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Nelson Chronicles #3
Nelson: The Powder Keg
It is 1782 and England’s Royal Navy rules the waves. But one impatient young captain is far from happy merely policing the maritime highways. ‘We need some action, Tim, some proper action with steel and smoke and powder. Blood and Glory, Hastie! That is what we need.’ These are the words and dreams of the young Horatio Nelson, whose lust for war and honour is so consuming he is even prepared to disobey the orders of his Admiralty and Government superiors. The Powder Keg is the third in a series by Jan Needle that looks at some of the lesser known and sometimes shocking exploits of the Norfolk clergyman’s son before he became one of the country's most iconic heroes. Once again, the story is recounted by his friend Tim Hastie, who this time joins him on board the 28-gun former French frigate the Albemarle. To his dismay Nelson – health ravaged by years in the disease-ridden tropics – is sent on escort duty in the icy Baltic, and from there to Canada with bullion to pay the British Army in Quebec, where his ship’s sails get frozen to the yards. With the American War of Independence over, it is all too tame for Horatio, who is desperate to seek glory on the Caribbean Station. When he finally gets there, and the French invade Turk’s Island, the intensely patriotic Nelson can’t believe his luck – until his own counter-invasion goes horribly wrong. Returning to Britain, half in disgrace and with a wife most men think tragically unsuitable, he is on the verge of giving up the sea – or even, horror of horrors, joining the French Navy! The hated French, however, are his saviours. For it is now the 1790s, and the French Revolution has torn a gash in Europe. The growing chaos of their revolution reignites the war between the two countries, and Nelson, appointed to command the Agamemnon, finds himself in the Mediterranean, where his destiny takes some unexpected turns. One of them is his meeting with a beautiful young woman. She is called Emma Hamilton. Praise for Jan 'Brilliant. I found myself being drawn back into that twilight world again, despite myself. I was grossly entertained and thrilled... [Jan Needle] is a rare talent.' Jimmy Boyle 'A thundering great novel. What's really amazing is how much he seems to know about so many different things...what more could you want from a thriller? A cracking good read.' Tony Parker, New Statesman & Society 'So topical...[Needle] develops a complex, ingenious plot at breakneck speed and has a sharp underdog's eye.' John McVicar, Time Out 'Compelling, vivid, racy...describes with unnerving prescience just what is going on...it will appeal equally to conspiracy and cock-up theorists.' Guardian 'Recalls the golden age of British investigative hard-hitting, crusading, alarming prescience.' The Times Jan Needle was born in Portsmouth and after a spell in journalism took a degree in drama at Manchester University where he started writing plays for stage, TV and radio, then novels for adults and children. He has had more than 40 books published including versions of Moby Dick and other classics aimed at opening up this sometimes heavy-going world to a new generation.
99 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2017
12 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Jan Needle
73 books33 followersJan Needle has written more than forty books, including novels for adults and children and literary criticism. He also writes plays for stage, TV and radio, including serials and series like Grange Hill, The Bill and Brookside. His first novel, Wild Wood, is a retelling of The Wind in the Willows with Toad, Rat, Mole and Co as the ‘villains’ - a sort of undeserving rural squirearchy – and the stoats and weasels as heroes. A new version was brought out recently by Golden Duck, with the original wonderful illustrations by the late Willie Rushton.
Although he is currently working on a film of perhaps his most celebrated children’s book, My Mate Shofiq, Jan has recently been concentrating on historical novels about his first and most enduring love, the sea, and a series of extremely gritty thrillers. His aim has always been to transcend standard genre writing, which has sometimes brought him disapproval. The ‘hero’ of his first naval fiction, A Fine Boy for Killing, is a borderline sadist, and life on the frigate Welfare undermines almost every heroic myth popularized by earlier writers. Loved or hated, his novels refuse to be ignored.
His thrillers are also firmly in the ‘noir’ spectrum. The most recent is The Bonus Boys, which features a hard-as-nails investigator called Andrew Forbes and his Scottish lover Rosanna ‘the Mouse’ Nixon, who first appeared in Kicking Off, a chilling warning about the fissile state of Britain’s crumbling prisons. More are in the pipeline, as are additions to a series of novellas about crime, the 18th century navy, and the secret world of spies and spying. Even the possibility that Napoleon escaped from his exile on St Helena is examined. Like many ‘mere conspiracy theories’ it uncovers some extraordinary possibilities.
Jan also attempts, in conjunction with Walker Books, to widen the readership for certain classic novels. They include so far Moby Dick, Dracula, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Woman in White, all aimed at a young adult audience . In his spare time, he sails boats and plays a variety of musical instruments.
Although he is currently working on a film of perhaps his most celebrated children’s book, My Mate Shofiq, Jan has recently been concentrating on historical novels about his first and most enduring love, the sea, and a series of extremely gritty thrillers. His aim has always been to transcend standard genre writing, which has sometimes brought him disapproval. The ‘hero’ of his first naval fiction, A Fine Boy for Killing, is a borderline sadist, and life on the frigate Welfare undermines almost every heroic myth popularized by earlier writers. Loved or hated, his novels refuse to be ignored.
His thrillers are also firmly in the ‘noir’ spectrum. The most recent is The Bonus Boys, which features a hard-as-nails investigator called Andrew Forbes and his Scottish lover Rosanna ‘the Mouse’ Nixon, who first appeared in Kicking Off, a chilling warning about the fissile state of Britain’s crumbling prisons. More are in the pipeline, as are additions to a series of novellas about crime, the 18th century navy, and the secret world of spies and spying. Even the possibility that Napoleon escaped from his exile on St Helena is examined. Like many ‘mere conspiracy theories’ it uncovers some extraordinary possibilities.
Jan also attempts, in conjunction with Walker Books, to widen the readership for certain classic novels. They include so far Moby Dick, Dracula, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Woman in White, all aimed at a young adult audience . In his spare time, he sails boats and plays a variety of musical instruments.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 17, 2017
Fact or Fiction
I like historical fiction and I like historical nonfiction. The difference is that nonfiction is fact while historical fiction is a story set against the background of historical fact. I liked this account. My problem is that parts read like fiction and parts read like a list of times dates and events just as in nonfiction. An editor would call this fault, letting your research show, or showing off just how much research you've done. Still worth reading though.
I like historical fiction and I like historical nonfiction. The difference is that nonfiction is fact while historical fiction is a story set against the background of historical fact. I liked this account. My problem is that parts read like fiction and parts read like a list of times dates and events just as in nonfiction. An editor would call this fault, letting your research show, or showing off just how much research you've done. Still worth reading though.
April 10, 2021
Series is becoming boring.
This story reads like a soap opera. A powder keg? Hardly! More like a dud firecracker. Thankfully it was a short story.
This story reads like a soap opera. A powder keg? Hardly! More like a dud firecracker. Thankfully it was a short story.
February 10, 2017
The Powder Keg
is the third book in a series about the lesser known exploits of Admiral Lord Nelson before he became famous. Carefully researched by Jan Needle (James Albert Needle) who grew up in Portsmouth, England, an author with strong naval connections, the book is influenced by real letters and journals of the time but here recreated as belonging to Nelson's fictitious friend and shipmate, Tim Hastie.
Centred on Nelson's time on the ships Boreas and Albemarle and his adventures in peacetime (aged 22 - 35), mostly in the Caribbean with several periods of inactivity back in Norfolk, Bath, London, either recovering his health or begging the Admiralty for a new ship, this novella moves along quickly, sharing interesting details about Nelson's family, rough life on the docks, his busyness patrolling the waters of the Caribbean for smugglers and privateers, glimpses of the life of royalty and the upper class of Barbados, and life aboard ship.
We also are shown the personal Nelson, a bit of a prig, desperate to be married yet totally lacking in the social skills required to woo a woman. Seeing regulations as black and white, Nelson stands up to authority in ways that made him unpopular with them, the islanders, and even his own crew. Without a war, he had no means to pursue the opportunity to serve with distinction he so craved and to thus make a name for himself. Ingratiating himself to Prince William, then commanding a ship in the same port as the prince, put him in awkward positions at times and out of favour with the King which became an obstacle in obtaining a new ship later on.
For people drawn to the charismatic legend of Admiral Lord Nelson, this is another side of the story which makes him more human but no less appealing. This book ends with the tantalizing prospect of another which will take Nelson to the Mediterranean where he meets Lord and Lady Hamilton. Looking forward to reading the others in this series.
Centred on Nelson's time on the ships Boreas and Albemarle and his adventures in peacetime (aged 22 - 35), mostly in the Caribbean with several periods of inactivity back in Norfolk, Bath, London, either recovering his health or begging the Admiralty for a new ship, this novella moves along quickly, sharing interesting details about Nelson's family, rough life on the docks, his busyness patrolling the waters of the Caribbean for smugglers and privateers, glimpses of the life of royalty and the upper class of Barbados, and life aboard ship.
We also are shown the personal Nelson, a bit of a prig, desperate to be married yet totally lacking in the social skills required to woo a woman. Seeing regulations as black and white, Nelson stands up to authority in ways that made him unpopular with them, the islanders, and even his own crew. Without a war, he had no means to pursue the opportunity to serve with distinction he so craved and to thus make a name for himself. Ingratiating himself to Prince William, then commanding a ship in the same port as the prince, put him in awkward positions at times and out of favour with the King which became an obstacle in obtaining a new ship later on.
For people drawn to the charismatic legend of Admiral Lord Nelson, this is another side of the story which makes him more human but no less appealing. This book ends with the tantalizing prospect of another which will take Nelson to the Mediterranean where he meets Lord and Lady Hamilton. Looking forward to reading the others in this series.
February 1, 2017
3 stars
It is 1782 and Horatio Nelson is home on leave and is very ill. The combination of diseases and insects that he encountered in the West Indies have laid him low. Anxious to get a new ship, he pleads with his superior.
His friend Tim Hastie is concerned about Nelson’s health – both physical and emotional. He leaves his new and pregnant wife to join Nelson on a new ship, the Albemarle.
In August, the ship is in dry dock to get re-outfitted. She has no mast or rigging. By the end of October, they were ready to put to sea. Nelson is still not well though, Tim has seen him coughing blood. They set sail north.
They finally sail to port and the Danish are not excited to see them. From there, they are bound for Newfoundland and Canada with 100,000 pounds in gold bullion to pay the British Army. Thence on to other waters. During an extended stay in the West Indies, Nelson gets in trouble with the locals and even gets married!
This book is a sea adventure of the greatest magnitude with the great Horatio Nelson at the helm of a stubborn, recalcitrant and top heavy ship.
I want to thank Netgalley, Jan Needle and Endeavour Press for forwarding to me a copy of this adventurous book.
It is 1782 and Horatio Nelson is home on leave and is very ill. The combination of diseases and insects that he encountered in the West Indies have laid him low. Anxious to get a new ship, he pleads with his superior.
His friend Tim Hastie is concerned about Nelson’s health – both physical and emotional. He leaves his new and pregnant wife to join Nelson on a new ship, the Albemarle.
In August, the ship is in dry dock to get re-outfitted. She has no mast or rigging. By the end of October, they were ready to put to sea. Nelson is still not well though, Tim has seen him coughing blood. They set sail north.
They finally sail to port and the Danish are not excited to see them. From there, they are bound for Newfoundland and Canada with 100,000 pounds in gold bullion to pay the British Army. Thence on to other waters. During an extended stay in the West Indies, Nelson gets in trouble with the locals and even gets married!
This book is a sea adventure of the greatest magnitude with the great Horatio Nelson at the helm of a stubborn, recalcitrant and top heavy ship.
I want to thank Netgalley, Jan Needle and Endeavour Press for forwarding to me a copy of this adventurous book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews