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Nathan Peake #6
The Spoils of Conquest
The Mouth of the Nile, 9th August, 1798: Admiral Nelson has sent Captain Nathan Peake on a desperate journey across the Middle East to convey a grim warning to British India. Bonaparte's army is poised to deliver a fatal blow to the source of Britain's wealth and power by marching overland to India.
Arriving in Bombay, Nathan takes command of the East India Company's naval wing - the Bombay Marine - an under-armed and poorly crewed flotilla of sloops and gunboats.
With these meagre resources he must stop the flow of French supplies to their Indian ally and protect the Company's trade from the pirates and privateers swarming in the Bay of Bengal.
But when Nathan discovers the truth behind the East India Company's honourable facade he confronts some tough personal choices - and a crisis of conscience even more threatening than the enemy.
Arriving in Bombay, Nathan takes command of the East India Company's naval wing - the Bombay Marine - an under-armed and poorly crewed flotilla of sloops and gunboats.
With these meagre resources he must stop the flow of French supplies to their Indian ally and protect the Company's trade from the pirates and privateers swarming in the Bay of Bengal.
But when Nathan discovers the truth behind the East India Company's honourable facade he confronts some tough personal choices - and a crisis of conscience even more threatening than the enemy.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2013
23 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Seth Hunter
12 books28 followersA pseudonym used by Paul Bryers
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author of a number of highly acclaimed and prize-winning adult and children's novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov. He is a member of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, the Director's Guild and PEN. THE TIME OF TERROR is the first novel in a trilogy of historical naval adventures. He lives in London.
Seth Hunter is the pseudonym of the author of a number of highly acclaimed and prize-winning adult and children's novels. He has written and directed many historical dramas for television, radio and the theatre and adapted and directed films by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Michael Bulgakov. He is a member of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, the Director's Guild and PEN. THE TIME OF TERROR is the first novel in a trilogy of historical naval adventures. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2021
Sixth and last book in a fine series I wish could go on. I really enjoy this author's style of historical novel, I came to care about several characters and enjoyed vicariously the exploits of Captain Nathan Peake and his adventures as a spy and in naval battles, while reviewing English naval military history of the 1790s related to the rise of Napoleon.
Peake starts out at the mouth of the Nile in this one, and moves East, on land actually for quite a spell, to get to Bombay and Mangalore. I particularly enjoyed the section in which he learned about riding camels, then took instruction, and the subsequent results, The dry British humor and interaction among the engaging ensemble of characters had me laughing out loud. The detail and description of strategy in the engagement in various naval battle encounters was outstanding.
I did feel a bit let down by the hasty trying up of several loose strings in the epilogue. Not everything turned out as I had hoped, and it hit me sort of fast after building a sense of rapport in my mind with several of the characters.
Peake starts out at the mouth of the Nile in this one, and moves East, on land actually for quite a spell, to get to Bombay and Mangalore. I particularly enjoyed the section in which he learned about riding camels, then took instruction, and the subsequent results, The dry British humor and interaction among the engaging ensemble of characters had me laughing out loud. The detail and description of strategy in the engagement in various naval battle encounters was outstanding.
I did feel a bit let down by the hasty trying up of several loose strings in the epilogue. Not everything turned out as I had hoped, and it hit me sort of fast after building a sense of rapport in my mind with several of the characters.
December 27, 2018
An entertaining read set in the Napoleonic Wars. The hero, Nathan Peake, is a trusted officer of Nelson and after the battle of Aboukir Bay is sent on a mission to India via the Silk Road. The desert journey part of the book is patchy, but the story comes alive when Peake sent back to sea and the author is back in his comfort zone.
October 3, 2013
Nathan Peake is the latest in a line of maritime heroes. Like his real life predecessor Admiral Cochrane and his fictional predecessors Hornblower Bolitho and Ramage he is both likeable and flawed.
Their literary guardians have to find places on the world map where their careers can develop. In this novel Peake the son of a sheep farming Admiral and his estranged wife, an American born politically active society hostess, is sent to India. Admiral Nelson asks him to carry despatches to Bombay about the Battle of the Nile in which Peake himself had played an important role.
The novel has many delightful moments including a Zoroastrian Lieutenant and cameo appearances by members of the Wellesley family. The naval action that ensues is well described and the treachery he discovers is satisfyingly resolved.
Their literary guardians have to find places on the world map where their careers can develop. In this novel Peake the son of a sheep farming Admiral and his estranged wife, an American born politically active society hostess, is sent to India. Admiral Nelson asks him to carry despatches to Bombay about the Battle of the Nile in which Peake himself had played an important role.
The novel has many delightful moments including a Zoroastrian Lieutenant and cameo appearances by members of the Wellesley family. The naval action that ensues is well described and the treachery he discovers is satisfyingly resolved.
April 5, 2014
This was my least favourite Nathaniel Peake book to date I'm afraid. Whilst there was still plenty of action, and the exceptionally well written insights into this wholly realistic and believable character, I could not help but think there was an air of tying up lose ends about the whole novel.
I get the impression this may be the last outing for this character. The way the author seems to tire a little of giving us the exciting details of Peake's life and instead drifts into something rather like the closing scene of an old movie is frankly a little disappointing.
I get the impression this may be the last outing for this character. The way the author seems to tire a little of giving us the exciting details of Peake's life and instead drifts into something rather like the closing scene of an old movie is frankly a little disappointing.
January 7, 2014
This was my least favourite Nathaniel Peake book to date I'm afraid. Whilst there was still plenty of action, and the exceptionally well written insights into this wholly realistic and believable character, I could not help but think there was an air of tying up lose ends about the whole novel.
I get the impression this may be the last outing for this character. The way the author seems to tire a little of giving us the exciting details of Peake's life and instead drifts into something rather like the closing scene of an old movie is frankly a little disappointing.
I get the impression this may be the last outing for this character. The way the author seems to tire a little of giving us the exciting details of Peake's life and instead drifts into something rather like the closing scene of an old movie is frankly a little disappointing.
December 12, 2013
I always have high expectations for the Nathan Peake stories and this book meets them. On occasion, one of the stories exceeds expectations and offers me great delight, but this is just very good and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews