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Ajax: Book 3 in the Wharton series
The freshly promoted Lieutenant Johnnie Wharton RN, now recovered from the horrors of the Battle of the Nile, is ordered to Plymouth to join the Royal Navy’s newest battleship HMS Ajax as second lieutenant.
The endless war at sea continues with the British naval blockade of all French ports and Wharton seems destined to spend the next year or so sailing back and forth opposite Brittany and the Bay of Biscay.
A surprise secondment to the fast brig-sloop HMS Cynthia, captained by the buccaneering Scotsman Rory Burns, leads to the capture of with a French schooner and, probably, more Prize Money. Then Burns and Wharton are ordered to scout for the attack on the Dutch fleet at anchor at Den Helder and De Vlieter in the Zuider Zee.
Napoleon and his Grand Armee’s invasion of Egypt has put Britain’s route to India in peril and Wharton plays a key role in the mass army and navy landings near Alexandria as an aide to Admiral Lord Keith and Captain Alexander Cochrane.
Peace talks between France and Britain at the end of 1801 cause concern for the Royal Navy with many officers and men facing being beached with half-pay or worse, as much of the fleet could be laid-up. Johnnie Wharton fears for the end of his naval career.
The endless war at sea continues with the British naval blockade of all French ports and Wharton seems destined to spend the next year or so sailing back and forth opposite Brittany and the Bay of Biscay.
A surprise secondment to the fast brig-sloop HMS Cynthia, captained by the buccaneering Scotsman Rory Burns, leads to the capture of with a French schooner and, probably, more Prize Money. Then Burns and Wharton are ordered to scout for the attack on the Dutch fleet at anchor at Den Helder and De Vlieter in the Zuider Zee.
Napoleon and his Grand Armee’s invasion of Egypt has put Britain’s route to India in peril and Wharton plays a key role in the mass army and navy landings near Alexandria as an aide to Admiral Lord Keith and Captain Alexander Cochrane.
Peace talks between France and Britain at the end of 1801 cause concern for the Royal Navy with many officers and men facing being beached with half-pay or worse, as much of the fleet could be laid-up. Johnnie Wharton fears for the end of his naval career.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2023
351 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 21, 2025
Fairly entertaining, although the author keeps playing games with the promotion system, and before long our hero who just became a lieutenant somehow ends up 1st LT and even acting captain at Aboukir. How on earth, you ask? Somehow he has seniority over all 5 of the other lieutenants even though he was just made an LT earlier that year.
And, somehow he manages to be temporarily assigned to a sloop just in time to defeat the Batavian (Dutch) navy, while his ship Ajax is in need of men, and obviously cannot spare a lieutenant.
That aside its a pretty entertaining tale about two major encounters for the British navy, and the characters are likable.
And, somehow he manages to be temporarily assigned to a sloop just in time to defeat the Batavian (Dutch) navy, while his ship Ajax is in need of men, and obviously cannot spare a lieutenant.
That aside its a pretty entertaining tale about two major encounters for the British navy, and the characters are likable.
December 2, 2025
Another fine read, looking forward to the next installment.
The recounting of the campaign in Egypt was very interesting. Most of the Royal Navy historical novel have been centered around the American Revolution and the Caribbean and the political issues involved. Edwardson's novels (that I have read so far) have been centered around the Mediterranean and the western coast of Europe. I have enjoyed them very much and look forward to the upcoming episodes.
The recounting of the campaign in Egypt was very interesting. Most of the Royal Navy historical novel have been centered around the American Revolution and the Caribbean and the political issues involved. Edwardson's novels (that I have read so far) have been centered around the Mediterranean and the western coast of Europe. I have enjoyed them very much and look forward to the upcoming episodes.
August 17, 2023
Naval Warfare in Napoleonic Egypt.
A good example of the very rapid promotions via "dead mens boots " in Hanoverian British Royal Navy. Storm descriptions show the destructive power if Atlantic storms in Bay of Buscay.
A good example of the very rapid promotions via "dead mens boots " in Hanoverian British Royal Navy. Storm descriptions show the destructive power if Atlantic storms in Bay of Buscay.
January 13, 2025
Interesting blend of Army and Navy
The battle in Egypt was especially interesting in that it covered the land battles in great detail. It also painted the main character in a slightly less favorable light, which makes him appear more real.
The battle in Egypt was especially interesting in that it covered the land battles in great detail. It also painted the main character in a slightly less favorable light, which makes him appear more real.
April 4, 2024
English defeat French in Egypt. the beginning of the year of Peace.
Story is moving along, a good telling of the historical story line and a leave home just before the Peace.
Story is moving along, a good telling of the historical story line and a leave home just before the Peace.
June 29, 2024
A Bit of History, With Fun
When history is written so well that I could not set it down; I learned and enjoyed it. I'm sure you will like it also!
When history is written so well that I could not set it down; I learned and enjoyed it. I'm sure you will like it also!
January 6, 2026
good story
Very good sea seafarers description of sail and ship management, corrects amount of battle scenes. Entertaining read and look forward to the next one
Very good sea seafarers description of sail and ship management, corrects amount of battle scenes. Entertaining read and look forward to the next one
September 25, 2023
Enjoyable. Kept the interest right through, the cover would do well to be more representative of the boat in question.
September 13, 2024
The battle for Egypt is the feature for this segment of a not inspiring but interesting series.
John keeps moving upwards in his career with his flexibility and availability fitting him on small ships and large. His time ashore in Egypt confirms his choice of the navy as a career.
John keeps moving upwards in his career with his flexibility and availability fitting him on small ships and large. His time ashore in Egypt confirms his choice of the navy as a career.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews