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Alan Lewrie #10
Sea of Grey
The past comes back to haunt our rakish captain in this swashbuckling historical naval adventure
Alan Lewrie is still captain of the HMS Proteus, one of the British Navy's newest frigates. But Lewrie's amorous escapade comes back to haunt him when an unidentified individual writes to his wife Caroline, outlining some of the finer points in his illustrious past.
But Lewrie already has his hands full as he and Proteus are assigned to the Caribbean Sea to intercept French and Dutch traders, only to become involved in the slaves' revolt in Haiti. Beset and distracted though he might be, it will take all of Lewrie's pluck, daring, skill, and his usual tongue-in-cheek deviousness, to navigate all the perils in a sea of grey.
Tenth in The Alan Lewrie Naval adventures, Sea of Grey will appeal to fans of Iain Gale and George MacDonald Fraser.
‘You could get addicted to this series. Easily’ New York Times Book Review
'The best naval series since C. S. Forester… Recommended’ Library Journal
‘Fast-moving… A hugely likeable hero, a huge cast of sharply drawn supporting characters: there's nothing missing. Wonderful stuff’ Kirkus Reviews
The Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures
The King's Coat
The French Admiral
The King's Commission
The King's Privateer
The Gun Ketch
H.M.S. Cockerel
The King’s Commander
Jester’s Fortune
The King’s Captain
Sea of Grey
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
186 people are currently reading
218 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 24, 2020
One of the good'uns
December 12, 2019
Have I previously written, "guilty pleasure"? These rollicking good naval yarns tickle me. The window into the inner thoughts of an outward hero is fascinating: how this southern boy Dewey manages to get so much of this Napoleonic era Hearts of Oak so believable is a story-teller's delight. In this one, our hero Alan has himself ostracized by his righteous wife and far away in the Carib supporting British troops opposing l'Ouverture and chasing privateers despite the ill wishes of the entrenched and incompetent naval establishment. Once again, good luck and heroism win out ... and I'm already looking forward to #11.
December 28, 2020
Continuously exciting with plenty of action (actually of the naval type). This is how the books used to be - exciting and intriguing
October 23, 2021
The late Dewey Lambdin wrote 26 books about the same guy, a Royal Navy officer serving in the late 18th century and early 19th century. I decided to binge the 26, wondering if he could keep my interest. So, far I’m into book 11. Here are some thoughts about book 10, Sea of Gray. John Lee is reading these books to me as I rarely hold a book in my lap anymore. My eyes are tired I guess. The fact is that I found out about this series by scanning through books John Lee has read, he being one of the most accomplished of audio book actors. The series follows the life and career of one Alan Lewrie who is Shanghai’d by his own father into the navy as a Midshipman, turns out to be adept at his craft and brave as a combatant. By the time we meet him in Sea of Gray he has been promoted to Post Captain and been given a fine new frigate. He has gained a naval-wide reputation as an aggressive captain and won medals for the victories at Camperton and St Vincent. He is also known navy wide as the “ramcat” for his successes with the ladies. I should point out that Lambdin enjoys writing sex scenes. There are more than a few and often quite detailed. Lewrie was most always equipped with French condoms, made of sheep gut, which I learned had a ribbon that tied around the waist and another that looped the scrotum. This sounds like a process that could break the mood but never seemed to slow Lewrie down that much. The problem with this reputation is that Lewrie is a married fellow, with a lovely accomplished wife and three “gits.” Someone has recently written to his wife in great detail about his affairs and Mrs. Lewrie (Caroline) publicly called him out and whipped on him with an umbrella in a public park in London. Unchastened, Lewrie spends his last couple weeks in England with Theonie, the Greek widow of a British officer, who he rescued from pirates a couple books ago. She is madly in love with him and the mother of his child, Alan, who she introduced to Caroline in the park precipitating Lewrie’s humiliation. He is assigned to the Caribbean where he started his career but learns via a letter from his father who tells him Caroline has received yet another letter detailing his recent romps with Theonie. Captain Lewrie’s marriage appears to be over. I suspect, however, that we haven’t seen the last of Caroline as our prolific author seems to enjoy bringing old characters back onto the stage. In the Caribbean Lewrie runs into an army officer pal, Kit Cashman, who accompanied him on an expedition to the Indians in Florida some books back. The army officer runs a regiment funded by the Bowman family, Lucy Bowman having been Alan’s first love (he fought a duel for her honor). That family had virtually run Lewrie off the island after they learned of his affair with a notoriously horny widow. But now, returning as a post captain they are hospitable primarily because Lucy, now a Lady living with a rich, older husband in London, had reported via letter on how Captain Lewrie had saved them from the French whilst on their grand tour of Europe. This happened in the same book where he rescued Theonie. (One of the mysteries yet unsolved is who wrote the letters that wrecked Alan’s marriage. Suspects include: Lucy, Theonie, and Mr. Twigg a British intelligence agent who dislikes Lewrie).
In Sea of Gray we get a great description of a tropical house party and military parade, some details of the slave revolt on what is now Haiti, Lewrie’s one upping of a Post Captain senior to him, the stealing of some Bowman slaves by the army officer who turns them over to Lewrie as hands. (He is short handed after losing many to the Yellow Fever). And, finally the capture of an American vessel just loaded with weapons and ammo headed to the rebel slaves on Hispanola. In addition, they press a British seaman out of the American crew who turns out to be one of the mutineers from the Hermione. The Royal Navy was relentless in finding those mutineers who had killed all the officers and sold the ship to Spain. This was a bigger deal than a ship full of weapons and added much to Lewrie’s reputation. Parenthically, there is a fling with a mixed race waitress where we learned that in Port O’Prince there were 128 gradations of blackness. Very complicated, if true. However, in the epilogue of Sea of Gray we find out that another old character will return to be the villain of book 11. Chaundas, the French Naval captain has become like that Monte Python night who after losing one limb after another keeps saying, “I’m not hurt.” In an early book Lewrie and Chaundas had a sword fight on a beach where Lewrie slashed Chaundas in the face taking one eye, the eye socket and part of his mouth causing him to be so horrifying looking that he wears a mask. Lewrie also got his leg, now in a leg brace. In a subsequent book Lambdin brought Chaundas back as villain and in the final scene Lewrie shoots him at long range with a rifle thinking he has killed the man. Not yet as he is needed in Havoc’s Sword.The monster only lost his arm. He is apparently as indestructible as a cockroach and he doesn’t know yet that Lewrie in nearby. This is Chaundas last chance to impress Napoleon but his hate for and obsession with revenge on Lewrie will no doubt be important factors in book 11. I’m betting on Lewrie, however, as we aren’t even half way through his life story.16 books to go!
In Sea of Gray we get a great description of a tropical house party and military parade, some details of the slave revolt on what is now Haiti, Lewrie’s one upping of a Post Captain senior to him, the stealing of some Bowman slaves by the army officer who turns them over to Lewrie as hands. (He is short handed after losing many to the Yellow Fever). And, finally the capture of an American vessel just loaded with weapons and ammo headed to the rebel slaves on Hispanola. In addition, they press a British seaman out of the American crew who turns out to be one of the mutineers from the Hermione. The Royal Navy was relentless in finding those mutineers who had killed all the officers and sold the ship to Spain. This was a bigger deal than a ship full of weapons and added much to Lewrie’s reputation. Parenthically, there is a fling with a mixed race waitress where we learned that in Port O’Prince there were 128 gradations of blackness. Very complicated, if true. However, in the epilogue of Sea of Gray we find out that another old character will return to be the villain of book 11. Chaundas, the French Naval captain has become like that Monte Python night who after losing one limb after another keeps saying, “I’m not hurt.” In an early book Lewrie and Chaundas had a sword fight on a beach where Lewrie slashed Chaundas in the face taking one eye, the eye socket and part of his mouth causing him to be so horrifying looking that he wears a mask. Lewrie also got his leg, now in a leg brace. In a subsequent book Lambdin brought Chaundas back as villain and in the final scene Lewrie shoots him at long range with a rifle thinking he has killed the man. Not yet as he is needed in Havoc’s Sword.The monster only lost his arm. He is apparently as indestructible as a cockroach and he doesn’t know yet that Lewrie in nearby. This is Chaundas last chance to impress Napoleon but his hate for and obsession with revenge on Lewrie will no doubt be important factors in book 11. I’m betting on Lewrie, however, as we aren’t even half way through his life story.16 books to go!
March 25, 2012
I read the entire series largely back-to-back (my local public library is well-stocked). One of the great things about this series is that we get to watch Alan Lewrie, the main character, grow up from a callow, self-indulgent teenager to a mature, thoughtful, and responsible adult.
January 25, 2020
Fast paced and thrilling
This latest episode in Alan Lewrie's adventures is a fast paced romp set in the Caribbean and covers the founding of Haiti, more generally the war in that sea and of course Alan's sex life. Numerous old friends and enemies either make their presence known physically or as being in the area but as yet unseen, all of whom complicate the central characters life. Whilst they do appear in previous books it is possible to read this book as a stand alone, but I wouldn't recommend that course of action purely for the sake of enjoying the prior 9 books. Wholeheartedly recommended
This latest episode in Alan Lewrie's adventures is a fast paced romp set in the Caribbean and covers the founding of Haiti, more generally the war in that sea and of course Alan's sex life. Numerous old friends and enemies either make their presence known physically or as being in the area but as yet unseen, all of whom complicate the central characters life. Whilst they do appear in previous books it is possible to read this book as a stand alone, but I wouldn't recommend that course of action purely for the sake of enjoying the prior 9 books. Wholeheartedly recommended
June 26, 2018
Just when you think it couldn't get any better......
I love,love,love this series! I am addicted and cannot wait for the next book. I am afraid that I will run out of books if I read too fast. I hope not! Read this series if you love a great story with lots of seafaring action.
I love,love,love this series! I am addicted and cannot wait for the next book. I am afraid that I will run out of books if I read too fast. I hope not! Read this series if you love a great story with lots of seafaring action.
September 11, 2018
An interesting look at some of the history of the Caribbean. Hispaniola has always been a curiosity and this story helps understand it a little better. It will be interesting to see how the return of Lewrie's nemesis plays out. Now that his past has begun to catch up with him, it makes his character a little more jaded. A good contribution to the overall story.
December 29, 2018
Another Exciting Story By Lambdin
The Alan Lewrie series of nautical fiction has become a favorite of many of us. His attention to detail and relation to events of the times brings authenticity to the books. The dialogue, settings, and characters are believable and the action scenes are well-written.
The Alan Lewrie series of nautical fiction has become a favorite of many of us. His attention to detail and relation to events of the times brings authenticity to the books. The dialogue, settings, and characters are believable and the action scenes are well-written.
August 31, 2018
Focusing on the Caribbean theatre this book introduces the US Quasi-War with France and an appearance by the USS Constitution (named USS Hancock in the book).
Another solid entry in the series with the return of an old an enemy of Captain Lewrie.
Another solid entry in the series with the return of an old an enemy of Captain Lewrie.
January 13, 2019
Excellent series
All of the books in this series were a really good read! I am looking for another after reading Sea of Grey i hope the author has written more, I am off now to look!
All of the books in this series were a really good read! I am looking for another after reading Sea of Grey i hope the author has written more, I am off now to look!
May 13, 2019
Grey is about right.
4 stars simply because this is a decent story let down by the usual bad syntax, spelling and proof reading, surely there isn't THAT much difference between UK & US English?!
4 stars simply because this is a decent story let down by the usual bad syntax, spelling and proof reading, surely there isn't THAT much difference between UK & US English?!
September 14, 2021
Another thoroughly enjoyable book in a great series.
Mr Lambdin has created a somewhat flawed hero in Alan Lewrie but you have to admire such a loveable rogue. Brilliant series can't wait to read next one
Mr Lambdin has created a somewhat flawed hero in Alan Lewrie but you have to admire such a loveable rogue. Brilliant series can't wait to read next one
April 23, 2018
This is everything I want in a tall ships historical fiction, and for me the best in the series so far.
March 6, 2019
More adventure
Another great story, well written ,keeps you wanting more. I hope that Dewey Lambdin continues with Alan Lawrie until he reached Admiral and beyond.
Another great story, well written ,keeps you wanting more. I hope that Dewey Lambdin continues with Alan Lawrie until he reached Admiral and beyond.
March 14, 2019
Good sea story
April 3, 2019
Another great read
Great book with interesting twists, hear and there. As always with Lewrie, the humour comes through in unexpected places - enjoy!
Great book with interesting twists, hear and there. As always with Lewrie, the humour comes through in unexpected places - enjoy!
May 31, 2020
Enjoyed this one
September 12, 2020
Excellent!
December 28, 2020
Lewrie sails again
Another brilliant told tale of naval goings on in the Caribbean. Trouble at home only occasionally enters his thoughts. Intregue skullduggery all abound.
Another brilliant told tale of naval goings on in the Caribbean. Trouble at home only occasionally enters his thoughts. Intregue skullduggery all abound.
March 11, 2022
B.L.M. gone crazy!
July 28, 2022
I was curious how this book compares to the more familiar names in 1800ish British naval fiction – C.S. Forester, Alexander Kent, Patrick O'Brian. The verdict? Well, it's different. The hero Capt. Lewrie is a far less sterling character than Hornblower (whom, to be fair, I barely recall), Bolitho or Aubrey. He is a whoring adulterer and somewhat of a braggart and egotist – probably a more realistic character than those others. And on the plus side, the detailed sailing maneuvers ring true, especially in the first battle in the book. When Lewrie finds his ship out of its assigned position and has to improvise, it's quite reminiscent of scrambling for position in the prestart of a sailboat race. And the minutiae of vessel operation, shipboard routine, and military protocol are thorough without becoming tiresome.
But to the negative, there are some overlong stretches of dialog that seem mainly intended to present a history lesson of the Caribbean circa 1800. And most irritatingly, the author is in love with exclamation points, italics and quotation marks to emphasize points in his narration. Perhaps he's trying to emulate 19th century fiction style. The last scenes in the novel shamelessly whip up anticipation for the next book in the series, as if we're watching a Marvel movie. And the author's Afterword hops around between thanking his sources, continuing his peculiar narrative style, calling out political correctness around race, more flogging of the sequel, and even allusions to 1960s/70s television.
But to the negative, there are some overlong stretches of dialog that seem mainly intended to present a history lesson of the Caribbean circa 1800. And most irritatingly, the author is in love with exclamation points, italics and quotation marks to emphasize points in his narration. Perhaps he's trying to emulate 19th century fiction style. The last scenes in the novel shamelessly whip up anticipation for the next book in the series, as if we're watching a Marvel movie. And the author's Afterword hops around between thanking his sources, continuing his peculiar narrative style, calling out political correctness around race, more flogging of the sequel, and even allusions to 1960s/70s television.
December 29, 2010
There are not enough quotation marks in the english language to serve Mr Lambdin's inscrutable purposes. After the first few pages, I expected they would begin to disappear as arcane seafaring jargon and military terms were defined. However, the author does not treat his readers as nearly intelligent enough to "get" his meanings: exactly how many times does the word "nutmegs" need to be enclosed before we understand that he is speaking about a man's "testes"?
As a lover of the Aubrey-Maturin canon and Patrick O'Brian's captivating prose, this Alan Lewrie "shadow" of a captain doesn't even come close. Reading this novel was an attempt to find another maritime series to sink my teeth into. I am not interested in returning to "Mr" Lambdin's world again.
As a lover of the Aubrey-Maturin canon and Patrick O'Brian's captivating prose, this Alan Lewrie "shadow" of a captain doesn't even come close. Reading this novel was an attempt to find another maritime series to sink my teeth into. I am not interested in returning to "Mr" Lambdin's world again.
November 12, 2010
That this book's slut protagonist is supposed to help in the racist oppression & enslavement of the islanders is in itself outrageously offensive: it's exactly like an Italian helping Hitler to repress Jewish resistance. . . as an adventurous lark, at that. It's to be expected that Americans would gloss over this as unimportant, as it has been their typical response since the brutally racist founding of their ill-gotten country.
As usual, we can count on you to kick us in the face, when we're already down.
As usual, we can count on you to kick us in the face, when we're already down.
April 18, 2012
Another great read in this series following the escapades of Alan Lewrie through his sexpoits, the Royal Navy and the closing stages of the 18th century.
Highly recommended. Subject portrays some 21st century traits which probably wouldn't have been an issue in the time period (slavery being one) but I think it adds to the enjoyment.
Start at number 1 and give them a whirl.
Highly recommended. Subject portrays some 21st century traits which probably wouldn't have been an issue in the time period (slavery being one) but I think it adds to the enjoyment.
Start at number 1 and give them a whirl.
April 2, 2016
I suppose it is inevitable that Lewrie's ram-catting finally caught up with him and it was a fairly spectacular showing. It will be interesting to see who the person is who wrote those letters. Anyway, this is a decent addition to the series. And only minimal use of "mine arse on a bandbox" this time.
March 13, 2015
Capt Lewrie sails again!
Another top-notch sea tale from Dewey Lambdin! A rip-roaring tale of the sea recommended to fans of the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian.
Another top-notch sea tale from Dewey Lambdin! A rip-roaring tale of the sea recommended to fans of the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian.
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April 25, 2016Like
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September 17, 2018whole series is good. If you like naval saga, these books are for you.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews