Goliath: Wharton Book 4

by George Edwardson, George Westropp

France and Britain are finally at peace and many of the ships in the Royal Navy’s vast fleet are laid up. In the circumstances, Lieutenant John Wharton RN is amazed to be able to find the position of first lieutenant on the venerable but fast sloop HMS Camilla in Portsmouth.By the autumn of 1802, the big question was how long the Treaty of Amiens would last and Britain’s seemingly endless war with the Napoleon’s France start again.Convoy duty to Newfoundland and Canada follow with a vital diplomatic mission to Washington DC to try to avert another war with the United States. In company with his friend master gunner Toby Smeeton, the West Indies are the next destination with many adventures on the way.Wharton is next posted first lieutenant of the grand 74-gun third rate HMS Goliath, but not before Wharton renews his friendship with the striking heiress Lady Penelope Marwood and her influential father Lord Paignton.With the Treaty breaking down, Goliath is ordered to patrol between Jamaica and Haiti to disrupt the French navy and the prospect of valuable prizes soon becomes a reality.

Genres: Historical Fiction

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2023

Reviews

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a frustration. The story is interesting in the events and characters are well shaped. We get a look at our hero's life onshore, and he now benefits from prizes captured in the war as the Peace of Amiens puts most of the British Navy out of work.

As the resuming of the war looms on the horizon, Lieutenant Wharton is given a job on the HBMS Goliath. And here's where my frustration arises. It was stretching things considerably for 1-year Lieutenant Wharton at age 19 to be given the 1st LT job on a ship of the line in the previous book, but there were a lot of deaths in the Battle of the Nile, and it could theoretically be argued as a distant possibility.

But after the Peace of Amiens put thousands of lieutenants ashore, there's no chance in any world that he becomes first lieutenant over the good 950 LTs with more seniority in a system defined by seniority. This could not and would not ever happen. Then to cap it with a beret of stupidity, at the end of the book and only five years in the rank, he's given post captain status without more than a few weeks of solo command of a ship.

Why these authors insist on rocketing their protagonist through the ranks like they've been shot out of a howitzer is so frustrating and baffling. Give them time to learn and grow. Let them serve in the job long enough to actually EARN The position. Why write a historical book if you're going to simply blow off the clear historical system and pattern of the setting you want to write about??

These are still well done, its just so sad that the series started so promising with a gradual advancement of our heroes in Wharton has fallen prey to the all-too-typical fast promotion trap.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Sea Yarn

This is the fourth book in the series and it was a.good one. What I like about these stories are how the daily life aboard a ship was like. you don't get a lot of the below decks life, but enough to see how it was. One other thing is the relationship between officers and the crew. There is a feeling of friendships between the two levels that is hard to understand, but still can exist. For now I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series stays quite interesting

Johnnie seems to generally gravitate to small ships and manages to stay busy during the peacetime. Called back to be first officer on a 74, with a rather nonchalant captain, they successfully celebrate the end of the peace by taking several prizes.

[Dr Robert Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read albeit quite short

Hopefully, this is not the last and I can continue to read about Johnnie, and his exploits in the Royal navy. Overall, the four books are worth reading and the characters do build as the series progresses

[John Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

patience has its reward

What does Captain John Wharton do next? A good short story with a great plot line and some interesting characters. Will we see more of Captain Wharton; I hope so.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

North Atlantic missions during the year of peace

The story continues with the reader being entertained when crossings to Halifax Nova Scotia and onto Montreal are storm filled.
Well done series

[Wadenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Gallant & Exciting Story Continues

Should all my school tomes have been written so well; I would be better learned than I now am. A book as interesting as this one is easy to learn from and enjoy.

[James DeRousse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series continues to entertain

Stays very great reading. Interesting history lesson on time leading up to war of 1812. Look forward to to the remainder of the series.

series.

[Tadd Colver]

Highly recommended for young teens!

Outstanding! Action and Adventure!
Moves along well with interesting real life incidents from history.
Should readily hold interest for a young man. I'm eighty five and I thor.oughly enjoyed it.😃

[Ryan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Finished the series in a week. Reminds me of the first time I read Hornblower. Can't wait for the next one.

[Steve Dowdney · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books read in series give an excellent flavor of life on 18th Century British man-O-War's.

[mr t f mccrorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good tale of RN in 28th c

Good follow on from book 4 and return to exviting times in the carribean. More prizes taken and Cummings in it again.

[Steven P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this

Another excellent description of the British Navy in the early 1800's. Interesting personal developments as well added another layer to the story.

[Anthony Ayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story