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Alan Lewrie #22
A Hard, Cruel Shore
“You could get addicted to this series. Easily.”---The New York Times Book Review The year 1809 starts out badly for Captain Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy, and his ship, HMS Sapphire. They’ve extracted the sick, cold survivors of Sir John Moore’s army from disaster at Corunna, got hit by lightning while escorting the army to England, and suffered a shattered mainmast which may end Lewrie’s active commission if a replacement can’t be found or fashioned soon. Admiralty needs troopships, not slow, old Fourth Rate two-deckers, so Lewrie must beg, borrow, steal, and gild the facts most glibly if he wishes to keep her and her skilled crew together. Just when he imagines he’s succeeded, new orders come appointing him a Commodore over a wee squadron assigned to prey upon French seaborne supply convoys off the treacherous north coast of Spain, better known as the Costa da Morte, the Coast of Death, where the sea may be more dangerous to him and his ships than the French Navy! Basing out of newly won Lisbon, where Lewrie hopes his mistress from Gibraltar, Maddalena Covilhá, might move, he’s sure of one It's going to be a rocky year that, hopefully, doesn’t involve wrecking on the rugged shores of Spain!
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2016
140 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Dewey Lambdin
70 books278 followersDewey Lambdin (1945-2021 ) was an American nautical historical novelist. He was best known for his Alan Lewrie naval adventure series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Besides the Alan Lewrie series, he was also the author of What Lies Buried: a novel of Old Cape Fear.
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 1, 2022
Another good installment. I liked the way he flitted between different characters points of view.
January 26, 2022
What I like most about this series is that it is so believable. At times you can see the author setting up plot changes but it feels like a documentary. Perhaps the reader of the audio books John Lee has a lot to do with the realistic feel. I’m a huge fan of the Aubrey/Maturin series which I’ve read three times and listened to once. They are definitely more “literary” but I think I have a much better feel for life on a tiny ship populated wall to wall with sailors, marines and animals. Imagine a 150’ vessel with 250 men, none of whom I sure a modern person would want to consider as a roommate or tenant. These men live shoulder to shoulder eating and excreting, lacking fresh water for bathing or washing clothes, eating crap food, suffering from salt boils and very often venereal disease and respiratory ailments. The fact that fifteen or so “gentlemen” and another dozen non coms could keep these fellows under control is quite remarkable. And, there were animals—a manger which might include chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep and full size bullocks. Most remarkable were the children—young boys who worked as powder monkeys and servants and Midshipmen. Lewrie’s cats Toulon and Chalky and the ship’s dog Biscuit are prominent characters in the series. Biscuit is particularly amusing as he hates it when Lewrie tries to play his penny whistle much the same as my own cat when I attempt music on a harmonica. We get a good feel for the life of a successful Post Captain in his large cabin and swinging bed with two servants and a personal cook. There are detailed descriptions of some of Lewrie’s meals and drink on board and ashore.
Early in A Hard Cruel Shore we meet Miss Chennery (guessing at the spelling as I don’t have the hard copy) whose younger brother is joining the ship as a Midshipman. Clearly, she will be a factor in future books as his several book affair with Magdalena comes to an awkward end. I say awkward but it is one of the few places in the series where Lambdin seems contrived. They break up because she doesn’t not want to move back to her home town of Porto Portugal. Lewrie has moved her from Gibraltar to Lisbon. He suggests she move to Porto as he might move his squadron there but it’s clear that he can’t use Porto. It doesn’t have the facilities. But we need to move Magdalena out of the way so Miss Chennery can…
A Hard Cruel Shore gives Lewrie a chance to shine as a Commodore once again leading a small group of warships to terrorize French shipping. On one of those ships is Midshipman Hugh Lewrie who turns out to a physically larger version of his dad and who has a compatible personality. They have a nicely written scene together. The conclusion of the book is a battle with a squadron of French warships which the British win decisively. But Lewrie’s ship is severely damaged and he limps back to Gibraltar to await the orders which will decide the direction of the next book in the series. I’m getting close to the end of this long and excellent series. I’m slowing down a bit to make it last longer. It’s a great listen.
Early in A Hard Cruel Shore we meet Miss Chennery (guessing at the spelling as I don’t have the hard copy) whose younger brother is joining the ship as a Midshipman. Clearly, she will be a factor in future books as his several book affair with Magdalena comes to an awkward end. I say awkward but it is one of the few places in the series where Lambdin seems contrived. They break up because she doesn’t not want to move back to her home town of Porto Portugal. Lewrie has moved her from Gibraltar to Lisbon. He suggests she move to Porto as he might move his squadron there but it’s clear that he can’t use Porto. It doesn’t have the facilities. But we need to move Magdalena out of the way so Miss Chennery can…
A Hard Cruel Shore gives Lewrie a chance to shine as a Commodore once again leading a small group of warships to terrorize French shipping. On one of those ships is Midshipman Hugh Lewrie who turns out to a physically larger version of his dad and who has a compatible personality. They have a nicely written scene together. The conclusion of the book is a battle with a squadron of French warships which the British win decisively. But Lewrie’s ship is severely damaged and he limps back to Gibraltar to await the orders which will decide the direction of the next book in the series. I’m getting close to the end of this long and excellent series. I’m slowing down a bit to make it last longer. It’s a great listen.
March 19, 2024
Well another spectacular book in the Lewrie saga. I now only have three books left in this series, as a result of the unfortunate demise of the author. In this installment Lewrie is "promoted" to Commodore and is tasked with capturing and sinking French shipping off the treacherous coast of Spain, near Bilbao. Unfortunately in typical British Naval fashion he is not given nearly enough ships to properly accomplish the task. Using his wits and skill Lewrie manages to put a hurt on those dirty cheese eating Frogs and forces them to send out a four frigate frog squadron to try and dislodge him from the coast so that supplies can reach Napoleon's armies in Spain. The action is sharp and the French are game which results in Lewrie (and the series) losing some great characters but in the end Lewrie smashes the French with significant damage to his ship. The prize Lewrie captures places him in a tough spot and he has to send his 1st Lt. off with the prize and in all likelihood to never see him again. This is unfortunate because they were close mates. So it is with a bit of melancholy we find Lewrie achieving another amazing Naval victory for England but at a heavy cost. I dread the fact I only have three left in this series. If me hearty action is up your alley (so to speak) then this series is for you.
December 29, 2021
Love this guy's writing! With Captain Lurie, he's developed (over 22 books!) an unforgettable character, and takes us places we'll never be able to go: this time, patrolling the deadly north coast of Spain, interdicting supplies to Napoleon's invading army toward the end of the Napoleonic wars. "Ram Cat Lurie" has matured, and while his endearing lack of certainty about himself or his attainments are present, we see a smarter, more strategic leader managing a difficult assignment. Only two more books in the series, and the end is nearly in sight ...and I'll miss the guy, even though Dewey is due for a break...
August 5, 2021
3.4 out of 5 - Library Hardbound - A well written and interesting imitation of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian which held my interest; but I could have done without some of the repetitive romping with the dog and cat. I'll probably try one of the earlier books in the series to give the author a fair test - even O'Brian produced a couple of relative clinkers in his Master and Commander series.
November 14, 2018
Lambs in never disappoints
Another rousing Lewrie naval adventure. Battle engagement at end is one of author’s best. Alan Lewrie never gets old. Always entertaining. Highly recommended.
Another rousing Lewrie naval adventure. Battle engagement at end is one of author’s best. Alan Lewrie never gets old. Always entertaining. Highly recommended.
January 28, 2021
Best read
Getting to know how sailors lived and thought has been an interesting read,almost makes you feel as you are there
Getting to know how sailors lived and thought has been an interesting read,almost makes you feel as you are there
August 5, 2021
Typical Alan Lewrie story. As well written as before. A little cliffhanger to keep your interest
November 25, 2021
Another great read
So Lewrie continues his adventures,both on and off shore,conquests old and new await. A rollicking good read, onwards to the next instalment.
So Lewrie continues his adventures,both on and off shore,conquests old and new await. A rollicking good read, onwards to the next instalment.
April 1, 2022
I wouldn't want to live in the 1800's.
July 30, 2022
18xx. Wellesley starts to retake Spain. Mountjoy is prominent. Magdalena. Lewrie gets a squadron to disrupt French coastal supply of their troops. Son Hugh shows up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2023
Excellent, as usual! I’m rapidly nearing the end of this series of books. I will miss them greatly!
February 21, 2024
Fast and hard moving sea battles!
Hard to put down once the cannon start firing. Creative tactics winning the hot battles to conquer the enemy. Hot romance to ashore.
Hard to put down once the cannon start firing. Creative tactics winning the hot battles to conquer the enemy. Hot romance to ashore.
October 31, 2024
Really enjoyed, more than the more immediate predecessor books. Moved the story forward, and the ending left me really wanting to read the next, again, unlike the previous few books.
March 19, 2017
No naval fighting until page 311. Really?
March 25, 2016
With his old ship on it's last legs, Sir Alan leads a small squadron to the northern coast of Spain to prey on French shipping attempting to resupply the French army in Spain. Just when I thought the series was going down hill a bit, Lambdin revives it with a book which culminates in a . For all that, events are related as if they're on a time-line, rather than forming well-ordered plots with action that builds tension throughout the book. There are disappointments in character too. Lewrie himself is now essentially monogamous and has had to go ashore in the two prior novels to even observe any action. Here's hoping the end of this book heralds a new golden age of fighting and fraternizing for this series before they descend to being run-of-the-mill.
February 15, 2016
It's always grand to sit down and read a new Alan Lewrie adventure and this one is no exception. With his ships mainmast hit by lighting, effectively putting it out of commission unless he finds a new one, Captain Sir Alan Lewrie begins his struggle with the Admiralty to get a replacement.
Once that's done he is sent back to northern coast of Spain as a Commodore of a small fleet to harass the French ships-what's left of them. Struck by Lewrie meeting his son Hugh for a brief catch up on his family. It's back to seas where there is a real bang up fight with the French Fleet, which causes the lost of many a man, some of which we have enjoyed on past voyages.
The end leaves wondering about Lewrie's future. Yet I've no doubt he'll be back. Pity one as to wait a year for the next one.
Once that's done he is sent back to northern coast of Spain as a Commodore of a small fleet to harass the French ships-what's left of them. Struck by Lewrie meeting his son Hugh for a brief catch up on his family. It's back to seas where there is a real bang up fight with the French Fleet, which causes the lost of many a man, some of which we have enjoyed on past voyages.
The end leaves wondering about Lewrie's future. Yet I've no doubt he'll be back. Pity one as to wait a year for the next one.
April 3, 2016
A very ok read. Overall, not as good as some of the earlier books. Let me clarify though that its not Capt. Lewrie's swashbuckling that is missing (he is going senior so less frigate action), it's the energy and character build up of Mr. Lambdin's writing that has somewhat weakened. Also, a lot of backhistory for new readers takes up space in the book and is annoying for those who have been following the series. Perhaps the same can be deployed through some other device without talking to reader.
I love the Lewrie series overall and look forward to the next in the series.
I love the Lewrie series overall and look forward to the next in the series.
April 2, 2016
I own and have read every book in this series and have been sorely tempted at times to quit buying and reading them for various reasons. Obviously I have stuck it out, and I'm glad I did. Either Mr. Lambdin's writing has evolved or I have. Maybe both.
This episode in the life and times of Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, though it meanders from time to time, was the most satisfying in quite a while. I do hope the writer continues along this improved path.
This episode in the life and times of Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, though it meanders from time to time, was the most satisfying in quite a while. I do hope the writer continues along this improved path.
February 4, 2016
Another great book by Dewey Lambdin.
Can't wait for Lewerie's next adventure. Maybe he'll be made an admiral next time we see him. This was a very good book, I would highly recommend the Lewrie series to anyone.
Can't wait for Lewerie's next adventure. Maybe he'll be made an admiral next time we see him. This was a very good book, I would highly recommend the Lewrie series to anyone.
May 24, 2016
Lewrie's campaign along the Biscay coast of Northern Spain as a Commodore (Lower class) is the most recent entry in the Lewrie series. The storyline matures as does some of the good captain's sensibilities. Is it possible that he is beginning to be as ready for love as he is for feminine comfort?
March 6, 2016
A good addition to the Alan Lewrie series. Lambdin sets up some interesting possibilities with Alan's family which should be explored as Sir Alan continues his climb to his own flag.
March 6, 2016
This book is not one of the better volumes of the series. It serves as a good advance of the storyline, but always seems to be the buildup to something big,something which doesn't happen.
June 17, 2016
when is the next book coming out?
I have read 21 Allen lewrie books in a row and I loved them all. When is the next book coming out is all i have to say
I have read 21 Allen lewrie books in a row and I loved them all. When is the next book coming out is all i have to say
November 17, 2016
Maybe the best of the series so far.
July 13, 2016
Definitely a late in the series book without much action
April 27, 2017
Great reading!
Another cracking good Lewrie adventure! Whether harassing the enemy or playing spy with Mr Mountjoy, each and every installment in the series is an absolute joy to read! Impatiently awaiting the next installment!
Another cracking good Lewrie adventure! Whether harassing the enemy or playing spy with Mr Mountjoy, each and every installment in the series is an absolute joy to read! Impatiently awaiting the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews