Fans of C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brien and Alexander Kent, rejoice! You can add PHILIP K. ALLAN to your list of exceptional writers of British naval fiction, circa 1800. Book two in his Alexander Clay series is just as good as book one. A SLOOP OF WAR picks up the story of Clay and the men and boys around him, now in the Caribbean Sea. The time is mid to late 1790s.
The first book ends with Clay in command of the battered 32-gun British frigate Agrius and its prize, the 40-gun French frigate Courageuse, pulling into the harbor of the British island colony of Barbados. Captain Follett of the Agrius had been killed during the battle between the two ships off the harbor of the French colony of Castries, Saint Lucia, which was why command had fallen to 1st Lieutenant Alexander Clay. The two men had been feuding, quietly, over items such as tactics and the preferential treatment of 2nd Lieutenant Windham, the captain’s less than competent nephew. More on that to come. Clay receives a copy of his sister Betsey’s first book that he lends to his new Marine Lieutenant.
Vice Admiral Benjamin Caldwell, chief of the Windward Island fleet, promoted Clay to Master and Commander and assigned him to the 18-gun sloop Rush as the captain. He brings along his best friend Lt. John Sutton with whom he had served for his entire career. He also brought to the Rush, Midshipmen Preston and Croft, Yates his teenage servant, sailors Sean O’Malley, Sam Evans Joshua Rosso and Adam Trevan. A runaway slave, Ablanjaye Sengahore was rescued by George Robertson and sent to Clay’s new command. There his named is changed to Able Sedgwick. He rapidly became one of my favorite characters.
New to the story are Jacob Linfield the Rush’s young surgeon, Ship’s Master Joseph Appleby, George Carver ship’s Boatswain and Lt. Thomas MacPherson head of the Marine contingent. A potential source of conflict arises between Clay and the ship’s purser (oversees ship supplies and finances) Charles Faulkner whose gambling debts were paid by Lt. Windham’s and Captain Follett’s families. Windham uses that leverage to blackmail Faulkner into proving that his uncle was actually murdered by Clay and/or Sutton.
During a brief excursion to St. Lucia, the Rush meets and escapes from a Spanish ship of the line, the 74-gun San Felipe. Clay discovers that Rush needs a thorough cleaning of the submerged part of its hull. While the ship is undergoing its refit, Linfield meets the younger daughter, Emma, of plantation owner George Robertson. Robertson had freed his slaves after reading the classic book on economics by ADAM SMITH, THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. This causes his family great social/political conflict with other plantation slave owners but is a very successful experiment for his plantation. Linfield is also an abolitionist.
Eventually, the British plan an invasion of St. Lucia. Rush and Agrius are to attack and capture the town and fortress known as Vieux Fort on the southern tip of St. Lucia. After the successful venture, during which 17-year-old Preston plays a major role and MacPherson’s life was saved by Betsey’s book, the San Felipe once again shows up forcing the Agrius and Rush into a sea battle in which they are outgunned almost two to one. Once again, Clay et al are victorious but a Spanish sniper seriously wounds Clay. On their return to Barbados, Admiral Caldwell again promotes Clay to Post Captain and sends him back to England to recuperate from his wounds.
Fans of this type of book will surely enjoy reading this one VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ!