Heart of Oak

Adam Bolitho #4

by Alexander Kent

After the war with France has ended in 1818, Captain Adam Bolitho is given command of the newly commissioned frigate Onward and sent to North Africa on a diplomatic mission to accompany the French frigate Nautilus in a show of solidarity. He knows he is lucky—the voyage should be easy; but Adam longs for a chance to marry the beautiful Lowenna and settle down on the Bolitho estate in Cornwall. Instead he must deal with the envy and ambition of his officers, hidden agendas among his men, and the former enemy's proximity. Then the Nautilus becomes a sacrificial offering on the altar of Empire, and the hunt is on for a treacherous foe. Suddenly every man must discover for himself whether the brotherhood of the sea can transcend old hatreds and an ocean of blood.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Nautical, Historical, War, Military Fiction

270 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2007

About the author

A pseudonym used by Douglas Reeman.

Series:
* Richard Bolitho
* Adam Bolitho

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski]

Adam has command of a new frigate and once again sails into the Med. Several sea battles. But...finally Adam has a wife. One more novel and this long series will be done. And I will be happy it is finished and sad that there will not be another book to follow.

[Lee]

Another so so Adam book. This one has lots of action on the home front. Adam has a new ship and is sent to Gibraltar to participate in diplomatic missions with former enemy turned frenemy France. A little bit of action but quite a lot of home front stuff.

[David]

Just so so. The plot gets lost sometimes as it’s hard to know what’s happening, who the antagonists are, and why they are doing what they’re doing. The sub-plots are not particularly well developed. One more book in the series and I’ll be done.

[Sandra Hamilton]

I

[David Hull]

Excellent!

[Billy Forbes]

having read the full series of Bolitho but was disappointed with this book no action for 100 pages.

[Charlie Shaw]

This book tied up all the loose ends in the story. I'm really sorry that the story is finally told!

[Roger Franks]

Yet another good read

Thoroughly enjoyed another in the series but having said that having read them all from book 1 the format is getting more repetitive if this was the first it I had rad itwould be terrific but though I will continue to read the next ..... And the Next I fear the format will remain with name and character changes

[J]

Having read all the Bolitho novels and at first intrigued with the character, by the time I read this last novel I found I really disliked what he had become: boring, maudlin, and depressing. I thought he should have have resigned his commission after "Honour The Day".

[R]

This was better than the last one "Man of War", but shorter. Seems like the author is having a more difficult time coming up with new ideas, but enjoyed it none-the-less.

[Pete Body]

Typical early 19th century naval adventure from Alexander Kent. Always a good read

[Tony Davies]

Shame could have been good

Very disjointed between home and sea. Too repetitive on the running of the ship and not enough story. Pity could have been so much better

[j morris]

Excellent

Well stiffened as ever if a little repetative in places. Some story lines I seem to remember from some of his other bookxs.