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John Pearce #2
A Shot Rolling Ship
Pressed into King George's Navy for the second time in a month, John Pearce and his Pelicans find themselves working aboard the HMS Brazen, sailing the Channel from Plymouth to Dover in search of the numerous French privateers that prey on English merchant her task to stop them and, if possible, to capture or destroy them. Pearce has greater things on his mind--he must rescue his ailing father from the dangers of revolutionary Paris and to do that he must somehow leave the ship. He tries mutiny, the crew being readied by failure, but Captain Benjamin Colbourne is quick and smartly promotes Pearce to Midshipman. Pearce is thereby freed to leave the ship immediately--which appears to the remaining Pelicans as though their leader has deserted them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
79 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
David Donachie
66 books63 followersaka Tom Connery, Johnny 'Two Combs' Howard, Jack Ludlow, Jack Cole.
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he drew upon for the many novels he has set in that period. The author of a number of bestselling books, he lived in Deal with his wife, fellow A&B author Sarah Grazebrook.
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he drew upon for the many novels he has set in that period. The author of a number of bestselling books, he lived in Deal with his wife, fellow A&B author Sarah Grazebrook.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 13, 2018
Enjoyable for the most part but some sections in the middle required more motivation to read.
October 28, 2021
the poor guy couldn't catch a break for trying.
May 10, 2019
David Donachie may not be Patrick O'Brian, but his books are easier to read and lack nothing for adventure. This offering gets the mix between detail and action exactly right, making it not only a page turner, but a story to be savoured as well. Looks like I'm hooked on another ongoing nautical saga!
June 18, 2012
I found this book without really looking for it in a bookstore at the Hartebeespoort Dam after returning from a trip to Pretoria. I think what got my attention was the idea of reading a book about a sail ship, which graced the cover. Having never really been one to read historic novels (a genre to which I now feel a slight attraction) the book seemed more a curious move than an actual desire to go back to the Age of Sail.
The book itself was good, although I must admit I rather regretted reading the synopsis which seemed to provide many a spoiler in terms of the plot of the story. Important events that occur throughout the book were summarized in what I felt was a very revealing few paragraphs. I knew what was coming and didn't really sit on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It's hard to be surprised and thrilled by a book when you know that certain characters will meet their demise.
The book was fairly easy to read despite the fact that I was baffled by the terms such as "midshipman" and "belay". I had to keep a dictionary handy and since I am not a pirate or a First Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, I struggled to keep up with which side of the ship I was on or what exactly was happening besides cannon balls flying around. However, I was able to understand (more or less) the events that transpired in the final ship battle which was (for lack of a better group of words) pretty damn awesome.
All in all, I do think that A Shot Rolling Ship is a good read and the fact that it didn't take me months to read puts it very high on my list. Also, the fact that the battle at the end is loosely based on actual events, makes it all the more worthwhile to read and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to escape this land-loving world.
The book itself was good, although I must admit I rather regretted reading the synopsis which seemed to provide many a spoiler in terms of the plot of the story. Important events that occur throughout the book were summarized in what I felt was a very revealing few paragraphs. I knew what was coming and didn't really sit on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It's hard to be surprised and thrilled by a book when you know that certain characters will meet their demise.
The book was fairly easy to read despite the fact that I was baffled by the terms such as "midshipman" and "belay". I had to keep a dictionary handy and since I am not a pirate or a First Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, I struggled to keep up with which side of the ship I was on or what exactly was happening besides cannon balls flying around. However, I was able to understand (more or less) the events that transpired in the final ship battle which was (for lack of a better group of words) pretty damn awesome.
All in all, I do think that A Shot Rolling Ship is a good read and the fact that it didn't take me months to read puts it very high on my list. Also, the fact that the battle at the end is loosely based on actual events, makes it all the more worthwhile to read and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to escape this land-loving world.
November 24, 2014
This is book two of the John Pearce historical novel series. In this book John Pearce and comrades, the so called Pelicans, find themselves aboard the HMS Griffin, a slow, overcrowded ship. The ship is tasked to stop the French privateers that are raiding the English merchant ship in the Channel. The time frame is 1793, and in the prior book John was trying to save his father from the guillotine in Paris when he was caught by a Press gang in a London pub called the Pelican. The men that were captured with him stayed together and call themselves the Pelicans. The first two books are different from other naval stories of this period in that the hero is a landlubber that has entered the navy via a press gang and has to learn to be a sailor. The other books have the hero as an officer and are career navy. In this book John is still trying to save his father and is serving on a naval vessel in the English Channel. You will have to read the book to find out if he is successful in saving his father.
The book is well written, with memorable characters and has some great moments of action that is quite gripping. Donachie makes his characters come alive. The author uses less nautical terms than some of the other authors writing in the genre. The story is well paced and engaging. Donachie astutely blends fact with fiction.
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He writes under a number of pseudomonas. He has an interest in naval history of the 18th and 19th century. Currently he lives in Deal Kent with his wife the novelist Sarah Grazebrook and their two children. He wrote the Nelson and Emma Trilogy about Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton. I am looking forward to reading book three in the series. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Peter Wickham narrated the book.
The book is well written, with memorable characters and has some great moments of action that is quite gripping. Donachie makes his characters come alive. The author uses less nautical terms than some of the other authors writing in the genre. The story is well paced and engaging. Donachie astutely blends fact with fiction.
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He writes under a number of pseudomonas. He has an interest in naval history of the 18th and 19th century. Currently he lives in Deal Kent with his wife the novelist Sarah Grazebrook and their two children. He wrote the Nelson and Emma Trilogy about Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton. I am looking forward to reading book three in the series. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Peter Wickham narrated the book.
July 2, 2012
3.5 stars
An enjoyable read and a good continuation of the John Pearce series that started with By the Mast Divided. I knocked off half a star because it did not grab me QUITE as much as the first book. The plot seemed a little bit rushed at times and I was annoyed that an important plot development was mentioned on the blurb at the back. I would have enjoyed it more if I did not know the outcome of one of the main story lines. That being said I dithered between 3.5 and 4 stars but plumped for 3.5 as I really enjoyed it but the point outlined above meant not as much as I could have done.
An enjoyable read and a good continuation of the John Pearce series that started with By the Mast Divided. I knocked off half a star because it did not grab me QUITE as much as the first book. The plot seemed a little bit rushed at times and I was annoyed that an important plot development was mentioned on the blurb at the back. I would have enjoyed it more if I did not know the outcome of one of the main story lines. That being said I dithered between 3.5 and 4 stars but plumped for 3.5 as I really enjoyed it but the point outlined above meant not as much as I could have done.
April 13, 2013
It's the charactarization and period detail that have got me hooked on this series. I think I'm going to have to read them all...
June 19, 2015
I am enjoying this series, can't wait for the next book even thought i am reading them out of order. Top read.
August 18, 2016
As in part one a good nautical novel. Accept the promotion thing, or not. More Forester as O'Brian.
April 6, 2017
Loved this particular novel, I think mainly because it centred on the lives of the ordinary below decks man, not the privileged wealthy!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews