The Only Victor

Richard Bolitho #20

by Alexander Kent

February 1806: Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho carries the news of Trafalgar to southern Africa, where he is to aid British ground forces in any way he can to retake Cape Town from the Dutch. Impatient to be home, Bolitho decides yet again that the boldest measures are best, and proves to the army that brave men do not die in vain.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Nautical, Adventure, War, Military Fiction

384 pages, ebook

First published February 26, 1990

About the author

A pseudonym used by Douglas Reeman.

Series:
* Richard Bolitho
* Adam Bolitho

Reviews

[Topher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I joined Bolitho, and to be honest I'm not sure how much I remember and care about a number of these hangers-on. The whole Belinda thing? Yeah, totally forgotten by me at this point, but I guess we all have things in our past we'd rather forget. Though, admittedly, I'm a bit unclear on why exactly he can't get a divorce. Or Catherine. That sure seems like it would have cleared up a whole lot of issues.

Now, the various officers, those I do mostly remember, and there is a good addition to them in this book. I'm hoping to see more of them going forward.

And, for the life of me, I can't remember what happened to his eye prior to this book. I don't know how long this has been going on, nor do I know if there is an actual diagnosis, or is this is just one of those early 19th century things, like dying of melancholy.

[Xan · Rating 3 out of 5]

La serie Bolitho se agota, cada vez más lastrada por historias de amor que acuden a clichés que no aportan más calidad a la historia. Después de varios años sin tocar los libros de Kent me he decidido a terminar la serie y después de leer los tres libros anteriores en poco más de una semana noto un bajón de calidad según se acerca el fin de la serie.

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

You think we have long wars. The English & French have been fighting for decades.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most exciting but it advances the series

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this series in chronological order and during this time frame Kent has been writing them chronologically so the stories basically run on each other and soon after I finish them I don't remember where one book ends and when another starts. Suffice it to say that Bolitho is vice-admiral during this time and the Admiralty is sending him back and forth to fulfill this task or another. Since the series follows actual history, Bolitho doesn't fight non-existent battles and is sent on menial tasks when there is nothing major happening or if there is something major happening that Kent can't fit him in.

Spoilers ahead:

I generally like this series because Kent does a great job of character and relationship building, and the sea going and battle sequences are generally excellent. However during the last few books Kent has some how decided that his fans of naval historical fiction have somehow become fans of historical fiction romance. The first 100 pages of this book has all to do with Bolitho's relationships and Kent has even drawn his officers into their female relationships. While CS Forester does a great job of adding a romantic subplot into his books Kent does not. Not only does he do a terrible job of creating chemistry between the love birds, the manufactured romantic drama is exactly what it feels like: manufactured.

Worse, even the regular military drama feels manufactured too. At least the hero worship is toned down a little since there are only so many pages available in a book. At this point, I think I'm just continuing the series for the sake of continuing it. CS Forester kept it fresh when Hornblower was created an admiral with fresh ideas, Kent is just doing more of the same (seagoing and action sequences) plus the addition of romance and melodrama.

Anyway, I'm suffering through the next book now and wonder how much more of this I can take.

[RhC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment catches a different gear as many of the personal relationships of those revolving around Bolitho are explored, particularly with his Catherine.

Bolitho's older sister, Nancy, returns to England as a widow with a son in need of sponsorship in His Majesty's Navy. Unfortunately, he's nowhere near the man as Sir Richard's other nephew, Adam.

I get the impression that the writer must have had some family trauma during the course of this composition as there is a distinct undertone of melancholia.

Overall a bit too mushy (without being erotic) for what I expect from the genre and I give four stars -- for now.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent Bolitho book but rather than it being one big adventure it is a collection of short stories within one book. This is really the first book since one of the earliest Midshipman novels where a lot of the action takes place on land. It follow him and Catherine in Cornwall, in London and elsewhere in England. In between he takes his squadron to South Africa to help in the siege of Cape town. Undergoes a diplomatic mission to Denmark and leads a fleet to invade Denmark.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series. Bolitho comes across as really real with strengths and weaknesses like we all have. The details of “men of war” sailing and tactics are outstanding, as is the depiction of life aboard one of these ships. You feel as if you were really there....

[Geoff Woodland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly finished the full series and still enjoying each book as a stand alone story. I am finding even the none sea going parts interesting as the story flows.
I think I have one book left which will bring to an end these happy few months of Bolitho.

[Chris Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read almost 20 of the Bolitho novels (can't put them down), and this may be the best one yet. It has the required number of sea battles, but goes much deeper into Bolitho's personal (love) life. For this series, it's downright racy! I really enjoyed the change of pace -

[sarg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sea tale in the C.S.Forrester Hornblower fashion. England and France battles at sea during Napoleons reign. Gave it 4stars.

[David Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best Bolitho book, but terrific nonetheless.

[Eddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Battle scenes quite good but lacking detail; romance scenes rather meh.

[mandy mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting yarn

As per usual this is a well written and involving story but it is only four stars due to poor editing/proof reading of this version. There are numerous grammatical and punctuation errors, which leads to some sentences not reading very well and some making no sense whatsoever.
Sloppy!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in this series. Came bound with a much earlier one in the sequence so it jumped years ahead of last one read, to when Bolitho is a vice admiral and his nephew a captain. The romance part of it didn't work very well.

[A M Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

another un-put-downable read

Fires the imagination of the times.
Having visited the historical shipyard in Portsmouth, these books conjure up the difficulties ships faced just “ coming alongside” let alone battle formations !
Only spoiled by unnecessary detail in love scenes

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bolitho best again.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read.

[Kip Koehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good But...

...disjointed. Scenes changed so frequently, I was unsure where I was. I almost gave up reading...finally finished after several breaks.

[Charlie Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Bolitho=Kent

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like three short stories/ novellas chained together. Fine, but Kent has definitely lost has magic in the last few.

[Gretchen]

I think I'm done with this series...