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Isaac Biddlecomb #4
Lords of the Ocean
James L. Nelson's Revolution at sea saga has brought to life a never-before-seen side of America's war for independence. With the expertise of a seasoned mariner, a historian's vivid attention to detail, and a natural gift for sensational storgtelling, "the American counterpart to Patrick O'Brian" (David Brink) carries us along on his bold and stirring course through history.
After ferrying General George Washington's troops across the East River and through the hell known as the Battle of Long Island, Captain Isaac Biddlecomb receives a monumental order. He is to transport to France the most powerful secret weapon in the country's arsenal -- scientist, philosopher, and spirit of the enlightenment Dr. Benjamin Franklin. With a new team of men forging through the wintry North Atlantic, and braving the cordon of the Royal Navy, Biddlecomb's seemingly simple mission is just the first volley in a grand to topple France's neutrality by gaining its vital support, and turn the colonial uprising into a full-scale world war for freedom.
After ferrying General George Washington's troops across the East River and through the hell known as the Battle of Long Island, Captain Isaac Biddlecomb receives a monumental order. He is to transport to France the most powerful secret weapon in the country's arsenal -- scientist, philosopher, and spirit of the enlightenment Dr. Benjamin Franklin. With a new team of men forging through the wintry North Atlantic, and braving the cordon of the Royal Navy, Biddlecomb's seemingly simple mission is just the first volley in a grand to topple France's neutrality by gaining its vital support, and turn the colonial uprising into a full-scale world war for freedom.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1999
About the author
James L. Nelson
46 books377 followersJames L. Nelson (1962-) is an American historical nautical novelist. He was born in Lewiston, Maine. In 1980, Nelson graduated from Lewiston High School. Nelson attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for two years, and then transferred to UCLA, with the ambition of becoming a film director. Nelson, his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Betsy lived for two years in Steubenville, Ohio, while Lisa attended Franciscan University. They also have two boys, Nate and Jack. They now live in Harpswell, Maine, where Nelson continues to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 24, 2019
Lords of the ocean refers to the British, whose warships control the seas. Captain Isaac Biddlecomb wants to challenge their control but has to complete two missions before he can do that. First, he has to ferry George Washington’s army across the East River in New York before the British can defeat them. Then he must take Benjamin Franklin to France in his brig-of-war Charlemagne, where the good doctor hopes to persuade King Louis XVI to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Finally, Biddlecomb goes after British merchant ships, hoping to cause so much damage that France will end its policy of neutrality and side with the Americans against the British.
But two men—the American merchant captain Joseph Hynson and Sam Nicholson—inadvertently throw a wrench into Biddlecomb’s plans. Nicholson plans to outfit a ship in England and have Hyson sail it to France, where he will fill it with war materials that he will supposedly take to America. But instead, Hyson will sail into the waiting arms of an English warship. The incident will prevent France from getting involved in the war.
Of course, things go wrong for Biddlecomb, Hyson, and Nicholson and it looks as if Biddlecomb will lose not only the Charlemagne but his own life and the lives of his crew.
This was a tense, fast-paced story full of surprises and hair-raising escapes. Unfortunately, Nelson cast Joe Hynson more as a comic character than a serious one, which I found very distracting and out of place. All in all, though, Lords of the Ocean was a good read by one of my favorite nautical authors.
But two men—the American merchant captain Joseph Hynson and Sam Nicholson—inadvertently throw a wrench into Biddlecomb’s plans. Nicholson plans to outfit a ship in England and have Hyson sail it to France, where he will fill it with war materials that he will supposedly take to America. But instead, Hyson will sail into the waiting arms of an English warship. The incident will prevent France from getting involved in the war.
Of course, things go wrong for Biddlecomb, Hyson, and Nicholson and it looks as if Biddlecomb will lose not only the Charlemagne but his own life and the lives of his crew.
This was a tense, fast-paced story full of surprises and hair-raising escapes. Unfortunately, Nelson cast Joe Hynson more as a comic character than a serious one, which I found very distracting and out of place. All in all, though, Lords of the Ocean was a good read by one of my favorite nautical authors.
February 27, 2023
Yet another tale of 18th century sailors, but this one is the American Navy during the Revolution. Somehow I read book 4 of the series first, but it was very good. Not quite Aubrey and Maturin, but a good sea story. Biddlecomb is tasked with transporting Benjamin Franklin to France and then to harass British shipping. This is based on some historical figures and was quite enjoyable. I've got episodes one and five in my stack as well as one from another series by Nelson. I'm looking forward to them.
dnf-netgalley
July 21, 2024Thank you to the publisher -- Bolinda Audio for allowing me to read and review Lords of the Ocean on NetGalley.
Published: 11/01/23
The story is not working for me. I have tried twice. I hear words and occasionally a fragmented sentence, but no thoughts, complete sentences, or paragraphs. It is just one word after another. I tried up to 12%.
I suggest if the book sounds good to you, try. I don't know what prevented me from connecting.
Published: 11/01/23
The story is not working for me. I have tried twice. I hear words and occasionally a fragmented sentence, but no thoughts, complete sentences, or paragraphs. It is just one word after another. I tried up to 12%.
I suggest if the book sounds good to you, try. I don't know what prevented me from connecting.
July 23, 2020
An exciting and fun seafaring page turner. I have read and equally enjoyed eight novels by James Nelson. He is, “ the American counterpart to Patrick O’ Brian”. Just added this book to my favorite Good Reads book shelf, “ Ships-Boats-and-the-Sea”. Next up to be read is book #5 in the Revolution at sea saga.
December 31, 2025
I think this is the 4th novel in the Isaac Biddlecomb series, but I read it out of sequence. It's pretty much written to stand alone, though. It's a wild ride with a plot that will challenge you to suspend disbelief in several places. But the Author's Note at the end says some of these hard to swallow elements are attested in contemporary records so we can't complain.
Capt. Biddlecomb is ordered to ferry Benjamin Franklin to France to negotiate with Louis XVI's ministers to get help against the British. Franklin is an ambiguous figure to me; I continue to hold it against him that he invented daylight savings time and the semiannual time change that I see as disruptive and unhelpful. Biddlecomb picks up Franklin and his two assistants on the Delaware River south of Philadelphia and sets out downriver. Of course the British Navy is blockading the coast and a frigate sights the brig Charlemagne and gives chase. Conditions get bad with a violent storm. Franklin discourses on lightning rods and Biddlecomb installs one on the mainmast, mainly to keep Franklin from pestering him. The brig is knocked down by a squall and Biddlecomb saves the day by anchoring, which swings the bow into the wind and lets the vessel recover. It was more common in the period to cut windward shrouds and let the masts fall. The frigate overtakes the brig, favored by heavy weather, but in a deus ex machina the frigate's mainmast is struck by lightning and she's crippled. Charlemagne sails on. They deliver Franklin to one of the Biscay ports, then Franklin encourages them to cruise British waters in search of prizes. No letter of marque, although being a commissioned warship I guess they don't need one. They capture several merchant ships and a royal Navy brig of war their same size in an encounter that seems highly improbable. Then on their way back to France they are pursued by a British Third Rate. (Not too many ships of the line were in commission once peace was established). They scatter and the warship chases Charlemagne, not any of the prizes, and they are fired on for quite a while by the ship of the line's bow chasers but little damage was done -- this seems pretty improbable, too. They get into shallow water and eventually the 3rd Rate realizes it's too shallow for her and turns back. But Biddlecomb has jettisoned his guns, water, and stores. The author gives much too much credit to the 74's long waterline. In moderate wind and smooth seas the brig should have been considerably faster and should have gotten clean away. Hull speed is well beyond reach until it's blowing hard. In lighter conditions it's sail area to wetted surface ratio that determines a sailing ship's speed.
The last part of the book seemed the least believable of all until I got to the author's note and found it was attested in history. The French didn't rearm Charlemagne but repaired her and let her sail, but the secret got out and the British were waiting for her. The only way she could get away was by taking the same route followed by the Spanish Armada, the long way around through the Channel, then north of Scotland and Ireland. But she beats off a corvette from the blockading squadron and captures it in an episode that was particularly farcical.
Like the rest of the books, this was engaging and action packed. It's entertaining but it's maybe a little too unrealistic. Still worth a read.
Capt. Biddlecomb is ordered to ferry Benjamin Franklin to France to negotiate with Louis XVI's ministers to get help against the British. Franklin is an ambiguous figure to me; I continue to hold it against him that he invented daylight savings time and the semiannual time change that I see as disruptive and unhelpful. Biddlecomb picks up Franklin and his two assistants on the Delaware River south of Philadelphia and sets out downriver. Of course the British Navy is blockading the coast and a frigate sights the brig Charlemagne and gives chase. Conditions get bad with a violent storm. Franklin discourses on lightning rods and Biddlecomb installs one on the mainmast, mainly to keep Franklin from pestering him. The brig is knocked down by a squall and Biddlecomb saves the day by anchoring, which swings the bow into the wind and lets the vessel recover. It was more common in the period to cut windward shrouds and let the masts fall. The frigate overtakes the brig, favored by heavy weather, but in a deus ex machina the frigate's mainmast is struck by lightning and she's crippled. Charlemagne sails on. They deliver Franklin to one of the Biscay ports, then Franklin encourages them to cruise British waters in search of prizes. No letter of marque, although being a commissioned warship I guess they don't need one. They capture several merchant ships and a royal Navy brig of war their same size in an encounter that seems highly improbable. Then on their way back to France they are pursued by a British Third Rate. (Not too many ships of the line were in commission once peace was established). They scatter and the warship chases Charlemagne, not any of the prizes, and they are fired on for quite a while by the ship of the line's bow chasers but little damage was done -- this seems pretty improbable, too. They get into shallow water and eventually the 3rd Rate realizes it's too shallow for her and turns back. But Biddlecomb has jettisoned his guns, water, and stores. The author gives much too much credit to the 74's long waterline. In moderate wind and smooth seas the brig should have been considerably faster and should have gotten clean away. Hull speed is well beyond reach until it's blowing hard. In lighter conditions it's sail area to wetted surface ratio that determines a sailing ship's speed.
The last part of the book seemed the least believable of all until I got to the author's note and found it was attested in history. The French didn't rearm Charlemagne but repaired her and let her sail, but the secret got out and the British were waiting for her. The only way she could get away was by taking the same route followed by the Spanish Armada, the long way around through the Channel, then north of Scotland and Ireland. But she beats off a corvette from the blockading squadron and captures it in an episode that was particularly farcical.
Like the rest of the books, this was engaging and action packed. It's entertaining but it's maybe a little too unrealistic. Still worth a read.
December 16, 2025
Audible/Kindle (wasn’t Read & Listen, which is a hassle when toggling between the apps).
Easily the weakest entry in James L. Nelson’s otherwise excellent Biddlecomb series, though it still has strengths that made it worth finishing. I did skim some of it though.
John Lee’s narration is, once again, superb. His steady authority, character differentiation, and sense of period elevate the material, especially during quieter political scenes that might otherwise drag. He remains one of the great interpreters of Age of Sail fiction. Guy is good.
The novel shines most when Benjamin Franklin appears. Those sections feel grounded, historically vivid, and purposeful, adding weight to the broader Revolutionary context. Wanted more of him.
Unfortunately, much of the internal political maneuvering is murky and not presented with enough clarity to fully engage me. Motivations blur, alliances shift without sufficient setup, and the intrigue never quite clicks.
When the story moves away from Biddlecomb and the Charlemagne, the narrative loses momentum. The farther it drifts from shipboard action and command decisions, the more the pacing suffers. While the ambition is admirable, the balance between political complexity and adventure doesn’t fully land.
Overall, a respectable but uneven installment. Strongly performed, occasionally compelling, but lacking the focus and propulsion that define the earlier books in the series.
Rating: 2.75 stars (rounded up).
Easily the weakest entry in James L. Nelson’s otherwise excellent Biddlecomb series, though it still has strengths that made it worth finishing. I did skim some of it though.
John Lee’s narration is, once again, superb. His steady authority, character differentiation, and sense of period elevate the material, especially during quieter political scenes that might otherwise drag. He remains one of the great interpreters of Age of Sail fiction. Guy is good.
The novel shines most when Benjamin Franklin appears. Those sections feel grounded, historically vivid, and purposeful, adding weight to the broader Revolutionary context. Wanted more of him.
Unfortunately, much of the internal political maneuvering is murky and not presented with enough clarity to fully engage me. Motivations blur, alliances shift without sufficient setup, and the intrigue never quite clicks.
When the story moves away from Biddlecomb and the Charlemagne, the narrative loses momentum. The farther it drifts from shipboard action and command decisions, the more the pacing suffers. While the ambition is admirable, the balance between political complexity and adventure doesn’t fully land.
Overall, a respectable but uneven installment. Strongly performed, occasionally compelling, but lacking the focus and propulsion that define the earlier books in the series.
Rating: 2.75 stars (rounded up).
November 23, 2023
Thank you so much to NetGalley and James Nelson for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for Lords of the Ocean coming out November 1, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In the summer of 1776, a fleet of British transport ships is looming off Staten Island, while the remnants of General George Washington’s army huddle behind hastily constructed fortifications on Brooklyn Height. There, Washington is preparing for the final destruction of the Continental army.
Now Captain Isaac Biddlcomb receives a monumental order: to transport to France the most dangerous secret weapon in the country’s arsenal: scientist and philosopher Benjamin Franklin.
Biddlecomb’s seemingly simple mission to deliver Franklin to the court of Louis XVI is just the first volley in a grand scheme. While he is boldly raiding the English coast and Franklin is discussing strategy at Versailles, they both conspire to blow French neutrality out of the water—and turn the colonial uprising in to a full-scale war.
I really enjoy listening to historical nonfiction. This era and ship warfare is really fascinating to me. I knew some things about this story, but certainly not all of it. I thought the book was very informative and I learned a lot from it. The narrator was a lot of fun. I would definitely be interested in checking out other books in this series!
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys US revolutionary historical nonfiction!
In the summer of 1776, a fleet of British transport ships is looming off Staten Island, while the remnants of General George Washington’s army huddle behind hastily constructed fortifications on Brooklyn Height. There, Washington is preparing for the final destruction of the Continental army.
Now Captain Isaac Biddlcomb receives a monumental order: to transport to France the most dangerous secret weapon in the country’s arsenal: scientist and philosopher Benjamin Franklin.
Biddlecomb’s seemingly simple mission to deliver Franklin to the court of Louis XVI is just the first volley in a grand scheme. While he is boldly raiding the English coast and Franklin is discussing strategy at Versailles, they both conspire to blow French neutrality out of the water—and turn the colonial uprising in to a full-scale war.
I really enjoy listening to historical nonfiction. This era and ship warfare is really fascinating to me. I knew some things about this story, but certainly not all of it. I thought the book was very informative and I learned a lot from it. The narrator was a lot of fun. I would definitely be interested in checking out other books in this series!
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys US revolutionary historical nonfiction!
December 28, 2023
In this fourth installment of the Isaac Biddlecomb series, Captain Isaac Biddlecomb finds himself ferrying Dr. Ben Franklin safely to France to request aid in the American War for independence. Once there, Biddlecomb can’t help but do some missions of his own to swing the tide in favor of the Americans.
When I started reading this book, I didn’t realize it was book 4 in a series. I believe this book would be better enjoyed after having read the first 3 books in the series, although I was able to follow along with the plot. This is an action-packed plot with little emphasis on internal feelings.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.
When I started reading this book, I didn’t realize it was book 4 in a series. I believe this book would be better enjoyed after having read the first 3 books in the series, although I was able to follow along with the plot. This is an action-packed plot with little emphasis on internal feelings.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.
November 8, 2023
This series, which I started with book 1 for this ARC (which I am super glad I did), was a fun ride! I don't normally go in for Revolutionary War books but this series was great! There was enough mystery/intrigue to keep me interested and enough hijinks to keep me entertained! This was my 1st book by James L. Nelson but will not be my last! Especially since I want to finish the series.
#LordsoftheOcean
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#LordsoftheOcean
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September 2, 2018
Another solid installment of the Isaac Biddlecomb series. The only slight drawback is that the action of the book takes place away from the main action of the American Revolution. If this had been just another British hero, it would be refreshing to see something different. But with the lack of American nautical heroes, I personally would have liked to see the hero closer to the action.
November 23, 2020
a good read
I enjoyed this story as much as the other books in the series.
Captain Biddlecomb a great asset to any navy.
I enjoyed this story as much as the other books in the series.
Captain Biddlecomb a great asset to any navy.
May 21, 2024
MAGNIFICO. Il libro sulla navigazione e sui pirati più bello che abbia mai letto. Avventuroso fino all'ultima pagina. DA LEGGERE ASSOLUTAMENTE
October 24, 2024
This series is getting better and better!
August 24, 2020
Nice ocean going adventure, set during the revolutionary war.
Bit more pulpy then the Patrick O'Brien novels, with just enough history to make you feel like you learned something, while being entertained.
I appreciated the nautical terms glossary in the back.
Bit more pulpy then the Patrick O'Brien novels, with just enough history to make you feel like you learned something, while being entertained.
I appreciated the nautical terms glossary in the back.
May 1, 2016
An excellent story of early America! As the fourth book in his Revolution at Sea Saga, Nelson has vastly improved from the first two books and brings his characters to full, 3-dimensional life. We are now beginning to learn some of Isaac Biddlecomb's flaws which makes him more relatable. Also, it was fun to have Benjamin Franklin in the story. I especially enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, most often from his Poor Richard's Almanack: "Men & melons are hard to know", "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead" and "Neither a Fortress or a Maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parley." These help convey Franklin's character and emphasize his critical behind-the-scenes importance to the success of the American Revolution which this story explores. As in the earlier books in the saga, Nelson includes a short Historical Notes chapter that helps the reader distinguish the fact from the fiction which can be a little surprising. Lord's of the Ocean is both a highly enjoyable and educational book. Read it!
July 15, 2007
Goodies and Badies, politics and battles. Good yard stretched over some authentic history.
July 30, 2011
Great historical fiction about navy warfare during the Revolutionary War.
April 16, 2017
It wasn't easy getting into a middle of a saga and especially if you're not a big fan of naval stories. I got lost in most parts of the adventures in ships, frequently finding myself flipping over to the terminology sections at the front and back of the book.
Nonetheless, it was a decent action-packed story.
Nonetheless, it was a decent action-packed story.
Read
April 26, 2019This is a really great sea story. The action never slows down and is doubly wonderful because of its accuracy. I really like getting to the end because the author provides the historical facts behind this work.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews