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Fighting Sail #1
His Majesty's Ship
A powerful ship, a questionable crew, and a mission that must succeed. In the spring of 1795 HMS Vigilant, a 64 gun ship-of-the-line, is about to leave Spithead as senior escort to a small, seemingly innocent, convoy. The crew is a jumble of trained seamen, volunteers, and the sweepings of the press; yet, somehow, the officers have to mold them into an effective fighting unit before the French discover the convoy's true significance. Based on historical fact, His Majesty's Ship will take you into the world of Nelson's Navy, and captivate you all the way to it's gripping conclusion. "Bond has an extraordinary talent for describing the sights and sounds of an 18th Century man-of-war. When you finish this book you genuinely feel like you have been there--and no novel can receive higher praise than that." The First Book in the Fighting Sail Series
277 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2009
292 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Alaric Bond
24 books39 followersAlaric Bond has written for television, radio and the stage but now focuses on historical nautical fiction with twenty published novels, fifteen of which are in his acclaimed ‘Fighting Sail’ series.
Set in ‘Nelson’s Navy’ of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, these have no central hero but feature characters from all ranks and stations; an innovative approach that gives an exciting and realistic impression of life aboard a warship of the period.
Hellfire Corner is the first in an intended new series and marks a change in emphasis, although future ‘Fighting Sail’ instalments are planned.
Set in ‘Nelson’s Navy’ of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, these have no central hero but feature characters from all ranks and stations; an innovative approach that gives an exciting and realistic impression of life aboard a warship of the period.
Hellfire Corner is the first in an intended new series and marks a change in emphasis, although future ‘Fighting Sail’ instalments are planned.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 10, 2018
"Throughout the ship men began to prepare for battle, spreading stories and opinions about the French ships as they went. The surgeon and his assistants started to move instruments and supplies from the sick berth down to the midshipmen's quarters on the orlop. A methodical man, who knew a little medicine and a lot of surgery, Wilson laid out and inspected his tools at leisure, while his loblolly boys checked needles and horsehair, gags, turpentine, and tow needed for the inevitable operations."
Plot: A British Naval captain takes a mixed crew protecting a convoy from England bound for the South Atlantic. They must pass through the English Channel and down the west coast of Europe where England is at war with France. The crew needs to mesh in order for the assignment to succeed. Many small things do not go right and the mission is put in jeopardy.
Ship to ship battles were the spicy sauce of the conflicts between France and England during the late 18th and early 19th century. There was probably no greater author than Patrick O’Brian in making use of that era as background for his Aubrey-Maturin novels. But those novels were not primarily about history (though they don’t distort what was going on).
His Majesty’s Ship is all about the details. The plot (which culminates in a magnificently detailed battle at sea) is secondary. If I were at a point where I was considering dipping my toe in the sea of Napoleonic Era naval fiction, I would choose this book to begin. No author, not O’Brian, not Forester, sets this stage better than Bond. I thoroughly enjoyed the details of life aboard a British Navy ship. Every detail of mess, bedding, skylarking, surgery, battle, etc. is set out clearly and in great detail. Every role from new recruit to captain is explored and given its due.
Perhaps a shade below 5 stars - highly enjoyable. My thanks to V.E. Ulett for pointing me in this direction.
Plot: A British Naval captain takes a mixed crew protecting a convoy from England bound for the South Atlantic. They must pass through the English Channel and down the west coast of Europe where England is at war with France. The crew needs to mesh in order for the assignment to succeed. Many small things do not go right and the mission is put in jeopardy.
Ship to ship battles were the spicy sauce of the conflicts between France and England during the late 18th and early 19th century. There was probably no greater author than Patrick O’Brian in making use of that era as background for his Aubrey-Maturin novels. But those novels were not primarily about history (though they don’t distort what was going on).
His Majesty’s Ship is all about the details. The plot (which culminates in a magnificently detailed battle at sea) is secondary. If I were at a point where I was considering dipping my toe in the sea of Napoleonic Era naval fiction, I would choose this book to begin. No author, not O’Brian, not Forester, sets this stage better than Bond. I thoroughly enjoyed the details of life aboard a British Navy ship. Every detail of mess, bedding, skylarking, surgery, battle, etc. is set out clearly and in great detail. Every role from new recruit to captain is explored and given its due.
Perhaps a shade below 5 stars - highly enjoyable. My thanks to V.E. Ulett for pointing me in this direction.
May 16, 2009
In his new novel His Majesty's Ship Alaric Bond once again grips readers with his detailed knowledge of the Georgian navy. In this prequel to The Jackass Frigate the earlier careers of crew members we have become familiar with are developed. From gundeck to quarterdeck, from powder monkey to Captain, we follow all divisions of the crew of HMS Vigilant, a 64 gun ship-of-the-line, as she is got ready for sea and then escorts a convoy. Ending in a climactic battle, the book, first in the 'Fighting Sail' series, fulfils the authors promise to “give an insight into the world of the seamen and naval officers who fought during the Revolutionary war” and will delight all readers of historic naval fiction.
October 19, 2022
Terrific!
I read quite a bit in this genre, and this book is on a par with the best (my personal favorite being Aubrey & Maturin). I will be reading the others in this series!
I read quite a bit in this genre, and this book is on a par with the best (my personal favorite being Aubrey & Maturin). I will be reading the others in this series!
April 28, 2018
I think I enjoyed this book almost as much as when I first picked up O'Brien's "Master and Commander". A little more accessible than the Aubrey/Maturin series as the nautical nomenclature is somewhat more limited. At less than 300 pages it was a short read with most of the book describing a single drawn out action. I will be continuing with this series. I gather the Fighting Sail series does not have a central character such as a Jack Aubrey or Horatio Hornblower but hopefully the characters I met will reappear in the subsequent books.
October 4, 2018
Alaric Bond includes the little details rarely mentioned in other sea faring tales. This tends to interrupt the flow of the story, but is quite interesting. If you are a fan of the old British tall ship navy fictions read this book.
August 4, 2025
Very fine read, engrossing tale.
The details of the daily activities of the officers and crew were very interesting. I found that the ship was a small (64 gun) line of battle ship and not the usual frigate to be different, in fact add realism to the story.
The details of the daily activities of the officers and crew were very interesting. I found that the ship was a small (64 gun) line of battle ship and not the usual frigate to be different, in fact add realism to the story.
July 25, 2017
Entertaining
October 27, 2022
I was looking for new series of historical naval fiction and decided to try this one. Thoroughly enjoyed it and wil ontinue with the rest.
April 2, 2024
Good British navy story from the French Revolutionary period.
June 15, 2025
Excellent!
Really good well researched book about the royal navy. Can't wait to read the next. Really enjoyed the story . Great read.
Really good well researched book about the royal navy. Can't wait to read the next. Really enjoyed the story . Great read.
July 17, 2025
Read out of order, but an excellent start to a fine series.
September 28, 2025
exciting action!
Good Maritime story loaded with action! Writing so vivid you can smell the burnt powder in the air and feel the heat of battle on your skin.
Good Maritime story loaded with action! Writing so vivid you can smell the burnt powder in the air and feel the heat of battle on your skin.
December 21, 2015
This is a fun book. While there are many authors writing about the Royal Navy during the wars of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars (O'Brien, Pope, Kent, Forester, etc) most of them focus almost entirely on the officer class, with common sailors included for a spot of color. Alaric Bond's Fighting Sail series tries a somewhat different tack, devoting a great deal of attention to the lives of the common sailor, and rather less to those of the officers.
Nearly every character followed in this book has a rounded character, from the 12-year-old boy who volunteered for a life of adventure (without quite knowing what that was about) to the frustrated Irish revolutionaries unhappily serving the British crown to the dispirited ship's chaplain. All the characters discover something new about themselves through the course of the book -- some learn good things, others are exposed to their darker natures.
Quite a fun story, and a good first entry into the series; hopefully the rest of the series is as entertaining.
Nearly every character followed in this book has a rounded character, from the 12-year-old boy who volunteered for a life of adventure (without quite knowing what that was about) to the frustrated Irish revolutionaries unhappily serving the British crown to the dispirited ship's chaplain. All the characters discover something new about themselves through the course of the book -- some learn good things, others are exposed to their darker natures.
Quite a fun story, and a good first entry into the series; hopefully the rest of the series is as entertaining.
February 12, 2017
I read this book in over 24 hours. It was a good read but a little confusing trying to keep the characters straight as the book bounces between them very often. By the last third of the book it settled down and became a good read.
May 3, 2016
Another great Age of Sail book which seems both well-researched and engaging. The author takes a kind of "ensemble cast" approach, which overall provides more insight, more interesting characters, and more perspective from all walks of life aboard ship. It's a lot to swallow at the beginning but overall a worthwhile approach. While the tremendous battle may at times strain credulity (overwhelming odds, anyone? but who knows, maybe such a battle happened somewhere), its build-up and tension was riveting, and of course perfectly horrific in its detail. Plus, I always like books where there is some kind of justice to be had.
December 11, 2012
I enjoyed this book, in parts.
It started out very slowly as the first part of the book is general scene setting and getting to know the ship and the characters. No bad thing but it did lack pace and could have been tightened up.
The detail is lovingly described (sometimes a little bit too much so as it can detract from the story in places) and the characters are realistic.
By the final third of the book we move to action and the author has settled into his style. If his following books are as good as the final section of this one I will look forward to reading them.
It started out very slowly as the first part of the book is general scene setting and getting to know the ship and the characters. No bad thing but it did lack pace and could have been tightened up.
The detail is lovingly described (sometimes a little bit too much so as it can detract from the story in places) and the characters are realistic.
By the final third of the book we move to action and the author has settled into his style. If his following books are as good as the final section of this one I will look forward to reading them.
August 26, 2016
Everybody Has Had A Bad Supervisor...
but this is ridiculous! A sympathetic hero, with no shortage of bad luck, somehow manages to succeed. We appreciate him, and his subordinates love him, but he can't quite seem to convince management- or himself - that he has leadership potential. His self-doubt wears a bit thin, even after he conquers every obstacle. Not great, but a fun read, with an interesting court marshal at the close. (I wish all these books with naval battles had diagrams!)
but this is ridiculous! A sympathetic hero, with no shortage of bad luck, somehow manages to succeed. We appreciate him, and his subordinates love him, but he can't quite seem to convince management- or himself - that he has leadership potential. His self-doubt wears a bit thin, even after he conquers every obstacle. Not great, but a fun read, with an interesting court marshal at the close. (I wish all these books with naval battles had diagrams!)
July 25, 2013
Superb historic naval fiction wherein we get to know a cross section of the entire crew of a 64-gun ship of the line rather than the usual single character. The characterisation was well-handled despite the variety of points-of-view. Beautifully written and constructed.
August 28, 2015
While not quite as good at the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin series, still a very engaging read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews