Signal-Close Action!

Richard Bolitho #14

by Alexander Kent

The year is 1798. Napoleon's naval forces are amassing in the Mediterranean, preparing to annex Egypt, and it is there the newly-promoted Commodore Richard Bolitho is sent with a small squadron of ships under his command.

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

366 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1973

About the author

A pseudonym used by Douglas Reeman.

Series:
* Richard Bolitho
* Adam Bolitho

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski]

Another great Richard Bolitho sailing book. I would rather read these then most other books. A lot of action, terror, tactics in the war against the French. He is a real human being and the kind of military leader you would want to follow

[Mark Harrison]

Decent Bolitho tale. Now a Commodore he commands a squadron with many characters from previous books in the series - then sinks lots of French boats and goes home. Untaxing but entertaining enough.

[Viva]

I've been reading this series in chronological order and these books in the middle of the series are all run-on like it's one big book chronicling Bolitho's career from a Flag-Captain to an Admiral. I've been binging them like a TV series and there isn't much to separate one book from another. In fact I'm several books ahead now and I can't really remember much about this particular book. Even the book names are someone nondescript so I'll just give a general summary of the writing of the books in this time frame.

The writing is easy to read and follow. There is usually a lot of action, at least 1 ship to ship action. Apart from that, there's sometimes cutting out action. The action scenes are very well done if bloody and officers are not spared, quite a few die. Kent spends a lot of time on the characters and they are often well done and memorable. This is what I like about the books.

What I don't like: The hero worship gets a bit cringy at times. Not as bad as the Ramage books but sometimes close. CS Forester does a much better job of creating a hero and we don't need to be reminded every few pages how great Bolitho is.

What is worse is Kent's romance scenes. He is incapable of creating chemistry between the lovers and they often fall deeply in love after one meeting. The Ramage series is even worse and to be honest I'm not here to read romance.

There is sometimes recurring element of conflict, a plot device I dislike because it limits the plot and is predictable. In some of the books in this time frame, it's Bolitho's superior, either a commodore or admiral, who is grossly incompetent and Bolitho has to save him.

[Studebhawk]

Close Action at Sea
The Bolitho stories continue with some of the best action sequences at sea of the entire series so far.
Bolitho, with the rank of Commodore, must lead a squadron far from home in hostile waters. The action is continuous and so is the human interest drama.
A recurring storyline centers on the responsibility of command. Our hero has to lead men stationed on several ships, and all of them from different backgrounds, with various levels of experience at sea. The weight of command is captured here in the friction between Bolitho and his best friend, Herrick. How men handle this responsibility, and the pressure that comes with it continues here as a recurring storyline.
The excellent action at sea, the human drama among the characters, sets this installment of the Bolitho series as one of the very best in the series.

[Marshall T]

A great addition to the story. The story holds the action throughout and the interaction between commanders and crew draws a great insight into life at sea during these troubled times.

[Ian Pruce]

having read the whole series some time ago I was unlikely to read this again. however, being away from home and having missed my train I saw this book on a seat and started to read it to await the next train. I'd forgotten what a good story teller Kent (Douglas Reeman) is and the characters were like old friends revisited. Very good descriptions of both physical and social attributes.
only disappointment was the fact that the paperback cover talked of action in the Mediterranean with Bolitho then going to Copenhagen. he doesn't leave the Med.

[Lee]

Another good Bolitho book that finds the band all back together. Bolitho is a Commodore following up on the last book investigating the French. Herrick is his falg captain his nephew is on board along with Allday and several people he used to work beside are captain of the other vessels, for better or worse. Lots of action and plots along with a little romance.

[RhC]

Bolitho, now Commodore, leads a small squadron under his flag into the Mediterranean to thwart the French supply lines just enough for Nelson's victory in Egypt.

[Pete]

another great adventure

[David Hull]

Excellent, as always!

[Geoff Woodland]

Another enjoyable re-read of this book # 14 now on the downward slope to read them all in order.

[Mr G Linley]

Bolton does it again

Cracking read from start to finish, the writings so good you can imagine the battles as if you were there , looking forward to the next one

[Boulder Boulderson]

A bit of a confusing but enjoyable Mediterranean jaunt. Really more of the same, so good or bad depending if you like the series.

[Chris Heath]

Another page-turner in this series.

[Linda]

Lots of action, maturing of characters, love every book in this series!

[Richard Allan Forsythe]

Best yet

Clever integration with the history of the day. Very powerful characterisation of all the players, great and small. The interplay between them unbelievably dramatic.

[Michael Koch]

Good and credible action from start to finish. There was risk to everybody who mattered and action, or at least tension, start middle and finish. The finish was unexpected but was not made unreasonable as some authors like do.
The protagonist (Bolitho) has risen to the rank of Commodore but manages to remember the feelings of more lowly officers, warrants and men. This allows him to earn the trust of his crews and they follow him without question regardless of how risky the ventures sometimes seem. He and his ships face challenges from their enemies and from the sea. However they work hard to put their ships and skills into top shape. This allows him to fight hard and reap the help of crews and ships that have been a long time looking for him. Even those who are somewhat shirkers end up providing assistance.
A great book and a great read. Kent is always dependable with this series.

[Ed]

Six-word Review: Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, boring.

Six-word Review in 2024: Wrong, wrong wrong, a good read.

I have been spoiled by reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series and Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series, both of which I devoured over a few years. I got this book hoping for a similar experience. Wrong! Richard Bolitho is a pale imitation of Aubrey.

It makes no sense to plow through 365 pages hoping that the story will improve. Life's too short: so many books, so little time.

February 2024: I just got another copy of this book and at some point, I'll give it another try.

March, 2024: It worked. I finished it and enjoyed it.

And so it goes...

[Jim]

The 14th in the Bolitho series, a series about the naval war in the Napoleonic period. Alexander Kent's series can be compared to C.S. Forester's or Patrick O'Brien's. I feel that I prefer the Bolitho series compared to the others, as good as they are.
In this one, Bolitho is a commodore leading a squadron of the Royal Navy. His mission is to locate the French Navy, which is moving through the Mediterranean. Of course locating the enemy also means some desperate fighting against the odds...
I read this in 2016.

[George]

It is January, 1798 and Richard Bolitho, now a Commodore, takes command of a small squadron at Gibraltar to sail into the Mediterranean to learn the intentions of the French. Over the next several months, Bolitho gains information about the intentions of the French which leads to the deployment of a British fleet under Horatio Nelson to the Mediterranean and confront the French based upon Bolitho's information.

Bolitho has to overcome problems from his ships' commanders and storms as well as battle the French over the next several months. Another good action story in the Bolitho series.

[Topher]

Richard Bolitho has risen enough up the ranks to have his own flag. But, illness continues to tail him, as do doubts of his own ability. We see increasing amounts of text from the perspective of Adam Pascoe (Bolitho), a trend that will apparently continue in the future.


As always, I found these to be very enjoyable and easy reads.

[Tom Hooker]

The year is 1798. Napoleon's naval forces are amassing in the Mediterranean, preparing to annex Egypt, and it is there the newly-promoted Commodore Richard Bolitho is sent with a small squadron of ships under his command

[John]

Great stuff. Very exciting, well told, and giving great insights into the era.

[George]

An action book worthy of Alexander Kent.

[Sean Brennan]

As I,m reading the Bolitho books in order, still enjoying them. But I preferred it when he was just a Captain.

[Margareth8537]

Preferred him as a junior officer, but I suppose it is better if he makes it up the greasy pole

[Juli Monroe]

Much better than the previous book. Good character interaction, less angst (somewhat) and some top notch sea battles. One of the best in the series.

[Annie Jones]

Another enjoyable Bolitho adventure with lots of action. He is such a sympathetically portrayed character inviting total sympathy. Great story telling.

[Jack]

I loved this series.

[Terry]

See my earlier "Bolitho" reviews.

Great reads!!