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The Modern Naval Fiction Library
For Valour
Commander Graham Martineau was awarded the Victoria Cross for pressing home an attack against impossible odds. Few survived, and crimson ribbon remains a haunting symbol of the sacrifice of ship and men. Now, as captain of the crack Tribal Class destroyer H.M.S. Hakka, Martineau must once again call from ordinary seamen the ultimate in courage, and prepare to defend to the death vital convoys to Russia.There is no hiding place in these bitter Arctic seas, where a pitiless enemy awaits a fatal rendezvous.ALL ARE HEROES, AND NO MAN NOR SHIP IS IMMORTAL.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 1999
81 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Reeman
138 books178 followersAKA Alexander Kent.
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.
Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.
Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).
Series:
* Blackwood Family
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.
Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.
Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).
Series:
* Blackwood Family
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 28, 2019
It's WWII, and Germany is strangling the Northern convoys to Britain.
A Captain of a Destroyer is tasked with escorting ships in, even though his last ship sunk. His crew seems to be slowly cracking, as well.
Not bad.
A Captain of a Destroyer is tasked with escorting ships in, even though his last ship sunk. His crew seems to be slowly cracking, as well.
Not bad.
April 4, 2018
Once again, destroyers saved the day. More shore time in this book then usual. Typical romance for a Reeman book. Good sea action parts.
December 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't a lot driven story but more of a themed driven story and I normally struggle with these types but this one did it well. It had a good amount of action but the theme Valour was the real action! 4.5 Stars!
July 2, 2022
Excellent book
Fast paced book, with almost continuous and well written action; I literally couldn't put it down.
Who would I recommend it too? Anyone who likes stories about WW2 naval warfare.
A couple of points seem exceptionally true to life,as they should seeing as he served in the RN in WW2; one is the description of the Russian Convoys, these tally almost exactly, (leaving out narrative necessity), with what I was told by my history teacher, (George Nicholson; ex RN and who served on the Russia Convoys). And one where the love interest is in a building that's bombed; I used to visit an old member of my church, she was a WRNS during the war, and had this happen to her when Portsmouth Dockyard was bombed!
Down side to the book? It may sound petty, but why, when so many famous classes of destroyers were mentioned in the first few pages of a book about a WW2 destroyer, did the publishers see fit to use, what looks like a modern HMS Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier, with a helicopter on the deck???? Maybe it grates because I come from Pompey!!
Anyway. Highly recommended.
Fast paced book, with almost continuous and well written action; I literally couldn't put it down.
Who would I recommend it too? Anyone who likes stories about WW2 naval warfare.
A couple of points seem exceptionally true to life,as they should seeing as he served in the RN in WW2; one is the description of the Russian Convoys, these tally almost exactly, (leaving out narrative necessity), with what I was told by my history teacher, (George Nicholson; ex RN and who served on the Russia Convoys). And one where the love interest is in a building that's bombed; I used to visit an old member of my church, she was a WRNS during the war, and had this happen to her when Portsmouth Dockyard was bombed!
Down side to the book? It may sound petty, but why, when so many famous classes of destroyers were mentioned in the first few pages of a book about a WW2 destroyer, did the publishers see fit to use, what looks like a modern HMS Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier, with a helicopter on the deck???? Maybe it grates because I come from Pompey!!
Anyway. Highly recommended.
September 9, 2022
By GR's rating system 1 star = I did not like it.
Reeman's books can be hit or miss and this one is a miss. This is one of the books where he tries to create drama from the get go. And as I have mentioned, you need to establish the characters first. It's no good trying to create drama first because the readers are not vested in the characters yet so they don't care about the drama.
Furthermore I came here for WW2 naval fiction, not some relationship between a guy I don't know and don't care about and his ex-wife. And after countless changes of POVs I despaired getting to the WW2 naval fiction part and just dnf'd. I think it could have been a good book but the manufactured drama was just so much cringe.
Reeman's books can be hit or miss and this one is a miss. This is one of the books where he tries to create drama from the get go. And as I have mentioned, you need to establish the characters first. It's no good trying to create drama first because the readers are not vested in the characters yet so they don't care about the drama.
Furthermore I came here for WW2 naval fiction, not some relationship between a guy I don't know and don't care about and his ex-wife. And after countless changes of POVs I despaired getting to the WW2 naval fiction part and just dnf'd. I think it could have been a good book but the manufactured drama was just so much cringe.
September 14, 2019
Unbelievably Moving!
The whole book provided suspense from start to finish. One could be excused if you doubted so much of the action. Such items were part of WW2 as I knew it so the author is to be congratulated with his fiction which could easily have been true to life.!
The whole book provided suspense from start to finish. One could be excused if you doubted so much of the action. Such items were part of WW2 as I knew it so the author is to be congratulated with his fiction which could easily have been true to life.!
August 2, 2022
Meh. Reeman's done better, a lot better. Irritating at times due to disjointed writing- often I did not know what character was saying/thinking some dialogue: Reeman opens a section with "He entered the bridge..." Who entered the bridge? Captain, pilot, ship's cat? Too much of this sort of stuff.
September 9, 2022
Greatly Enjoyed
Another Douglas Reeman, I’ve read them all my life, every mess deck onboard had the paperback versions but it’s good to reread them.
Great characters, accurate description of life onboard and always a good story.
This one is no exception.
Another Douglas Reeman, I’ve read them all my life, every mess deck onboard had the paperback versions but it’s good to reread them.
Great characters, accurate description of life onboard and always a good story.
This one is no exception.
January 3, 2025
Good book. Typical Reeman style.Well done until the final battle. That seemed kind of weak and hurried. The love story was a little better done here than average. It's not the author's strong point. Well worth reading.
August 8, 2020
Good historical naval yarn 👍
March 14, 2022
GREAT book.
Full of action! Douglas Reeman knows what he is writing. He brings life to the characters and places in the thick of the action! Looking forward to the next book.
Full of action! Douglas Reeman knows what he is writing. He brings life to the characters and places in the thick of the action! Looking forward to the next book.
March 26, 2022
Excellent, Excellent Story
This is an Excellent book and story. Great depth of caricatures and sea action mix. Well worth reading. Enjoyed it.
This is an Excellent book and story. Great depth of caricatures and sea action mix. Well worth reading. Enjoyed it.
May 19, 2022
Reeman's stories are always enjoyable, sometimes a little too predictable but always with immediacy and realism.
December 7, 2023
An excellent action novel,relating every day life in terrible circumstances,involving life and war.
April 15, 2024
Good descriptions of life on a British Destroyer in the Atlantic.
May 17, 2025
lots of action
A little confusing with so many side stories but overall lol a good read with exciting action. Looking forward to the next one.
A little confusing with so many side stories but overall lol a good read with exciting action. Looking forward to the next one.
November 21, 2016
Great Story!
Although this book is naval fiction, these ships and the men who manned them were very much real. "The names have been changed to protect the innocent," as the TV show said. The world waited with bated breath, as all alone in the first years of the war Britain held out against the Nazi onslaught. Men like the ones in Reeman's story were the only thing between victory and defeat.
Although this book is naval fiction, these ships and the men who manned them were very much real. "The names have been changed to protect the innocent," as the TV show said. The world waited with bated breath, as all alone in the first years of the war Britain held out against the Nazi onslaught. Men like the ones in Reeman's story were the only thing between victory and defeat.
December 7, 2012
Not one of Douglas Reeman!s better books. The story seemed disjointed and sporatic. Bounces around alot and the action seems to be thrown in as well. Towards the end, the story seems to flow better but the end is a disapointment. Not one of his better efforts.
February 14, 2016
Probably more interesting for someone with a background in the Navy, I found the story slow and lacking in excitement. Some of the terminology was no doubt technically correct, but not part of my lexicon.
July 22, 2012
A typical Reeman book.
Fairly good story but also a tad too predictable for my tastes.
Fairly good story but also a tad too predictable for my tastes.
October 30, 2016
So poorly written....
Can't believe the lack of structure in this story. A sad lack in describing the action and constantly going back to a love affair. So hard to read.
Can't believe the lack of structure in this story. A sad lack in describing the action and constantly going back to a love affair. So hard to read.
January 31, 2019
Reeman still awesome
Authentic and gritty is the best way to describe Doug Reemans works. The only problem I had was at the beginning they had his XO as having an affair with the leading characters wife. Hard to believe.
Authentic and gritty is the best way to describe Doug Reemans works. The only problem I had was at the beginning they had his XO as having an affair with the leading characters wife. Hard to believe.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews