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John Pearce #4
A Flag of Truce
John Pearce comes back from Corsica demanding that Captain Barclay of HMS Brilliant, the man who originally pressed him and his fellow Pelicans into the Navy, be tried at home by a civilian court. Against the background of the ongoing siege of Toulon and with the Revolutionary Army massing to attack, no-one in authority sees this as a good time to accede to his requests. Barclay’s patron Admiral Hotham contrives a way out of the dilemma. He staffs the ship Pearce captured in Corsica with members of the Revolutionary Navy refusing to serve under the Bourbon flag and gives it to Henry Digby, with Pearce and his Pelicans under him, so that they may transport the renegade French sailors to an Atlantic port and set them free. Whilst Pearce is gone Hotham fixes a court martial where Barclay is found innocent for lack of evidence, a ruse that leads to an open breach with his wife Emily. Pearce eventually returns to the siege having survived conflict on both land and water only to find Barclay acquitted and exempt from further trial under the law of double jeopardy. Despite clear warnings not to do so he begins a romance with Emily Barclay, but mayhem surrounds the evacuation of Toulon and the revolutionary forces, including Napoleon Bonaparte, are closing in to retake the port...
442 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2008
66 people are currently reading
99 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2021
The series continues. The characters now well defined so that John Pierce not so much the focus. Good descriptions of sailing techniques.
November 25, 2021
Still loving it!
January 11, 2026
C. S. Forester’s Hornblower series (written between 1937 and 1967) was the archetype for a host of novel series about naval careers in the late 18th and early 19th century, such as the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian and Bolitho series by Alexander Kent. A Flag of Truce is book 4 of David Donachie’s 18 book John Pearce series and the first one I have read from that series. My previous experience of this genre is from reading some of the Bolitho series in the 1970s and 80s, and watching the TV adaptation of the Hornblower series.
John Pearce is an educated and cosmopolitan young man, with a politically radical father, who is illegally press-ganged into the Royal Navy. Despite being intensely resentful of his press-ganging, John somehow becomes an officer, and the book starts with him in Toulon in 1793, where Admiral Hood is trying to hold the city against the French Republicans. He gets to go on a risky swash-buckling adventure where his French language skills come in useful. Intertwined with this, the long-term story arc of the series also advances.
There is just enough exposition of John’s backstory that you get a rough idea of one or two of the events that led up to this point and the relationships between the recurring characters. If you had read the previous books, the events related to the story arc of the series would be significant. But if, like me, you read this as a standalone book, they hint at something missed, but can be glossed over in favour of John’s adventure.
David Donachie engages the reader with enough details of naval life in the late 18th century to keep us immersed in the era, and the pace of the book is so quick that we don’t have time to get bored. One could be forgiven for thinking that John Pearce is slightly too clever, lucky and brave, though he is too frank for his own good at times. But after all, he is the hero of the book and series.
I would be happy to read another book in the series if I came across one, but reading this has made me keen to re-read some of the Bolitho series that I own and perhaps seek out a Hornblower book or two for comparison.
John Pearce is an educated and cosmopolitan young man, with a politically radical father, who is illegally press-ganged into the Royal Navy. Despite being intensely resentful of his press-ganging, John somehow becomes an officer, and the book starts with him in Toulon in 1793, where Admiral Hood is trying to hold the city against the French Republicans. He gets to go on a risky swash-buckling adventure where his French language skills come in useful. Intertwined with this, the long-term story arc of the series also advances.
There is just enough exposition of John’s backstory that you get a rough idea of one or two of the events that led up to this point and the relationships between the recurring characters. If you had read the previous books, the events related to the story arc of the series would be significant. But if, like me, you read this as a standalone book, they hint at something missed, but can be glossed over in favour of John’s adventure.
David Donachie engages the reader with enough details of naval life in the late 18th century to keep us immersed in the era, and the pace of the book is so quick that we don’t have time to get bored. One could be forgiven for thinking that John Pearce is slightly too clever, lucky and brave, though he is too frank for his own good at times. But after all, he is the hero of the book and series.
I would be happy to read another book in the series if I came across one, but reading this has made me keen to re-read some of the Bolitho series that I own and perhaps seek out a Hornblower book or two for comparison.
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January 6, 2024A funny thing happened half way into this book. I have read the first four with no problem and enjoyed them. However, approximately half way into the book, i started rooting for Ralf Barclay and against Pearce. I have read many books but i believe this is the first time this has happened. Anyone else had this problem? I'm not sure if i can finish the rest of the series?
September 12, 2017
As good as the first three books. Easy read.
I like the continuing characters, just wished they were a little more involved.
I will read the next one in the series.
I like the continuing characters, just wished they were a little more involved.
I will read the next one in the series.
December 2, 2022
A lot of back story where I felt I should have read the other books. However over time I got use't to the dynamics of the characters. Would read the other books.
August 10, 2024
Action Abounds
John Pearce has developed as a character and relationships continue to evolve as the story unfolds. Cleverly described. Enjoyable read.
John Pearce has developed as a character and relationships continue to evolve as the story unfolds. Cleverly described. Enjoyable read.
January 31, 2015
I am now at book four in the John Pearce series and I am happy I discovered David Donachie.
The year is 1793 and John Pearce and friends have just returned from a successful mission in Corsica. The siege of Toulon is escalating in violence and the Revolutionary Army is preparing to attack. Pearce has been assigned to escort five thousand radical French sailors to a port on the Atlantic coast, where there are to be set free. As you can predict, the assignment goes awry.
The book is well written and well researched. Donachie brilliantly combines a gripping adventure with intricate historical detail of the French Revolution, in this case the Siege of Toulon, to explosive effect.
If you enjoy a good Royal Navy story set during the Napoleonic Wars this is a book for you. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Peter Wickham narrated the book.
The year is 1793 and John Pearce and friends have just returned from a successful mission in Corsica. The siege of Toulon is escalating in violence and the Revolutionary Army is preparing to attack. Pearce has been assigned to escort five thousand radical French sailors to a port on the Atlantic coast, where there are to be set free. As you can predict, the assignment goes awry.
The book is well written and well researched. Donachie brilliantly combines a gripping adventure with intricate historical detail of the French Revolution, in this case the Siege of Toulon, to explosive effect.
If you enjoy a good Royal Navy story set during the Napoleonic Wars this is a book for you. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Peter Wickham narrated the book.
April 13, 2013
I got hooked on this Georgian Navy series because of a book club offering the first 3 cheaply. Thank goodness the library had the 4th in series. The thing is, can I wait to read the 5th in series until my next trip to the library, or am I going to have to buy it?
June 5, 2013
AWESOME BOOK!
August 1, 2014
This book was amazing. I like this type of book, first Hornblower then Bolitho and now John Pearce. If you Naval adventure by sail then this is a must and I can't wait to read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews