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Phillip Hazard #1
The valiant sailors
Further Adventures in the Hazard saga. Phillip Horatio Hazard, and his daring exploits during The Crimean Campaign. Prologue: October 17, 1854, the siege-guns of the Allied Armies of Britain and France opened fire on the Russian naval base of Sebastopol.This book has some creasing, has clean text. The last 4 pages are a map of The Crimea and show positions occupied by Lord Ragian and General Canrobert.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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About the author
V.A. Stuart
35 books4 followersSee also Vivian Stuart.
Violet Vivian Finlay was born on 2 January 1914 in Berkshire, England, UK, the daughter of Alice Kathleen (née Norton) and Sir Campbell Kirkman Finlay. Her father was the owner and director of Burmah Oil Company Ltd., whose Scottish family also owned James Finlay and Company Ltd. The majority of her childhood and youth was spent in Rangoon, Burma (now also known as Myanmar), where her father worked. During her life, she frequently journeyed between India, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
Violet Vivian Finlay was born on 2 January 1914 in Berkshire, England, UK, the daughter of Alice Kathleen (née Norton) and Sir Campbell Kirkman Finlay. Her father was the owner and director of Burmah Oil Company Ltd., whose Scottish family also owned James Finlay and Company Ltd. The majority of her childhood and youth was spent in Rangoon, Burma (now also known as Myanmar), where her father worked. During her life, she frequently journeyed between India, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 20, 2023
A decent storyline, but the writing style of the author stresses more on the overall picture rather than tell the story from an individual's point of view. This makes it harder to really identify with the main protagonist of the story.
The author does provide a great picture of the overall movement of land and naval forces, including details like the order of ships going in for an attack, etc.
However, the writing style doesn't have the flourish that an O'Brian has - even the parts that are supposed to speak to the glory of British arms come out as bland statements.
The author does provide a great picture of the overall movement of land and naval forces, including details like the order of ships going in for an attack, etc.
However, the writing style doesn't have the flourish that an O'Brian has - even the parts that are supposed to speak to the glory of British arms come out as bland statements.
February 5, 2022
Good novle about the first oths of the Crimean War. Illustrates the foulups on the parts of the British-French exeditionaky force. Poor cdoordination between ground forces and naval forces and frequently changing plans for invasion of the Crimean peninsula. Disagreements between French and British commanders didn't help. Still an entertaining novel; the first of annine novel series
October 9, 2019
Excited to read more. Lively history shows decisions based on compromise, incompetence. Whisper of romance between Lady Sophie and 1st Lt Hazard. He stands between sadistic Captain North and crew on the edge of mutiny.
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January 22, 2022I don’t disagree with the critical reviews here, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and will read at least the next book in the series.
February 3, 2009
This is the first of V. A. Stuart's series of Hazard stories about the mid-nineteenth century Royal Navy. I am afraid that for me it is a dud. It just doesn't have the air of authenticity that such historical novels require if they are to convince and engage all but the most casual reader. I fear that Stuart tried to make the whole thing too 'glamourous' with a beautiful and mysterious woman and some unlikely bits of plot which is all rather embarrasing. Stuart's grasp of naval detail and real characters and events of the Crimean War (which are worked into the story) is not bad, though sometimes rather laboured and not quite as accurate as she claims in the Author's Note. In the end I was just rather irritated by the whole thing. I am sure there are plenty of people who are fans of the Hazard series, but I am afraid I am not one of them.
What did I learn from this? How very very difficult it is to write convincing and good historical fiction, especially when you are using some real characters and events. It made me respect even more the works of the likes of O'Brian and Forrester.
What did I learn from this? How very very difficult it is to write convincing and good historical fiction, especially when you are using some real characters and events. It made me respect even more the works of the likes of O'Brian and Forrester.
May 19, 2009
This was the first book I've read set during the Crimean war, which occurred during the transition from sail to steam. The book jacket blurbs mention the historical accuracy, but I don't know enough about the time to attest to the blurb's accuracy. I finished the book, which says something and I'll try the next in the series, but overall I can't say that the characters were all that interesting. The romance that didn't occur felt as if it was added only to broaden the audience.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews