this book were educational and fascinating. Life was cruel and harsh!
A highly recommended read!
January 15, 2021
I was very surprised how good this book was. One of the best depictions of the Siege of Yorktown through the eyes of a British seaman. I also liked the pace of the book. Some may be put off by all of the sailing terms and descriptions, but as one who sails myself, I love it.
I also liked the land battle scenes and the growth of the main character - Alan Lewrie.
Some are uncomfortable with the the period thoughts and actions of the characters, but I feel that is how many gentried men may have thought and acted at the time.
Bravo for a fantastic book. Better than the first and I am looking forward to reading Book 3 - The King's Commission.
I also liked the land battle scenes and the growth of the main character - Alan Lewrie.
Some are uncomfortable with the the period thoughts and actions of the characters, but I feel that is how many gentried men may have thought and acted at the time.
Bravo for a fantastic book. Better than the first and I am looking forward to reading Book 3 - The King's Commission.
February 11, 2017
Alan Lewrie is a scandalous young rake whose amorous adventures ashore lead to his being shipped off to the Navy. Lewrie finds that he is a born sailor, although life at sea is a stark contrast to the London social whirl to which he had become accustomed. As his career advances, he finds the life of a naval officer suits him.
I really like these naval novels with their techno-speak and swashbuckling and such, but the language is pretty rough- f-bombs more than cannon shot and profanity. Sex scenes are not detailed- typical of how male authors write, for some reason.
I really like these naval novels with their techno-speak and swashbuckling and such, but the language is pretty rough- f-bombs more than cannon shot and profanity. Sex scenes are not detailed- typical of how male authors write, for some reason.
November 3, 2017
Alan Lewrie's career continues and culminates in his promotion to master's mate and awareness of his commitment to a naval career. This volume finds Lewrie at Yorktown and adventures both on land and sea ensue. Not as much fun as the first volume, but nevertheless worthwhile. Lewrie remains an interesting character - part Jack Aubrey, part Tom Jones.
Some readers might be surprised by Lambdin's portrayal of the uglier aspects of the American Revolution which, particularly in the South, was as much civil and class war as revolution.
Some readers might be surprised by Lambdin's portrayal of the uglier aspects of the American Revolution which, particularly in the South, was as much civil and class war as revolution.
May 24, 2020
The refreshing caddishness of the first book is still there, giving Alan Lewrie's character real persona, but in this novel he distinctly matures and grows up. Indeed there is a significant sprinkling of real leadership evident.
The plot takes place mainly on land fighting as a soldier rather than as a sailor. Whilst this is handled significantly better than many other naval authors I still yearned for him to get back to sea.
It will be interesting to see how his career unfolds and how his leadership in later books is forged by his own experience earlier on.
The plot takes place mainly on land fighting as a soldier rather than as a sailor. Whilst this is handled significantly better than many other naval authors I still yearned for him to get back to sea.
It will be interesting to see how his career unfolds and how his leadership in later books is forged by his own experience earlier on.
March 3, 2022
The tale takes place during the American Revolution and provides some interesting insights to the sea battles that took place in the Chesapeake and at Yorktown. The gritty and personal nature of a war that split families is brought vividly to life.
I do find Lewrie's amorous escapades a bit too detailed and distracting from the action and historical elements of the story. But, this is character building for a series that stretches more than 20 books. I enjoyed the book but found the pacing a bit on the slow side.
I do find Lewrie's amorous escapades a bit too detailed and distracting from the action and historical elements of the story. But, this is character building for a series that stretches more than 20 books. I enjoyed the book but found the pacing a bit on the slow side.
January 1, 2018
Second book in the series. Alan Lewrie has now been a midshipman in the Royal Navy for 2 years. His captain hates him because of the events that forced Lewrie to join the navy. Now their ship is off Chesapeake Bay in 1781 in support of General Cornwallis in Yorktown, and we all know how that turned out. Excellent naval adventure and a fair bit of American history. Well worth reading. Looking forward to the next in the series.
May 1, 2019
I find these stories captivating. There's insight here into history I didn't know, or that I did know in the high school establishment approved version but seen from a different angle (and with the delicious perspective provided by seeing it from the eventual outcome). I'll continue reading this series with pleasure ...even though it really is brain-candy. after all, what's "pleasure reading" all about, if not that?
January 17, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable read
The main character, Alan Lewrie is starting to find his sea legs and knowledge in this latest book in the series. He still ruminates about his actions and his real dread of action is all too real. There is some horrific descriptions of atrocities that took place in the American war of independence and the author doesn't fight why of the reasons behind the victory. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable romp through naval life in the 1700s
The main character, Alan Lewrie is starting to find his sea legs and knowledge in this latest book in the series. He still ruminates about his actions and his real dread of action is all too real. There is some horrific descriptions of atrocities that took place in the American war of independence and the author doesn't fight why of the reasons behind the victory. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable romp through naval life in the 1700s
March 31, 2020
I’ve just found another (new to me) favourite author! Amazing narrative of nautical jargon throughout - although I have no idea what most of it means it nonetheless provided an extremely exciting account of the day-to-day life on sea and land during the (US) Revolutionary War during the late 1700’s. We’re presented with ‘The Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures’, one of a series of novels, all of which, I’m sure, are as captivating as this one has been. I can hardly wait to read the rest!
December 23, 2020
The Fantastic 2nd Chapter
Dewey Lambdin has created a story that has totally captured my heart and mind. This installment is close to being my favorite as our hero Allen not only grows up on the outside but on the inside. His realizing that he is worth more important than he realizes is heartfelt and I found myself cheering for him as I read. Thank you Mr Lambdin. Your work is well done.
Dewey Lambdin has created a story that has totally captured my heart and mind. This installment is close to being my favorite as our hero Allen not only grows up on the outside but on the inside. His realizing that he is worth more important than he realizes is heartfelt and I found myself cheering for him as I read. Thank you Mr Lambdin. Your work is well done.
September 16, 2020
Godspeed Alan Lewrie
Part 2 of this series captures the excitement of youth and the changing life a young teenager who is turning into a man. I absolutely love this series and this book has been and will continue to be recommended by myself for as long as breadth is within me. Thank You Mr Lambdin
Part 2 of this series captures the excitement of youth and the changing life a young teenager who is turning into a man. I absolutely love this series and this book has been and will continue to be recommended by myself for as long as breadth is within me. Thank You Mr Lambdin
December 31, 2020
Finished In a couple nights! Read from 2 to 6 one night which was not a good idea as E woke at 7. Great adventure again with some insight inte the botched skirmishes of the brittish during the war for independence in the NA colonies. Alan spends a lot of time on land, and commands a bark to evacuate loyalists. How can I resist? Must have more!
January 29, 2021
This type of book is not really my style - I was given it as a gift and was apprehensive about reading it. However, I did find myself enjoying it, despite the fact that it is a) the second book in a series and b) not my preferred book type. I would recommend but probably not read any further into the series due to personal preference.
April 12, 2024
Pretty fun wooden ships and iron men fare. The reader does a good job. Pacing is uneven, but the main character is charmingly roguish and conflicted and there is plenty of action. Of course it never gets close to the beauty of Patrick O'Brian but this is solid fun in that genre and better than many of the competitors.
May 20, 2025
I enjoyed the story line but would have appreciated a map of the West Indies/American coast and a close-up of Chesapeake area. I also found I skipped over many paragraphs of complicated instructions to raise sails etc. I appreciate the research the author must have gone to but over my head especially with a seaman's accent.
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