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The Journals of Matthew Quinton #8
The Devil Upon the Wave
Autumn 1671
Sir Matthew Quinton is on a mission of vengeance, four years in the making.
For in 1667, England suffered the worst defeat in her naval history, at the hands of the Dutch, who, not content with attacking and destroying British ships in their own waters, added insult to injury by towing away the flagship Royal Charles.
The shame and humiliation is too much for this king’s captain of the seas to bear. He must recapture the Charles and redeem his country’s honour – but little does he know what fate awaits the rescue mission…
The story details the drama of the Dutch attacks on the Medway and Landguard Fort, recounts the heroism of both attackers and defenders, reveals the shocking failings at the highest levels of Charles II’s court, and sees Matthew confront a terrible dilemma – finding himself aboard an enemy man-of-war as it sails into battle against his own side.
This timely novel commemorates the 350th anniversary of this event, through a witty and action-packed account, which remains to this day a cautionary tale for Britain’s defenders to never be caught off guard again…
Praise for J D Davies:
“A series of real panache” – The Times
“Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton – a pantheon of the best adventures at sea!” – Conn Iggulden
“Exciting, emotive and utterly convincing, the Quinton Journals lead the field in naval historical fiction”–Dr Sam Willis, TV presenter and author of Fighting Ships, The Fighting Temeraire, The Admiral Benbow & The Glorious First of June.
‘Finely shaded characters, excellent plotting, gut-clenching action and immaculate attention to period naval detail…these are superb books’ – Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles
J D Davies won the Samuel Pepys prize for Pepys’s Navy, his comprehensive study of the period, and is also the author of Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II and the Royal Navy. He is Vice-President of both the Navy Records Society and the Society for Nautical Research, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. This is the eighth book in his bestselling series ‘the Journals of Matthew Quinton’.
Sir Matthew Quinton is on a mission of vengeance, four years in the making.
For in 1667, England suffered the worst defeat in her naval history, at the hands of the Dutch, who, not content with attacking and destroying British ships in their own waters, added insult to injury by towing away the flagship Royal Charles.
The shame and humiliation is too much for this king’s captain of the seas to bear. He must recapture the Charles and redeem his country’s honour – but little does he know what fate awaits the rescue mission…
The story details the drama of the Dutch attacks on the Medway and Landguard Fort, recounts the heroism of both attackers and defenders, reveals the shocking failings at the highest levels of Charles II’s court, and sees Matthew confront a terrible dilemma – finding himself aboard an enemy man-of-war as it sails into battle against his own side.
This timely novel commemorates the 350th anniversary of this event, through a witty and action-packed account, which remains to this day a cautionary tale for Britain’s defenders to never be caught off guard again…
Praise for J D Davies:
“A series of real panache” – The Times
“Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton – a pantheon of the best adventures at sea!” – Conn Iggulden
“Exciting, emotive and utterly convincing, the Quinton Journals lead the field in naval historical fiction”–Dr Sam Willis, TV presenter and author of Fighting Ships, The Fighting Temeraire, The Admiral Benbow & The Glorious First of June.
‘Finely shaded characters, excellent plotting, gut-clenching action and immaculate attention to period naval detail…these are superb books’ – Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles
J D Davies won the Samuel Pepys prize for Pepys’s Navy, his comprehensive study of the period, and is also the author of Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II and the Royal Navy. He is Vice-President of both the Navy Records Society and the Society for Nautical Research, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. This is the eighth book in his bestselling series ‘the Journals of Matthew Quinton’.
201 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2017
47 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Davies
29 books56 followersAuthor of 'The Journals of Matthew Quinton', a series of naval historical fiction set in the Restoration period, and of non-fiction books including 'Pepys's Navy' and 'Blood of Kings'. Currently living in Bedfordshire, UK, but originally from Llanelli in West Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 26, 2017
Superb novel. Quality writing. This author has researched the 17th century so thoroughly which is always a bonus. And what is also appealing is the dialogue between characters is convincing, reflecting views that were probably held at the time. A welcome contrast to so many historical novels. The sorry state of the Royal Navy in 1667 , and the humiliation due to the Dutch Raid on the Medway, is conveyed well. The sense that the English couldn't accept how vulnerable their fleet was, especially when the chain across the river, was breached by the Dutch.
The fact that English sailors were so hideously in arrears with their wages to the extent that a few defected to the Dutch and assisted the Raid , is also stressed.
The novel also draws on poetry such as Andrew Marvell's ' Last Instructions to a Painter' , also quotes from work by John Milton and Rudyard Kipling.
And I have to admit that I do like the Sir Matthew Quinton storyline, the fact that he has a Dutch wife and encounters his brother in law, even though the stronger historical aspects dominate this book. It's also great to have Samuel Pepys and most importantly Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter making appearances.
My only criticisms is that the purely fictional clash with the Dutch navy that is tagged on to the 'Raid on the Medway' account somehow seems disjointed and doesn't quite flow. But that's only a minor niggle.
The fact that English sailors were so hideously in arrears with their wages to the extent that a few defected to the Dutch and assisted the Raid , is also stressed.
The novel also draws on poetry such as Andrew Marvell's ' Last Instructions to a Painter' , also quotes from work by John Milton and Rudyard Kipling.
And I have to admit that I do like the Sir Matthew Quinton storyline, the fact that he has a Dutch wife and encounters his brother in law, even though the stronger historical aspects dominate this book. It's also great to have Samuel Pepys and most importantly Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter making appearances.
My only criticisms is that the purely fictional clash with the Dutch navy that is tagged on to the 'Raid on the Medway' account somehow seems disjointed and doesn't quite flow. But that's only a minor niggle.
October 27, 2017
More politics than seafaring
Family members, their various relationships along with political stances seemed the main agenda. Very little sea action, the battle close to the end was what I wanted in the book.
Family members, their various relationships along with political stances seemed the main agenda. Very little sea action, the battle close to the end was what I wanted in the book.
June 8, 2023
Another enjoyable story in this series of takes of the restoration Navy.
April 3, 2024
A sad day.
A gripping retelling of historical events, I wanted history to be rewire for Sir Quintons glory. I felt his pain.
A gripping retelling of historical events, I wanted history to be rewire for Sir Quintons glory. I felt his pain.
October 1, 2024
history
Good read. Fascinating history that never made it to any reading I have ever perused. I liked it. I really like the historical perspective at close of novel
Good read. Fascinating history that never made it to any reading I have ever perused. I liked it. I really like the historical perspective at close of novel
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews