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Cast Upon The Waters
The Squire of the little village of Tatham in the Cambridgeshire Fens is faced with a problem. He has been so unwise as to sire five healthy sons and cannot provide for them from his little estate.
The eldest should be his obedient heir, but proves undutiful. The second is disposed of to the Church, but does not much like his fate. A third son wishes to take to the sea, but finds unexpected problems and opportunities on his way. The fourth is an idle lad and has never shone – he is despatched to the Militia where he succeeds all too well. Youngest of all, Caius, is sent off to India, aged sixteen, to join his uncle as a country merchant and finds much to his liking there.
Dispersed to all quarters of the world, the five slowly begin to come together again, though not as they expect and their poor father might have hoped.
The eldest should be his obedient heir, but proves undutiful. The second is disposed of to the Church, but does not much like his fate. A third son wishes to take to the sea, but finds unexpected problems and opportunities on his way. The fourth is an idle lad and has never shone – he is despatched to the Militia where he succeeds all too well. Youngest of all, Caius, is sent off to India, aged sixteen, to join his uncle as a country merchant and finds much to his liking there.
Dispersed to all quarters of the world, the five slowly begin to come together again, though not as they expect and their poor father might have hoped.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2022
147 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 21, 2022
Fun book
A fast reading fun book to enjoy. Four very different brothers and their stories make the book hard to put down.
A fast reading fun book to enjoy. Four very different brothers and their stories make the book hard to put down.
November 9, 2022
Great beginning but lost its way
This book is a scene setter for future efforts but each tale of young men challenged left the reader hanging. No satisfaction here.
This book is a scene setter for future efforts but each tale of young men challenged left the reader hanging. No satisfaction here.
October 6, 2022
Andrew Wareham begins another series
I am a fan of Wareham, and this book 1 is a treat. Five sons, at the time of the American Revolution, in England. One will inherit the land, the rest are on their own.
Twists and turns to get to the end of book one, and I am waiting for the next installment.
Highly recommend
I am a fan of Wareham, and this book 1 is a treat. Five sons, at the time of the American Revolution, in England. One will inherit the land, the rest are on their own.
Twists and turns to get to the end of book one, and I am waiting for the next installment.
Highly recommend
December 1, 2024
The tale of five sons of an English country squire during the time of the American Revolutionary War. The property isn't making enough money to really give them much of a shot, and the father is older, spending most of his time reading classics and religious texts instead of tending the lands.
So the sons find their own way, one the heir and four scattered around to make a life for themselves. This book reads almost like a reaction to criticism of Wareham's other books, where things generally go well for his various heroes who advance rapidly in their career and face little difficulty. In this book, nothing goes as intended and the young men change their attempted careers repeatedly, sometimes disastrously.
Oddly, nearly all of them are murderers, traitors, and amoral monsters, and Wareham's contempt for Christianity continues through the storyline. The storytelling is engaging and written well enough, and the young men are implausibly good at learning and making the right choices most of the time, as usual but are less successful as noted earlier.
So the sons find their own way, one the heir and four scattered around to make a life for themselves. This book reads almost like a reaction to criticism of Wareham's other books, where things generally go well for his various heroes who advance rapidly in their career and face little difficulty. In this book, nothing goes as intended and the young men change their attempted careers repeatedly, sometimes disastrously.
Oddly, nearly all of them are murderers, traitors, and amoral monsters, and Wareham's contempt for Christianity continues through the storyline. The storytelling is engaging and written well enough, and the young men are implausibly good at learning and making the right choices most of the time, as usual but are less successful as noted earlier.
May 30, 2023
family adventure to furthest reaches
I enjoyed the mettle displayed the brothers military adventures. Far better than the nefarious and banal post of the cleric son. But it was a good contrast. It was an age where military prowess could allow one to rise quickly in a way that belies the extremely stratified society in Britain of that era.
I enjoyed the mettle displayed the brothers military adventures. Far better than the nefarious and banal post of the cleric son. But it was a good contrast. It was an age where military prowess could allow one to rise quickly in a way that belies the extremely stratified society in Britain of that era.
September 11, 2022
Great Read
Very good story about Great Britain in the Indian War and culture. Slightly scattered in telling; as natural when telling stories of a family of several different members of various pursuit
Very good story about Great Britain in the Indian War and culture. Slightly scattered in telling; as natural when telling stories of a family of several different members of various pursuit
September 12, 2022
another hit for wareham
A good book with interestingly woven plot lines. Good character development. Much ado about inheritance. Anxiously await the second volume of this new series.
A good book with interestingly woven plot lines. Good character development. Much ado about inheritance. Anxiously await the second volume of this new series.
September 18, 2022
Insightful
Typical Wareham book with many new ways of looking at England's, the United Kingdom's and the British Empire's growth and sway. Looking forward to the next booking series.
Typical Wareham book with many new ways of looking at England's, the United Kingdom's and the British Empire's growth and sway. Looking forward to the next booking series.
June 10, 2023
Boys become men
This initial story requires the reader to follow its five main characters smartly as they weave along into adulthood. Well done! Looking forward to the next installment
This initial story requires the reader to follow its five main characters smartly as they weave along into adulthood. Well done! Looking forward to the next installment
February 24, 2023
Good rea
Six young men in various occupation and of various morals. They are scattered all over the world in search of riches and success.
Six young men in various occupation and of various morals. They are scattered all over the world in search of riches and success.
December 30, 2025
EARLY DAYS IN INDIA
I have read quite a few Wareham series, it is an entertaining way to learn some history. The details are fictional the type of detail fits the times.
I have read quite a few Wareham series, it is an entertaining way to learn some history. The details are fictional the type of detail fits the times.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews