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Alan Lewrie #4
The King's Privateer
1783: His Majesty's secret agent
Fresh from war in the Americas, young navy veteran Alan Lewrie finds London pure pleasure. Then, at Plymouth he boards the trading ship Telesto, to find out why merchantmen are disappearing in the East Indies. Between the pungent shores of Calcutta and teaming Canton, Lewrie-reunited with his scoundrel father-discovers a young French captain, backed by an armada of Mindanaon pirates, on a plundering rampage. While treaties tie the navy's hands, a King's privateer is free to plunge into the fire and blood of a dirty little war on the high South China Sea.
Ladies' man, officer, and rogue, Alan Lewrie is the ultimate man of adventure. In the worthy tradition of Hornblower, Aubrey, and Maturin, his exploits echo with the sounds of crowded ports and the crash of naval warfare.
Fresh from war in the Americas, young navy veteran Alan Lewrie finds London pure pleasure. Then, at Plymouth he boards the trading ship Telesto, to find out why merchantmen are disappearing in the East Indies. Between the pungent shores of Calcutta and teaming Canton, Lewrie-reunited with his scoundrel father-discovers a young French captain, backed by an armada of Mindanaon pirates, on a plundering rampage. While treaties tie the navy's hands, a King's privateer is free to plunge into the fire and blood of a dirty little war on the high South China Sea.
Ladies' man, officer, and rogue, Alan Lewrie is the ultimate man of adventure. In the worthy tradition of Hornblower, Aubrey, and Maturin, his exploits echo with the sounds of crowded ports and the crash of naval warfare.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
222 people are currently reading
256 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 60 reviews
January 29, 2020
The more I read of the Alan Lewrie novels, the more they remind me of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels (and that's a good thing).
The Revolutionary War is over, and Lewrie is sent to India and China and ends up dealing with pirates. Like most of the Alan Lewrie novels, this one has far too little actual naval combat scenes to fully scratch the "naval warfare" itch. Most of the trouble that Lewrie finds himself in is firmly on terra firma. This volume does have some really good action toward the last quarter of the book, and probably has the most character development up to this point in the series, as Alan meets up with his dad and hashes out some of their problems.
The Revolutionary War is over, and Lewrie is sent to India and China and ends up dealing with pirates. Like most of the Alan Lewrie novels, this one has far too little actual naval combat scenes to fully scratch the "naval warfare" itch. Most of the trouble that Lewrie finds himself in is firmly on terra firma. This volume does have some really good action toward the last quarter of the book, and probably has the most character development up to this point in the series, as Alan meets up with his dad and hashes out some of their problems.
July 2, 2012
A bombastic guy’s adventure story where the good guys and the bad guys are equally bad.
Alan Lewrie, recent hero of the American War of Independence, is back in England on a commissioned officer’s half-pay during a period of peace between Britain and France. Apparent peace that is, for both countries are dressing up warships as merchant vessels and stirring up trouble along their sea routes, jockeying into position for when the next war breaks out. War is a good business; a panacea for unemployment, a means of acquiring new markets and extending colonial empires. Peace is to be decried. Nothing much has changed today it appears, just the technology and the positioning.
Lewrie is an honest rake and uses women for entertainment, just like his father Sir Hugo. Young Alan embodies the life of a sailor who makes hay while in port and then risks his life and works his ass off for king and country while at sea. Some of his women strike back however and give our hero his well deserved comeuppance. Normally at loggerheads, Lewrie and Sir Hugo join hands this time on an expedition to the South China Sea on the trail of a French privateer and its sexually deviant captain, who have been disrupting British trading ships. After much chase and escalating battles, Lewrie is triumphant once more so that he can go on to the next book in this very popular series.
The book is peppered with naval detail and language and is a good primer for someone looking to study sailing techniques and experiences in the Age of Sail. The author even provides diagrams, charts and a glossary of terms to the novice reader. The characters themselves are shallow and one wonders, that given the bloody business they were engaged in—where hundreds died in the most brutal ways in the various skirmishes at sea—could they afford to be anything but cursory? The battle scenes are well rendered, and if one can stand lots of gore, they hold attention. Also the power dynamics of navy, army and civilian leaders employed on a secret mission sanctioned by the King, interacting with each other in the close confines of a naval convoy, are well articulated.
What I found weak was the dialogue-heavy plot movement. Characters speak or speculate on where the story is going next and that comes across as a bit contrived.
Lambdin has obviously created a very durable anti-hero in Alan Lewrie. That, plus the immense sea chest of incidents that are recorded during the Age of Sail, will make for a rather long and successful series for the author who has a firm command of matters nautical. Lewrie will however have to remain at sea for this is very squarely a series of that genre.
Alan Lewrie, recent hero of the American War of Independence, is back in England on a commissioned officer’s half-pay during a period of peace between Britain and France. Apparent peace that is, for both countries are dressing up warships as merchant vessels and stirring up trouble along their sea routes, jockeying into position for when the next war breaks out. War is a good business; a panacea for unemployment, a means of acquiring new markets and extending colonial empires. Peace is to be decried. Nothing much has changed today it appears, just the technology and the positioning.
Lewrie is an honest rake and uses women for entertainment, just like his father Sir Hugo. Young Alan embodies the life of a sailor who makes hay while in port and then risks his life and works his ass off for king and country while at sea. Some of his women strike back however and give our hero his well deserved comeuppance. Normally at loggerheads, Lewrie and Sir Hugo join hands this time on an expedition to the South China Sea on the trail of a French privateer and its sexually deviant captain, who have been disrupting British trading ships. After much chase and escalating battles, Lewrie is triumphant once more so that he can go on to the next book in this very popular series.
The book is peppered with naval detail and language and is a good primer for someone looking to study sailing techniques and experiences in the Age of Sail. The author even provides diagrams, charts and a glossary of terms to the novice reader. The characters themselves are shallow and one wonders, that given the bloody business they were engaged in—where hundreds died in the most brutal ways in the various skirmishes at sea—could they afford to be anything but cursory? The battle scenes are well rendered, and if one can stand lots of gore, they hold attention. Also the power dynamics of navy, army and civilian leaders employed on a secret mission sanctioned by the King, interacting with each other in the close confines of a naval convoy, are well articulated.
What I found weak was the dialogue-heavy plot movement. Characters speak or speculate on where the story is going next and that comes across as a bit contrived.
Lambdin has obviously created a very durable anti-hero in Alan Lewrie. That, plus the immense sea chest of incidents that are recorded during the Age of Sail, will make for a rather long and successful series for the author who has a firm command of matters nautical. Lewrie will however have to remain at sea for this is very squarely a series of that genre.
June 15, 2020
I still enjoyed this but not quite as much as precious books in the series. The first half seemed to drag somewhat and I found myself getting board and disinterested. The second half contained much more action and was more interesting.
I think I might need a break for a bit! Alan Lawrie is becoming more ernest and in a sense the reduction in rogueness is having an impact on the entertainment he provides, which is something of an interesting observation as I'm not actually a fan of the flashman style over-the-top-ness that could result. Somehow the first two books were more boyish adventurous and simply involved more enjoyment of life.
The only real good thing that came out of this book was an understanding that his father, whilst still being an arse, was a very solid commander in the army.
I think I might need a break for a bit! Alan Lawrie is becoming more ernest and in a sense the reduction in rogueness is having an impact on the entertainment he provides, which is something of an interesting observation as I'm not actually a fan of the flashman style over-the-top-ness that could result. Somehow the first two books were more boyish adventurous and simply involved more enjoyment of life.
The only real good thing that came out of this book was an understanding that his father, whilst still being an arse, was a very solid commander in the army.
February 10, 2020
Almost as good as the first book! On with the next one...
March 27, 2012
Nautical fiction is men’s fiction, at least as much as it’s about explosions and action, but it’s given a kind of respectable sheen because it’s historical. “Look,” you can say when trotting out your book with the elegant frigate on the cover, “it’s history! I’m learning!” The recent trade paperback editions of Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey/Maturin nautical novels bear testimonials by Mary Renault, A.S. Byatt, and the Times Literary Supplement. Not the type of endorsements you’re going to get for your typical Punisher novel.
Good news though: they’re still full of strong chins and explosions. And, in the case of Dewey Lambdin, sex. Lambdin is to O’Brien as Pizza Hut is to Spago: it’s inelegant, greasy, not very good for you, but essentially satisfying.
If you want the easiest introduction to the sub-genre of Men’s Fiction called nautical history, you want Dewey Lambdin, and if you want to ‘test the waters,’ the best place to start is The King’s Privateer.
Like O’Brien (and plenty of genre fictioneers), Lambdin’s fortunes rest in a single open-ended series. While O’Brien gives us the quasi-literary glam of twin heroes Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin, Lambdin concentrates on one ne’er do well: Captain Alan Lewrie. Lewrie isn’t quasi-literary, or quasi-much-of-anything: he’s whole-hearted, rip-snorting, gung-ho scum. The type of scum you’d want at your back during a fight, perhaps, but not the type you’d ever introduce to your sister. Have you ever wondered how Jack Sparrow got all those scars and that nasty reputation before he got all goody-two-shoes in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies? If so, you might well enjoy Dewey Lambdin’s take on 18th-century naval service.
The King’s Privateer is the fourth novel in the series, and fans might be wondering why I’m not recommending they be approached in order.
Like a lot of authors who work in genre fiction, Lambdin takes his time establishing his characters and their world. The first few books in the series aren’t slow by any means, full of bawdy encounters and bloodshed aplenty, but they’re slow to really display Lewrie as a multidimensional character. He’s a cad in the first few books, almost without morally redeeming features, and it would be easy to simply scrape him off the bottom of one’s literary boots and walk on. However, if you did, you’d be missing out on what turns out to be a much more interesting central figure. Lewrie is greedy, foul-mouthed, and he’ll happily have sex with anyone or anything vaguely female, but he also, it turns out, has an inconvenient sense of honor. Even Lewrie mistakes that streak for simple pride in the first few novels, and it isn’t until Privateer that he (or we) understand that there’s more to him than that.
King’s Privateer is also the most isolated of the novels. The others occur in and around the major naval encounters of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the so-called Golden Age of Fighting Sail, and there are numerous asides for encounters with historic figures, major battles, and politics. I’m an afficianado of such stuff, so I happily ploughed through, but your mileage may vary. Privateer, by contrast, takes place on detached service, a single ship or two in the Caribbean, on the hunt for pirates and smugglers., with Lewrie negotiating a nasty mess of intrigue, profiteering, and outright treason, against a backdrop of small islands and coves which will be easily imagined by anyone who’s seen Johnny Depp larking about onscreen recently. If I were a movie producer, there’s no question which of Lewrie’s books I’d option for filming: this novel, unlike some of the others, can stand completely alone as its own story. Thus, if you find you don’t like it, you’ll feel no lingering question about how things come out...and if you do, this tale is far enough outside the main narrative of the series that it won’t have to be threaded back into order, should you choose to pursue the rest of the novels.
A final caution: I meant it about the foul language. If your idea of how seamen swear has been so shaped by movies that you’re expecting “odd’s bodkins!” or “blow me down!” then Alan Lewrie will be happy to reacquaint you with the reason we call the very worst expressions “sailor talk.” A product of his time, Lewrie is sexist, racist, lusty, and not very tactful. Dewey Lambdin is something of a guilty pleasure...but definitely a pleasure.
Good news though: they’re still full of strong chins and explosions. And, in the case of Dewey Lambdin, sex. Lambdin is to O’Brien as Pizza Hut is to Spago: it’s inelegant, greasy, not very good for you, but essentially satisfying.
If you want the easiest introduction to the sub-genre of Men’s Fiction called nautical history, you want Dewey Lambdin, and if you want to ‘test the waters,’ the best place to start is The King’s Privateer.
Like O’Brien (and plenty of genre fictioneers), Lambdin’s fortunes rest in a single open-ended series. While O’Brien gives us the quasi-literary glam of twin heroes Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin, Lambdin concentrates on one ne’er do well: Captain Alan Lewrie. Lewrie isn’t quasi-literary, or quasi-much-of-anything: he’s whole-hearted, rip-snorting, gung-ho scum. The type of scum you’d want at your back during a fight, perhaps, but not the type you’d ever introduce to your sister. Have you ever wondered how Jack Sparrow got all those scars and that nasty reputation before he got all goody-two-shoes in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies? If so, you might well enjoy Dewey Lambdin’s take on 18th-century naval service.
The King’s Privateer is the fourth novel in the series, and fans might be wondering why I’m not recommending they be approached in order.
Like a lot of authors who work in genre fiction, Lambdin takes his time establishing his characters and their world. The first few books in the series aren’t slow by any means, full of bawdy encounters and bloodshed aplenty, but they’re slow to really display Lewrie as a multidimensional character. He’s a cad in the first few books, almost without morally redeeming features, and it would be easy to simply scrape him off the bottom of one’s literary boots and walk on. However, if you did, you’d be missing out on what turns out to be a much more interesting central figure. Lewrie is greedy, foul-mouthed, and he’ll happily have sex with anyone or anything vaguely female, but he also, it turns out, has an inconvenient sense of honor. Even Lewrie mistakes that streak for simple pride in the first few novels, and it isn’t until Privateer that he (or we) understand that there’s more to him than that.
King’s Privateer is also the most isolated of the novels. The others occur in and around the major naval encounters of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the so-called Golden Age of Fighting Sail, and there are numerous asides for encounters with historic figures, major battles, and politics. I’m an afficianado of such stuff, so I happily ploughed through, but your mileage may vary. Privateer, by contrast, takes place on detached service, a single ship or two in the Caribbean, on the hunt for pirates and smugglers., with Lewrie negotiating a nasty mess of intrigue, profiteering, and outright treason, against a backdrop of small islands and coves which will be easily imagined by anyone who’s seen Johnny Depp larking about onscreen recently. If I were a movie producer, there’s no question which of Lewrie’s books I’d option for filming: this novel, unlike some of the others, can stand completely alone as its own story. Thus, if you find you don’t like it, you’ll feel no lingering question about how things come out...and if you do, this tale is far enough outside the main narrative of the series that it won’t have to be threaded back into order, should you choose to pursue the rest of the novels.
A final caution: I meant it about the foul language. If your idea of how seamen swear has been so shaped by movies that you’re expecting “odd’s bodkins!” or “blow me down!” then Alan Lewrie will be happy to reacquaint you with the reason we call the very worst expressions “sailor talk.” A product of his time, Lewrie is sexist, racist, lusty, and not very tactful. Dewey Lambdin is something of a guilty pleasure...but definitely a pleasure.
July 8, 2015
In the book three of the series I left Alan Lewrie having successfully foiled his father’s plot to disinherit him of his mother’s fortune and has returned to England from his last sailing adventure.
In this book, number four, in the series, the time frame is still the late 1780s. The French have now interfered with the British opium trade in the Far East. Lt. Lewrie is now assigned to a secret, if unofficial mission, sailing with the crew of the Telesto, an armed merchantman bound for India, where the East India Company has fallen victim to French privateers.
Unexpectedly, Lewrie encounters his father, Sir Hugo, in India. He has stopped drinking, and supposedly given up on paternal treachery and has returned to soldiering. In the story Lewrie sails to Canton, Macao, the South China Sea and fights in a series of sea and land battles.
There is lots of exciting action in this story. The author provides the reader with exciting land and sea battles in exotic places. In this book Lambdin provides a lot more information about operating sailing vessels in the 1780s including explanations of terminology. Lambdin provides well researched and accurate descriptions of the period including tactics and weaponry. The plot is well developed as are the characters. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators John Lee narrates the story.
In this book, number four, in the series, the time frame is still the late 1780s. The French have now interfered with the British opium trade in the Far East. Lt. Lewrie is now assigned to a secret, if unofficial mission, sailing with the crew of the Telesto, an armed merchantman bound for India, where the East India Company has fallen victim to French privateers.
Unexpectedly, Lewrie encounters his father, Sir Hugo, in India. He has stopped drinking, and supposedly given up on paternal treachery and has returned to soldiering. In the story Lewrie sails to Canton, Macao, the South China Sea and fights in a series of sea and land battles.
There is lots of exciting action in this story. The author provides the reader with exciting land and sea battles in exotic places. In this book Lambdin provides a lot more information about operating sailing vessels in the 1780s including explanations of terminology. Lambdin provides well researched and accurate descriptions of the period including tactics and weaponry. The plot is well developed as are the characters. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. One of my favorite narrators John Lee narrates the story.
January 22, 2017
another fun read
October 14, 2024
High adventure. Fun and interesting. Though the main character is really a scoundrel.
September 12, 2021
In book one of this series our hero, Alan Lewrie is caught in a honey trap with his alleged half sister set up by his own father whose has designs on a fortune which Alan doesn’t even know he is heir to. Alan is shipped off to the Royal Navy as a midshipman and through the first several books distinguishes himself in battle, winning promotion to Lieutenant even with his horrible track record as a rake. In book one he vows revenge on both his father, his father’s attorney and even his step sister and step brother (later we learn that the girl wasn’t actually his half sister. Sort of a moot point as he thought she was when he climbed in bed with her). However, in book 4 which takes place in India, China and various Asian islands, Alan’s father Sir Hugo reappears and gets a character transformation. It turns out that Sir Hugo wasn’t so bad after all and he and Alan forge a new relationship. As a reader I wonder if in trying to plot out this long series the author didn’t decide Sir Hugo would be more valuable if he and Alan had some sort of rapport. Sir Hugo survives the very bloody battle with pirates at the end of the book. He also walks away with a considerable amount of booty that he shares with Alan. My guess is that Mr Lambdin decided that Alan returning to England for revenge wasn’t going to work and that Sir Hugo would be more useful as an ally rather than enemy. I expect to see Sir Hugo in future books. Book 4 involves a secret mission in a large warship manned by British officers disguised as merchantmen as a work around to the recently signed treaty with France that ended the Revolutionary War. The French, in league with pirates, have been capturing Indiamen and the privateer where Alan is assigned as a junior officer is charged with putting a stop to it. They succeed and in a final scene at the Admiralty the three surviving Naval officers meet with the top officials of the British navy to get their surreptitious rewards. Alan, much to his chagrin, with be assigned to a small gun ketch (book 5) in the Bahamian squadron. One of the conceits of the series is that Alan, though very good as a Naval officer, would prefer to live the life of a gentleman in London. He actually now has a fair amount of money squirreled away and could probably do that. But you can’t get 26 books out of that plot so we will soon be on the next adventure. But first a visit to the Chissock family where the lovely Caroline anxiously awaits.
June 15, 2021
I'm hooked on this series even though I think they're badly written and ever the optimist I'm ever hoping they will get better!
Spoilers ahead:
Things I don't like: Lambdin uses too many words to write something which is simple. I never understand the strategic parts of the story because they are either too wordy or poorly explained. The dialog between the characters are inane and unrealistic. The characters are either cliched or flat.
Things I like: A lot goes on in each book. I'm basically following the adventure. The character's progress advances in easy mode so I feel good when he beats his adversaries and advances his career. It gives me something to cheer about, like I'm living his life vicariously, like something is going right in my life through his!
Pirates (probably French) are capturing and destroying British trading ships around the S. China sea. Because this is during peace time an 80 gun ship is equipped as a trader and also privately as a privateer to try and stop it.
First of all, a privateer needs to be heavily armed and fast. What makes them think an 80 gun ship would be able to overhaul small and fast pirate ships, which frigates would probably be able to destroy? The trading is supposed to be undercover and historically they also had small fast ships to do it. That's the first strike against inaccuracy. Also, there are only 4 lieutenants. I think an 80 gun ship whether fully armed or not would need at least 6 of them. And also as I recall lieutenants on ships have their seniority based on date of commission which Lambdin seems to be confused about.
Lewrie then lands in India and China where he hooks up with his pal Burgess Chiswick from his earlier books. This part is pretty interesting as Lamdin describes India and China. Finally, Lewrie is put on independent duty and given a converted bomb ketch to destroy pirates. He also meets and get to make up with his Dad which is a good thing.
I like the adventure part. I think the worst parts are the wordy writing and the poorly written dialog. Now on the next book despite everything.
Spoilers ahead:
Things I don't like: Lambdin uses too many words to write something which is simple. I never understand the strategic parts of the story because they are either too wordy or poorly explained. The dialog between the characters are inane and unrealistic. The characters are either cliched or flat.
Things I like: A lot goes on in each book. I'm basically following the adventure. The character's progress advances in easy mode so I feel good when he beats his adversaries and advances his career. It gives me something to cheer about, like I'm living his life vicariously, like something is going right in my life through his!
Pirates (probably French) are capturing and destroying British trading ships around the S. China sea. Because this is during peace time an 80 gun ship is equipped as a trader and also privately as a privateer to try and stop it.
First of all, a privateer needs to be heavily armed and fast. What makes them think an 80 gun ship would be able to overhaul small and fast pirate ships, which frigates would probably be able to destroy? The trading is supposed to be undercover and historically they also had small fast ships to do it. That's the first strike against inaccuracy. Also, there are only 4 lieutenants. I think an 80 gun ship whether fully armed or not would need at least 6 of them. And also as I recall lieutenants on ships have their seniority based on date of commission which Lambdin seems to be confused about.
Lewrie then lands in India and China where he hooks up with his pal Burgess Chiswick from his earlier books. This part is pretty interesting as Lamdin describes India and China. Finally, Lewrie is put on independent duty and given a converted bomb ketch to destroy pirates. He also meets and get to make up with his Dad which is a good thing.
I like the adventure part. I think the worst parts are the wordy writing and the poorly written dialog. Now on the next book despite everything.
May 13, 2025
Audible/Kindle
Didn't outright love this one as much as the first 3...and it's mostly my issue I think. Now that the Rev War has wrapped up with The King taking a big L - our man Lewrie finds work on a Privateer and is sent to India to fight pirates & from there to Canton. He spends a lot of time on land & much of the plot seems to concern politics. From the start, I've been pretty good with the history - but I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to the English in India. The local politics of the region are tough to digest - add in opium with the Chinese and their politics...it's a bit of a hassle to follow along.
The best parts is the hot-pursuit of a rather nasty French pirate, who has been harassing British interests. He also runs into his jerkwater pa, Sir Hugo and the pair have a bit of a reconciliation...at least until the end when Alan hints to the Admiralty board that Sir Hugo would really dig being assigned to India for a few more years.
Needless to say - there were too many moving parts in this for a truly enjoyable read. I don't mind doing my own research, which is part of the fun...but honestly, I think Dewey added too much to the stew (I had the same thought on his last adventure running guns to the Indians and getting married to a local squaw and impregnating her)
Anyway...the Admiralty gave him a new command of a small ketch (I think) & he's back the Caribbean. Looking forward to #5.
Didn't outright love this one as much as the first 3...and it's mostly my issue I think. Now that the Rev War has wrapped up with The King taking a big L - our man Lewrie finds work on a Privateer and is sent to India to fight pirates & from there to Canton. He spends a lot of time on land & much of the plot seems to concern politics. From the start, I've been pretty good with the history - but I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to the English in India. The local politics of the region are tough to digest - add in opium with the Chinese and their politics...it's a bit of a hassle to follow along.
The best parts is the hot-pursuit of a rather nasty French pirate, who has been harassing British interests. He also runs into his jerkwater pa, Sir Hugo and the pair have a bit of a reconciliation...at least until the end when Alan hints to the Admiralty board that Sir Hugo would really dig being assigned to India for a few more years.
Needless to say - there were too many moving parts in this for a truly enjoyable read. I don't mind doing my own research, which is part of the fun...but honestly, I think Dewey added too much to the stew (I had the same thought on his last adventure running guns to the Indians and getting married to a local squaw and impregnating her)
Anyway...the Admiralty gave him a new command of a small ketch (I think) & he's back the Caribbean. Looking forward to #5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2018
Again excellent naval adventure. In the years following the end of the American Revolution, Alan Lewrie was on shore in London at half pay. Following again being caught in flagrante, he makes use of an offer of a post as 4th lieutenant on a ship outfitted to look like an East India Company merchant vessel but manned as a ship of war. They are headed on a potentially 2-3 year mission to India and China to put a stop to pirates assumed to be working with the French. The loyalist Chiswick family from the Carolinas, having emigrated to England after the war was lost, reappears in Lewrie's life, with Carolyn even more attractive to him. His friend and fellow survivor of Yorktown, Burgess Chiswick, is a fellow shipmate, traveling to India to join the British East India Company's military arm. This is an interesting time period in the history of the British Empire. Good, fun read.
March 4, 2022
Here the adventure swings to SE Asia and sailing the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. I had never expected to see Lewrie connect up again with the father that had railroaded him into the navy. That was a good twist to the narrative and provided a new dimension to the main character.
The antagonist in this story is a French naval officer who is a very unlikeable person, some would say evil. He provides a great foil for Lewrie and makes the climax of this book I think the best in the series to date (assuming you read them in order as you should).
Certainly the characters in the Lewrie saga are more salty and flawed than other naval series. That is perhaps their most appeal....together with Lambdin's clear nautical knowledge. The stories are more wide ranging than other series as well in terms of what the main character gets into.
The antagonist in this story is a French naval officer who is a very unlikeable person, some would say evil. He provides a great foil for Lewrie and makes the climax of this book I think the best in the series to date (assuming you read them in order as you should).
Certainly the characters in the Lewrie saga are more salty and flawed than other naval series. That is perhaps their most appeal....together with Lambdin's clear nautical knowledge. The stories are more wide ranging than other series as well in terms of what the main character gets into.
June 26, 2022
At Sea & On Land
In this series installment, Alan Lewrie is part of an operation to find French privateers who raid English ships in Asian waters.
Unlike earlier installments in this series, this story reflects a depth and a complexity illustrating the author’s skill as a storyteller. His research into the East India Company in India and Asia, and his knowledge of cannon and muskets during the early 19th century, illuminate this story of men at sea in wooden sailing ships. The story moves along quickly with this depth of detail, bringing the reader along for the ride.
The King’s Privateer has much to share with the reader of historical naval fiction. This story, the best in this series so far, continues the adventures of Alan Lewrie. Our hero grows into his role as a captain and a leader of men.
I look forward to the next adventure.
In this series installment, Alan Lewrie is part of an operation to find French privateers who raid English ships in Asian waters.
Unlike earlier installments in this series, this story reflects a depth and a complexity illustrating the author’s skill as a storyteller. His research into the East India Company in India and Asia, and his knowledge of cannon and muskets during the early 19th century, illuminate this story of men at sea in wooden sailing ships. The story moves along quickly with this depth of detail, bringing the reader along for the ride.
The King’s Privateer has much to share with the reader of historical naval fiction. This story, the best in this series so far, continues the adventures of Alan Lewrie. Our hero grows into his role as a captain and a leader of men.
I look forward to the next adventure.
July 18, 2020
Reliable tale in one of my favorite genres, the Hornblower- Patrick O’Brien - Age of Fighting Sail adventure. Lamdin’s tale doesn’t lack for action and period detail and his hero, Alan Lewrie, is engaging - part Tom Jones, part Harry Flashman (without his worst traits) and part Richard Bolitho (without his earnest seriousness). Lamdin’s novels are raunchier than those of other seafaring novelists and well plotted- almost too much so; at times I grew a bit weary of the strategy sessions in which Lewrie & friends discussed their next move against their foes, in this case a ring of French pirates preying on Britain’s India trade. Still fun.
June 5, 2018
I still love Alan Lewrie. It continues to be a pleasure watching this character evolve from a young cad into a man with honor and a heroic officer. What I like most about him is that he struggles with his wont to be selfish but surprises himself in the end by being honorable. I especially enjoyed Alan's reunion with his father, Sir Hugo. The book got very technical in its sailing terminology. I kinda skimmed these parts but marked them to study later as it does appear to be something interesting to understand.
July 11, 2018
A little slow to start, the story builds and finishes quite well. The entire "intelligence" theme is a little fanciful, but intriguing just the same. The unexplained use of very young men as captains put me off a bit. Unless I am mistaken, the word "telephone" was not in use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The use of it by Lewrie was a bit careless and should have been caught by an editor. This is a good story, but seems to have been hurried to press. Just my thoughts. Still a good contribution to the series.
January 19, 2020
A diverting romp
This latest book in the series describing Alan Lawries unwanted career in the Royal Navy does not disappoint. There's, blood and gore, and battle scenes to satisfy every taste. Lawrie still has doubts about his own courage and abilities, and honestly confronts himself with his shortcomings and fears. Other characters such as his father come somewhat out of the cloud that surrounds them . Whilst others nature from young men to experienced fighters. All in all a very entertaining read
This latest book in the series describing Alan Lawries unwanted career in the Royal Navy does not disappoint. There's, blood and gore, and battle scenes to satisfy every taste. Lawrie still has doubts about his own courage and abilities, and honestly confronts himself with his shortcomings and fears. Other characters such as his father come somewhat out of the cloud that surrounds them . Whilst others nature from young men to experienced fighters. All in all a very entertaining read
July 2, 2023
This was book four in the very long series of books on this fictional character Alan Lewrie and his rise in the Royal Navy from 1780.
Although this is a book that would interest true sailors, it is a great adult adventure book. Life was cruel in those days, not how we would expect to live today.
Although Lewrie is a rogue, he is a likeable one and efficient at his craft. The story is a good one.
I find the day to day life of the British Royal Navy fascinating. Thankfully I do not have to live it for real.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
Although this is a book that would interest true sailors, it is a great adult adventure book. Life was cruel in those days, not how we would expect to live today.
Although Lewrie is a rogue, he is a likeable one and efficient at his craft. The story is a good one.
I find the day to day life of the British Royal Navy fascinating. Thankfully I do not have to live it for real.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
May 18, 2018
This is the fourth book and the first time Lewrie is asked to assist in a covert ops. This is also the first time he meets his father after many years, his future wife again, and his mortal enemy. With a trifecta like that, and throw in his future brother-in-law and maybe BFF, lots of adventure.
Lambdin has an eye for details and bringing to life the East Indies trade with the Honourable East Indies Company.
Lambdin has an eye for details and bringing to life the East Indies trade with the Honourable East Indies Company.
August 1, 2019
For want of summer reading, and bogged down in a heavy nonfiction book, I have thoroughly enjoyed a string of Alan Lewrie's adventures. He's self-effacing, doesn't have too high an opinion of himself (and sometimes lives down to it!) but when the going gets tough, he's brave and lucky. I sense the author behind the hero thinks of himself somewhat the same. 22 more to go!
June 7, 2021
An excellent sea faring adventure. The author, Dewey Lambdin, goes into great technical detail on sailing which is very confusing to non- sailors and to be fair he does explain why in the Afterword before getting even more technical. It us not an easy adventure read but I will seek out more if this series.
October 29, 2024
Too much emphasis on nineteenth century British lingo.
If you were born in the nineteenth century England the dialogue would make you feel right at home. I must admit that I couldn't get past the first chapter because it seemed too much work to learn that era of English, at least not as an American.
If you were born in the nineteenth century England the dialogue would make you feel right at home. I must admit that I couldn't get past the first chapter because it seemed too much work to learn that era of English, at least not as an American.
June 14, 2025
The third one in the series I have read. Again a mixture of enjoyment for Lewrie's adventures and frustration at extended passages of raising sails and sailing against the wind (despite a chapter at the end that tried to explain some of the jargon).Finally an exasperated cry from me for maps of the area(s)- would they be that much of an added expense in a book.
September 16, 2018
Legal piracy!
4 stars only for this book as the annoying thing about it was the bad proofreading. Just a little more diligence by the proof reader would have enhanced it enormously.
Still in all I liked this book!
4 stars only for this book as the annoying thing about it was the bad proofreading. Just a little more diligence by the proof reader would have enhanced it enormously.
Still in all I liked this book!
November 2, 2020
Another cracking yarn
Lewrie carries on in his naval career, wenching ,fighting,and generally enjoying himself. Of the far east,opium, pirates,all appear. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Onwards Lewrie and hopefully upwards.
Lewrie carries on in his naval career, wenching ,fighting,and generally enjoying himself. Of the far east,opium, pirates,all appear. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Onwards Lewrie and hopefully upwards.
May 10, 2021
This series gets better and better. I enjoy the historical and political descriptions and feel that Mr Lambdin weaves into the storyline. A much overlooked time between the American Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars in India and China.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 8, 2018
Good book
December 6, 2018
Equal to any of the premier writers (C S Forester/Hornbliwer etc) and an excellent series of Lawrie's are ear in the Royal Navy.
March 4, 2019
Got better as it went on. Not Patrick O’Brien, but the again nothing is. This is a good one for fans of tall ships at war.
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