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The Dorset Boy #19
Opium
1840 -1841 Great Britain and China are at odds over the illegal supply of opium by the British into China. The Emperor orders a crackdown and destroys millions of dollars worth after confiscating it from the merchants at Canton. This leads to the First Opium War and the Stockley family is deeply involved, James is sent out on the Stockley's new steamship, the Caroline to provide Secret Service assistance to the commanders of the British Expeditionary force. The lack of any progress in the negotiation of a free trade agreement leads Palmerston to recall Charles Elliot the Superindentant of trade and send Lord Martin Stockley, Earl of Purbeck and Under Secretary for Asia to replace him.
Industrial unrest greets them when they return to England with the Chartists rioting. The First Afghan war is in full flow and an earthquake in the Caribbean sees James go on a rescue mission that turns into the pursuit of an escaped murderer.
As usual its all action for the Stockleys.
Industrial unrest greets them when they return to England with the Chartists rioting. The First Afghan war is in full flow and an earthquake in the Caribbean sees James go on a rescue mission that turns into the pursuit of an escaped murderer.
As usual its all action for the Stockleys.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2025
55 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Christopher C. Tubbs
37 books115 followersBiography
I am descendent of a long line of Dorset clay miners and have chased my family tree back to the 16th century in the Isle of Purbeck. I have been a public speaker at conferences for most of my career in the Aerospace and Automotive industries and was one of the founders of a successful games company back in the 1990’s.
Now in my sixties, and living in the Netherlands Antilles, I finally got to write the stories I had going around in my head for many years. Thanks to inspiration from the great sea authors like Alexander Kent, Dewey Lambdin, Patrick O’Brian and Dudley Pope I was finally able to put digit to keyboard and start writing the Dorset Boy series.
I make no apologies that I write for myself. The stories emerge as I write and I am often surprised by the twists and turns that they take.
I am descendent of a long line of Dorset clay miners and have chased my family tree back to the 16th century in the Isle of Purbeck. I have been a public speaker at conferences for most of my career in the Aerospace and Automotive industries and was one of the founders of a successful games company back in the 1990’s.
Now in my sixties, and living in the Netherlands Antilles, I finally got to write the stories I had going around in my head for many years. Thanks to inspiration from the great sea authors like Alexander Kent, Dewey Lambdin, Patrick O’Brian and Dudley Pope I was finally able to put digit to keyboard and start writing the Dorset Boy series.
I make no apologies that I write for myself. The stories emerge as I write and I am often surprised by the twists and turns that they take.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2025
Rewards abound
Marty has come very far from the Devon farm boy to a successful Naval officer. His rewards and penchant for diplomacy brings him into HM government. Anxious to see what the future brings.
Good plot lines. Interesting new characters. Well described action sequences. Recommend this book.
Marty has come very far from the Devon farm boy to a successful Naval officer. His rewards and penchant for diplomacy brings him into HM government. Anxious to see what the future brings.
Good plot lines. Interesting new characters. Well described action sequences. Recommend this book.
December 28, 2025
As always... A treat.
Tubbe works never fail. A great journey through British naval history, with many ins and outs. Character development excellent! Even with the aging of characters, same for the development of ships, boats, guns ...
A masterful work I will reread as I sit in my hospital bed awaiting transplant.
Tubbe works never fail. A great journey through British naval history, with many ins and outs. Character development excellent! Even with the aging of characters, same for the development of ships, boats, guns ...
A masterful work I will reread as I sit in my hospital bed awaiting transplant.
December 24, 2025
Fun read
Lives up to the high standards of the previous books with the exception of typos. There are so many as to be distracting. But still enjoyable to read.
Lives up to the high standards of the previous books with the exception of typos. There are so many as to be distracting. But still enjoyable to read.
December 31, 2025
This series is aging gracefully.
New times, but the same old problems for the HMS. China, rather than India, but pirates remain an enemy for the merchants extending the Empire’s domains.
New times, but the same old problems for the HMS. China, rather than India, but pirates remain an enemy for the merchants extending the Empire’s domains.
January 11, 2026
Understanding History
With a little licence, exciting action full of intrigue and political sculdugery ,history explained nearly ! But still good adventure.
With a little licence, exciting action full of intrigue and political sculdugery ,history explained nearly ! But still good adventure.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews