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Alan Lewrie #1
The King's Coat
The very first Alan Lewrie naval adventure in this classic series is now back in print!
1780: Seventeen-year-old Alan Lewrie is a brash, rebellious young libertine. So much so that his callous father believes a bit of navy discipline will turn the boy around. Fresh aboard the tall-masted Ariadne, Midshipman Lewrie heads for the war-torn Americas, finding--rather unexpectedly--that he is a born sailor, equally at home with the randy pleasures of the port and the raging battles on the high seas. But in a hail of cannonballs comes a bawdy surprise. . . .
1780: Seventeen-year-old Alan Lewrie is a brash, rebellious young libertine. So much so that his callous father believes a bit of navy discipline will turn the boy around. Fresh aboard the tall-masted Ariadne, Midshipman Lewrie heads for the war-torn Americas, finding--rather unexpectedly--that he is a born sailor, equally at home with the randy pleasures of the port and the raging battles on the high seas. But in a hail of cannonballs comes a bawdy surprise. . . .
397 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
509 people are currently reading
1989 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 - 30 of 203 reviews
December 6, 2012
I tried, but the explicit sex scenes threw me off and I didn't get very far into this book. It's not that I'm a huge prude, and I know that Age of Sail adventure stories often include romance, but it was just a bit much for a book that isn't categorized as erotica. Perhaps if the scenes were a bit more tasteful, but the problem is that Lewrie is a scoundrel, doesn't seem to particularly like women, and the sex scenes are vaguely misogynistic and somewhat vulgar. There are so many better examples in this genre and if you like romance with your naval adventures, I suggest the (non-explicit but romantic) Ramage series instead.
February 22, 2015
Not a bad book (series of books, does anyone write stand alone novels anymore?), not Patrick O'Brian, or C. S. Forester, but not bad. I enjoyed some of this book and it's got it's points (good and bad). The story telling might be a little more shallow than the writers I listed above, but it's readable.
Since my attention was drawn back to this short review, I'll mention that so far as plot and storytelling goes I thought the book faltered whenever Our hero wasn't at sea...
Since my attention was drawn back to this short review, I'll mention that so far as plot and storytelling goes I thought the book faltered whenever Our hero wasn't at sea...
April 3, 2019
A good historical naval adventure, but it had its problems.
The biggest problem with this book is the main character. You root for him because you are invested in his story, but he is kind of a one-dimensional scumbag (maybe not quite as scummy as Flashman, but also not quite as interesting). He spends his time at sea fighting with his crewmates and trying to further his own personal goals at any cost, and he spends his time on land trying to hump anything that moves.
He also does some strange things, like become obsessed with one of his superiors' homosexuality. If this was a plot point that actually went somewhere then that would be one thing, but he spends a large chunk of time being endlessly disgusted and then kind of just moves on without ever thinking of it again. At another time, his friend dies in his arms and the first thought that comes to him is how horny he is. I honestly don't know if Lambdin is not super great at creating characters or if he genuinely wants us to hate the protagonist of this novel.
Also, for a naval adventure, maybe 6/10ths of this novel actually take place at sea (and half of that is just Alan learning about seamanship) and 4/10ths take place on land where, again, the main character is either trying to get laid or fighting with someone.
Finally, I felt that the main character's growth was a bit rushed. He goes from barely knowing what a ship is to becoming an indispensable war hero in relatively no time flat.
As for the good things, I have to say that I was rarely bored while reading this novel. There were many times that I was confused as to why the author was going in a certain direction, and a few times I was like "get back out to sea already!", but Lambdin never really dawdled or made the story feel like it was dragging, even when the characters were doing anything but adventuring.
The highlight of this novel, however, are the sea battles. From the first time a strange ship is spotted on the horizon to the actual battle itself, each encounter is tense and brutal. Also, to Lambdin's credit, the entire last chunk of this book is almost nothing but awesome battle after battle, making the rest of the book well worth the wait.
The biggest problem with this book is the main character. You root for him because you are invested in his story, but he is kind of a one-dimensional scumbag (maybe not quite as scummy as Flashman, but also not quite as interesting). He spends his time at sea fighting with his crewmates and trying to further his own personal goals at any cost, and he spends his time on land trying to hump anything that moves.
He also does some strange things, like become obsessed with one of his superiors' homosexuality. If this was a plot point that actually went somewhere then that would be one thing, but he spends a large chunk of time being endlessly disgusted and then kind of just moves on without ever thinking of it again. At another time, his friend dies in his arms and the first thought that comes to him is how horny he is. I honestly don't know if Lambdin is not super great at creating characters or if he genuinely wants us to hate the protagonist of this novel.
Also, for a naval adventure, maybe 6/10ths of this novel actually take place at sea (and half of that is just Alan learning about seamanship) and 4/10ths take place on land where, again, the main character is either trying to get laid or fighting with someone.
Finally, I felt that the main character's growth was a bit rushed. He goes from barely knowing what a ship is to becoming an indispensable war hero in relatively no time flat.
As for the good things, I have to say that I was rarely bored while reading this novel. There were many times that I was confused as to why the author was going in a certain direction, and a few times I was like "get back out to sea already!", but Lambdin never really dawdled or made the story feel like it was dragging, even when the characters were doing anything but adventuring.
The highlight of this novel, however, are the sea battles. From the first time a strange ship is spotted on the horizon to the actual battle itself, each encounter is tense and brutal. Also, to Lambdin's credit, the entire last chunk of this book is almost nothing but awesome battle after battle, making the rest of the book well worth the wait.
September 29, 2014
This is another book read about the British Navy in my renewed passion for the naval genre.
In 1780 Alan Lewrie is shipped off to the navy by his father to avoid a family scandal. Older than most other midshipmen, he relies on the kindness of several of his shipmates to help him catch up in his studies and learn the basics of ship board life. As time progresses he finds that he enjoyes his new life and career.
If this book hadn't been written with a male lead I would have classified it as a romance book. Alan is portrayed as a very horny young man, which I am sure most are, but I didn't need to read quite that much about it and it put me off. There was enough good naval story to it to make it worth finishing but not enough to keep me reading the series.
In 1780 Alan Lewrie is shipped off to the navy by his father to avoid a family scandal. Older than most other midshipmen, he relies on the kindness of several of his shipmates to help him catch up in his studies and learn the basics of ship board life. As time progresses he finds that he enjoyes his new life and career.
If this book hadn't been written with a male lead I would have classified it as a romance book. Alan is portrayed as a very horny young man, which I am sure most are, but I didn't need to read quite that much about it and it put me off. There was enough good naval story to it to make it worth finishing but not enough to keep me reading the series.
January 16, 2014
LOVE these books. Far less serious than the Hornblower or the O'Brien books, lots of fun and action. If you love nautical fiction try the first anyhow.
March 6, 2015
I enjoy historical novels about the British Naval during the era of sail, particularly in the late 1700s to the early 1800s. There are many great writers in this genre that I have enjoyed such as C. S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Dudley Pope and so many more. In 2010 I found and read a book on Audible by Dewey Lambdin. I enjoyed the book but it has taken me until 2015 to get back to read more of this author. I had read book three in the Alan Lewrie series. I now start with book one in the series.
In book one “The King’s Coat” in the year 1780, Alan’s father thinks Alan needs more discipline so at the age of seventeen Alan finds himself a new midshipman aboard the 64 gun HMS Ariadne. It also appears that the father is ripping off Alan’s inheritance. In this book we see Alan go from a spoiled teenager into a competent naval officer.
Lambdin is a good writer and I think he writes a great description of sea battles. I have two complaints. My first is trouble warming to the hero Alan Lewrie. So far he is too much of a scoundrel for me to relate to. And my second complaint is the story is a bit to bawdy at times for my taste. I will see how book two goes before making up my mind about this series. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators, John Lee narrated the book
In book one “The King’s Coat” in the year 1780, Alan’s father thinks Alan needs more discipline so at the age of seventeen Alan finds himself a new midshipman aboard the 64 gun HMS Ariadne. It also appears that the father is ripping off Alan’s inheritance. In this book we see Alan go from a spoiled teenager into a competent naval officer.
Lambdin is a good writer and I think he writes a great description of sea battles. I have two complaints. My first is trouble warming to the hero Alan Lewrie. So far he is too much of a scoundrel for me to relate to. And my second complaint is the story is a bit to bawdy at times for my taste. I will see how book two goes before making up my mind about this series. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators, John Lee narrated the book
January 5, 2009
In The King's Coat first in the series, Lewrie is forcibly introduced to the navy. Nicknamed "the little bastard" by his father, he was the product of an early premarital and pre-war fling of Sir Hugh, his father, adopted, pampered and rather spoiled. Alan, at age eighteen, enjoys the ladies, but even he is surprised when his half-sister, Belinda, propositions him. They are busy having a grand old time in bed, thinking the house is empty, when much to their, or Alan's, consternation, they are surprised by the local priest, Alan's father, the butler, and Sir Hugh's father. Alan springs out of bed wearing only a silk sheath condom — "he was only fairly sure of her latest amours," — she cries rape, and Alan decides it's time to run. Unable to escape their clutches, he is given a choice of joining the navy as a midshipman or facing the local magistrate, where the penalty for rape is the gallows. Not being a fool, Alan chooses the former, where, the reader learns, Sir Hugh hopes he will be killed. There is the matter of an estate that Alan might inherit but of which he knows nothing. With him out of the way, Belinda and Sir Hugh, get the goods. Alan has his suspicions, but no evidence. I like Lambdin, and he may become my favorite after O'Brian. He's much more blatant and shameless than Forester or Kent. After putting to sea in the Ariadne, new hands typically had difficulty getting their sea legs. "Those with touchy stomachs were being dragged to the lee rails to 'cast their accounts' into the Channel, and those who could not wait were being ordered to clean up their spew." Our hero at first appears immune, but before long he begs to die. "He honestly could not have choked anything down that could possibly have scratched on the way back up." The designation of all the lines at first stumps him and he often becomes confused. When asked to "baggy-wrinkle" on old lines, Lewrie thinks to himself, "Shit, new words again. Baggy-wrinkle? Sounds like my scrotum about now." All turns out well, and following numerous close escapes and lucky turns, at first appalled by the conditions of the service, he discovers to his surprise that not only is he good at it, but he likes his new trade as well. Only twelve more volumes to go.
March 3, 2018
Unexpected surprise! I loved this (nautical) historical novel. The protagonist is a ne'erdowell shipped off to the navy. It's a fate worse than death until he finds that sailing is a job he excels at. Alan Lewrie is a flawed protagonist but I could not help but root for him. The technical details of sailing are intricate but not un-interesting. The sea battles are engrossing. I found myself not wanting this book to end. Thank goodness this is only the first book in a series.
May 26, 2017
No good at all. Other reviewers have already pointed out that the hero is unlikeable, the plot lacks both tension and resolution, and the language is anachronistic. To make his hero seem really gifted, the author resorts to a simple expedient of making the others act in a dangerously obtuse way, and we are expected to swallow it without a question.
But to crown it all, the author just can't write, or at least does not believe in editing his text once written. This book has sentences like "It was hard to see how the men could even see what they were doing..." and "Obviously Purnell had money; he was very well turned out and was obviously someone's favorite to be there..." The battle descriptions actually have exclamation marks on the end of half the sentences! As if a schoolgirl were caught up in it and decided to describe some in a letter home. Lambdin's prose is inexcusable.
But to crown it all, the author just can't write, or at least does not believe in editing his text once written. This book has sentences like "It was hard to see how the men could even see what they were doing..." and "Obviously Purnell had money; he was very well turned out and was obviously someone's favorite to be there..." The battle descriptions actually have exclamation marks on the end of half the sentences! As if a schoolgirl were caught up in it and decided to describe some in a letter home. Lambdin's prose is inexcusable.
September 14, 2017
If you want a protagonist who is not brave, loyal, or honorable, this book is for you. Alan is a womanizing, spoiled, rich kid who is forced to join the navy. Most of his captains don't like him & the feeling is mutual. But, he has one saving grace. He can fight. If you are tired of honorable stuff shirt, King & Country captains, this book is for you.
November 19, 2020
I understood only about 7% of the nautical speak in this novel. And that's ok.
A very fine Hornblower/Sharpe-esque tale of derring-do in Her Majesty's Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. As an Army guy, Age-of-Sail naval books always run the risk of being impenetrable. (forecastle? orlop? eh?)
What makes these period novels enjoyable (in my ground-centric view) are the social dynamics that exist on a ship. How aristocratic junior officers that are barely teenagers can order about 35 year old sailors without a hitch. Or the ever present search for "the prize" -- capturing enemy vessels whose proceeds are split amongst the crew, turning even the most "honorable" crew into little more than mercenaries.
The Alan Lewrie series (by American author Lambdin) fits neatly within this mold and hits all those beats with impressed midshipman Alan Lewrie (a bastard aristocrat only forced into service because of an "incident" with a young lady) forced into service and having to learn the ways of the Royal Navy at the height of the American Revolution (though we only fight Frogs here). There's a VERY heavy Richard Sharpe vibe as 17-year-old Lewrie learns the distinctions between officer and seaman and the ways of the ship while also trying to bugger every woman he encounters (and succeeding more often than not). We get sea battles, beating to quarters, Captain's Mast (i.e. punishment at sea) and all the things you want and need in a naval yarn. I'm quite happy.
Criticisms are that the story drags a bit long and there's less of an overarching plot beyond "welcome to the Royal Navy son!" than I would have liked (Sharpe still had his major battles or antagonists in each novel to center the plot around). Also, the repeated use of the term "mutton" for female genitalia ("He couldn't wait to get into her mutton") thoroughly creeped me out, to be honest.
Otherwise, a really solid enjoyable yarn that makes me want to watch Master & Commander for the 47th time.
A very fine Hornblower/Sharpe-esque tale of derring-do in Her Majesty's Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. As an Army guy, Age-of-Sail naval books always run the risk of being impenetrable. (forecastle? orlop? eh?)
What makes these period novels enjoyable (in my ground-centric view) are the social dynamics that exist on a ship. How aristocratic junior officers that are barely teenagers can order about 35 year old sailors without a hitch. Or the ever present search for "the prize" -- capturing enemy vessels whose proceeds are split amongst the crew, turning even the most "honorable" crew into little more than mercenaries.
The Alan Lewrie series (by American author Lambdin) fits neatly within this mold and hits all those beats with impressed midshipman Alan Lewrie (a bastard aristocrat only forced into service because of an "incident" with a young lady) forced into service and having to learn the ways of the Royal Navy at the height of the American Revolution (though we only fight Frogs here). There's a VERY heavy Richard Sharpe vibe as 17-year-old Lewrie learns the distinctions between officer and seaman and the ways of the ship while also trying to bugger every woman he encounters (and succeeding more often than not). We get sea battles, beating to quarters, Captain's Mast (i.e. punishment at sea) and all the things you want and need in a naval yarn. I'm quite happy.
Criticisms are that the story drags a bit long and there's less of an overarching plot beyond "welcome to the Royal Navy son!" than I would have liked (Sharpe still had his major battles or antagonists in each novel to center the plot around). Also, the repeated use of the term "mutton" for female genitalia ("He couldn't wait to get into her mutton") thoroughly creeped me out, to be honest.
Otherwise, a really solid enjoyable yarn that makes me want to watch Master & Commander for the 47th time.
June 26, 2020
Notes:
Nice historical detail notes mixed with the more vulgar/taboo side of sex. Format goes from tawdry story to historical references and the two do not combine into a singular story. Each end up having a distinct voice that doesn't blend well.
I may try the next book. Thumbs up for libraries!
Nice historical detail notes mixed with the more vulgar/taboo side of sex. Format goes from tawdry story to historical references and the two do not combine into a singular story. Each end up having a distinct voice that doesn't blend well.
I may try the next book. Thumbs up for libraries!
April 30, 2021
This is an excellent historical romp. Alan Lewrie, a rake and wastrel is forced into the Navy by his despicable family. It's either that, prison or on the street without a penny. He suspects that money is at the root of it, but can't figure out how. Alan hates the Navy but comes to terms with his situation. Sadly, he concludes his only option is to make a career out of it until another opportunity arises. Against his will, he becomes enmeshed in the lifestyle and becomes a good petty officer with future prospects. Although still with an eye out for the main chance, he finds that he loves the sea and the action, even if he doesn't particularly like the Navy. Apart from the nautical terms that only a naval historian would understand, this is a great adventure story. Recommended reading.
January 25, 2020
I started this series thinking I would be reading about another Hornblower or Kydd, but Lewrie isn't like either of those men. He's rude, crude, lewd and quite willing to take credit where none is due. Lambdin manages to make him likeable even so and his road to redemption is just as fascinating to read as the stories of those other worthies.
August 30, 2017
It's maybe the best airplane book I've read. Completely awesome, trashy, goodness.
February 10, 2020
2'5*. Salvo un poco este libro porque está escrito en un estilo correcto, sencillo y fácil de leer. La historia tampoco está mal: no te engancha irremediablemente pero es entretenida y las batallas navales están muy bien narradas. También se nota que Lambdin conoce el periodo histórico, los usos de la Armada y los barcos de los que habla.
Pero me temo que ahí se acaba lo bueno que pueda decir. Los personajes masculinos (aproximadamente el 99% del total) son unidimensionales, pudiendo ser definidos con uno o dos adjetivos sin problema. Quizás Alan Lewrie sea el que más evoluciona, por ser el protagonista absoluto, pero aún así hablamos de una evolución simplona y difícil de creer, que básicamente se centra en sus habilidades como marino, sin apenas afectar a su personalidad. Los demás son meros figurantes para acompañar al protagonista: el malo malísimo, el ambicioso, el amigo, el mentor, el moralista... Por cierto, muchos claramente desperdiciados en un punto u otro de la novela, aunque puede ser que los rescate en otras posteriores, lo desconozco.
Los (escasísimos) personajes femeninos son intercambiables. Básicamente, súcubos incapaces de controlar sus impulsos carnales y con personalidades anodinas y simples. Creo recordar que hay cinco mujeres a lo largo de la novela, de las cuales tres se acostarán con Alan en algún momento y otra acabará siendo su quasi-prometida. Entiendo que esta historia se ambienta en el siglo XVIII, pero la forma que tiene Lambdin de representar a la mujer sólo puede definirse como preocupante.
En definitiva, considero que hay suficientes exponentes de este subgénero (Patrick O'Brian o C. S. Forester, como ya han señalado muchos, por poner dos ejemplos) de mucha mejor calidad como para invertir nuestro valioso tiempo en esta serie. Aunque su público debe tener, porque el año pasado saco su novela número 25... Con la primera he tenido suficiente.
Pero me temo que ahí se acaba lo bueno que pueda decir. Los personajes masculinos (aproximadamente el 99% del total) son unidimensionales, pudiendo ser definidos con uno o dos adjetivos sin problema. Quizás Alan Lewrie sea el que más evoluciona, por ser el protagonista absoluto, pero aún así hablamos de una evolución simplona y difícil de creer, que básicamente se centra en sus habilidades como marino, sin apenas afectar a su personalidad. Los demás son meros figurantes para acompañar al protagonista: el malo malísimo, el ambicioso, el amigo, el mentor, el moralista... Por cierto, muchos claramente desperdiciados en un punto u otro de la novela, aunque puede ser que los rescate en otras posteriores, lo desconozco.
Los (escasísimos) personajes femeninos son intercambiables. Básicamente, súcubos incapaces de controlar sus impulsos carnales y con personalidades anodinas y simples. Creo recordar que hay cinco mujeres a lo largo de la novela, de las cuales tres se acostarán con Alan en algún momento y otra acabará siendo su quasi-prometida. Entiendo que esta historia se ambienta en el siglo XVIII, pero la forma que tiene Lambdin de representar a la mujer sólo puede definirse como preocupante.
En definitiva, considero que hay suficientes exponentes de este subgénero (Patrick O'Brian o C. S. Forester, como ya han señalado muchos, por poner dos ejemplos) de mucha mejor calidad como para invertir nuestro valioso tiempo en esta serie. Aunque su público debe tener, porque el año pasado saco su novela número 25... Con la primera he tenido suficiente.
April 1, 2019
A rollicking good yarn! A bit earthier than some of the other nautical series I've enjoyed, and I like that. Our hero is a character I can understand, and the times and circumstances are fascinating. He's on the "wrong" side (from the US perspective) in the Revolutionary War, and, as always, it is hard for me to imagine any good reason for war anywhere any time. With missiles of any kind flying around, it's just random luck whether anyone survives; the slaughter is a little more equal opportunity here than, for example, in the knights-and-serfs battles a couple of centuries earlier. While I'm sure such things happened (and are probably still happening somewhere) I find it easy to remember, after reading about an all-out battle, that this is just a book, and I can stop reading any time I like.
I will definitely be looking for some more of Lambdin's books, of which there appear to be many.
I will definitely be looking for some more of Lambdin's books, of which there appear to be many.
September 20, 2019
If you can get past the repellant and tawdry opening, you will find a tolerably good story about a wastrel bastard son sent to sea to be rid of him. There he finds to his surprise and somewhat against his will that he has a knack for both seamanship and leadership, plus some admirable courage, amiability, and even ambition. But beware the shore, for there the book lapses back into frank pornography. Every attractive woman is of easy virtue and voracious appetite, and our hero is capable of the most improbable feats of manly endurance.
May 17, 2020
This was a refreshing change! So often the characters in historical naval fiction are so terribly upright and ernest and have such a sense of civic duty. Not at all Lewrie!
I like the speech, the action, and the understated opinion of himself.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the series develops.
I like the speech, the action, and the understated opinion of himself.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the series develops.
March 14, 2019
Mixed feelings!
July 6, 2019
Very Intriguing, many twists, many climaxes.
March 12, 2022
Trash, but moderately enjoyable trash.
July 10, 2019
I have mixed opinions of this first of a series by Mr. Lambdin and recently upgraded my rating from 3 stars to 4.
The King's Coat is a cohesive, engaging story of a spoiled young man's "coming of age" with the cold shock of being cast into the depths of the 18th-century British Navy. There are enough twists in the plot to keep the reader guessing how the protagonist, Alan Lewrie, will overcome them and grow into something resembling an officer and a gentleman.
Others have criticized Lambkin's writing as "misogynist", "sexist" and "offensive". Under today's politically correct pressures, this is probably true. I think the writing probably accurately depicts the attitudes, morals and social interactions of the period it depicts, however inappropriate many would find them today. I'm not a fan of revisionist history.
Where C. S. Forster (Hornblower) writing feels more like a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive novel, Lambkin's story flows well if sometimes plodding. I would prefer if we saw more action and less character introspection from our hero.
The only real negative was the lack of reference for arcane, often obsolete terminology and jargon. I'm a fairly accomplished sailor and reasonably familiar with the nomenclature of tall ships. Some ship's parts left me wondering what Mr. Lambkin was talking about. I finally bought a (surprisingly expensive) copy of "Anatomy of a Ship - The 74-gun Ship Bellona" as a reference in order to follow the narrative. Some illustrations or a glossary of nautical terms would have been helpful as an appendix to Mr. Lambkin's book.
More disappointing: the colloquialisms of 18th-century English. I suppose some of them would be obvious to current residents of the United Kingdom but, to most Americans, some expressions are completely incomprehensible. When a reader comes across a term that can't even be deduced in the context of the overall setting, and the term cannot be found through searching the Internet, it's a very unsatisfying experience.
Overall, I like the writing and will probably read the next in the series.
The King's Coat is a cohesive, engaging story of a spoiled young man's "coming of age" with the cold shock of being cast into the depths of the 18th-century British Navy. There are enough twists in the plot to keep the reader guessing how the protagonist, Alan Lewrie, will overcome them and grow into something resembling an officer and a gentleman.
Others have criticized Lambkin's writing as "misogynist", "sexist" and "offensive". Under today's politically correct pressures, this is probably true. I think the writing probably accurately depicts the attitudes, morals and social interactions of the period it depicts, however inappropriate many would find them today. I'm not a fan of revisionist history.
Where C. S. Forster (Hornblower) writing feels more like a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive novel, Lambkin's story flows well if sometimes plodding. I would prefer if we saw more action and less character introspection from our hero.
The only real negative was the lack of reference for arcane, often obsolete terminology and jargon. I'm a fairly accomplished sailor and reasonably familiar with the nomenclature of tall ships. Some ship's parts left me wondering what Mr. Lambkin was talking about. I finally bought a (surprisingly expensive) copy of "Anatomy of a Ship - The 74-gun Ship Bellona" as a reference in order to follow the narrative. Some illustrations or a glossary of nautical terms would have been helpful as an appendix to Mr. Lambkin's book.
More disappointing: the colloquialisms of 18th-century English. I suppose some of them would be obvious to current residents of the United Kingdom but, to most Americans, some expressions are completely incomprehensible. When a reader comes across a term that can't even be deduced in the context of the overall setting, and the term cannot be found through searching the Internet, it's a very unsatisfying experience.
Overall, I like the writing and will probably read the next in the series.
June 22, 2025
I guess 3.5 rounded up. I dig Age of Sail tales and this was just as good as any Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin stuff.
The period lingo/slang was very heavy here, not just shipboard terms, which I'm good with, but the non-nautical slang really slowed down the flow for me. I like to read fast and this wasn't what I call a quick read...if context clues didn't fix it, I had to look it up.
No complaints, but it was a bit of work (and education I guess). There isn't one sentence that reads contemporary. It wasn't as immersive as I would have liked. Update: immersive is the ideal experience.
I really dug Lewrie. He's nowhere near the rake or scoundrel as others have proclaimed. He's a young man of his time...and he's certainly no Flashman, as someone stated derisively, which was the prompt for me to read book #1. I
was actually hoping Lewrie would have been more of a lout like Flashman - but he's a much more conventional fellow who begins to love the Navy. It's a bit odd for me to be rooting for a guy that would have been my enemy.
I'll def be back for book 2 as Lewrie heads to the colonies for a bigger role in American Revolution...but, it's unclear yet if this is a series I will finish. Update: damn your eyes! I’ll def finish.
Update: 6/20/25 on book #5 and absolutely love the series. The issues I above have all been sorted. William Pitt the cat is a hoot.
The period lingo/slang was very heavy here, not just shipboard terms, which I'm good with, but the non-nautical slang really slowed down the flow for me. I like to read fast and this wasn't what I call a quick read...if context clues didn't fix it, I had to look it up.
No complaints, but it was a bit of work (and education I guess). There isn't one sentence that reads contemporary. It wasn't as immersive as I would have liked. Update: immersive is the ideal experience.
I really dug Lewrie. He's nowhere near the rake or scoundrel as others have proclaimed. He's a young man of his time...and he's certainly no Flashman, as someone stated derisively, which was the prompt for me to read book #1. I
was actually hoping Lewrie would have been more of a lout like Flashman - but he's a much more conventional fellow who begins to love the Navy. It's a bit odd for me to be rooting for a guy that would have been my enemy.
I'll def be back for book 2 as Lewrie heads to the colonies for a bigger role in American Revolution...but, it's unclear yet if this is a series I will finish. Update: damn your eyes! I’ll def finish.
Update: 6/20/25 on book #5 and absolutely love the series. The issues I above have all been sorted. William Pitt the cat is a hoot.
November 17, 2015
I have to say, I found this book quite disappointing. I'm a huge fan of the genre, having read all of Patrick O'Brian, C.F. Forrester, Alexander Kent, Dudley Pope (which I enjoyed less than the previous) and Bernard Cornwell (not nautical). This series... it seems like both the plot and the writing were done by a 15-year-old boy. The writing is poor, there is a crass obsession with cheap vulgarity and faecal matter, the sex scenes are explicit (which isn't per se always a problem) and tactless (much more of a problem). The main character is indifferent - he is intended to be a devil-may-care rogue, but ends up as an unlikeable, arrogant child with little if any redeeming qualities, and any moral or personal self-searching is just straight-up self-interest, but not, for example, in the sense of Sharpe who, for example, is happy to commit murder to further his ends but has an inner moral character.
March 5, 2013
Yet another series that I need to get into. This is the first book that follows the adventures of Alan Lewrie, a young British man who is forced into service in the Navy during the American Revolutionary War. The story covered a great amount of detailed history of the world of a British Naval Ship, and had enough character to keep the pace moving. Some reviewers have commented that Lewrie has a junior high school sense of sexuality, and I think that criticism is fair, but probably not far off from where someone of his standing would have been. Overall a good read and I am excited for the next in the series.
November 7, 2022
Dewey Lambdin’s The King’s Coat is touted as “ideal for fans of C.S. Foster and Patrick O’Brian.” Having read O’Brian’s entire Aubrey-Maturin series I can say, Lambdin’s Alan Lewrie series of naval adventures is not even in the same galaxy. Fun, sure, and I’ve read the first two Lewrie novels and enjoyed them. I’ll read more. But, please, O’Brian towers above Lambdin and the other writers of naval adventures, including C.S. Forster.
December 17, 2018
Engaging, but very much like reading Forrester's "Hornblower" all over again. The story, however, would rate at least another star and a half without the multiple, highly detailed descriptions of sexual encounters. Three fourths of the novel is interesting and engaging while one fourth reads like a cheap Harlequin novel written for Junior High School boys.
May 11, 2017
A good naval adventure in the Horatio Hornblower tradition with considerably more baudy scenes. I had already read the first 25 Bolitho adventures and part of the Lord Ramage Series and was looking for something knew. I would recommend this only to fans of naval fiction
November 12, 2012
Never heard of Lambdin or Alan Lewrie before but I am going to read one or two of this series every year. Just a fun read. Certainly more fun than Hornblower or Aubrey. Alan is a rogue and there is good action at sea and ashore.
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