Welcome to our book review site go-pdf.online!
You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
The Merchant Navy
At one time British ships carried half of the world's trade, transporting every conceivable type of freight from and to all four corners of the globe – and in times of crisis the merchant fleet has also offered military assistance. In fact, the merchant convoys and armed cruisers that defied the German blockades to supply Britain in the First World War were so pivotal that they were recognised as a second 'navy' – the Merchant Navy. This fleet again saw service in the Second World War, continuing to keep Britain provisioned even in its darkest hour. Richard Woodman here relates the Merchant Navy's colourful history and brings to life the day-to-day experiences of the seamen.
Malta Convoys, 1940-1943
From the day Mussolini's Italy declared war on Britain in June 1940, the island of Malta was under siege. Its strategic importance was obvious to both sides, blocking as it did the supply route across the Mediterranean from Italy to the Axis armies in North Africa. It had to be bombed out of existence by the Axis powers and preserved at all costs by the British. That Malta survived was due to the courage and fortitude of her people and to the dauntless determination of the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. Here Richard Woodman tells the full, terrifying story of how - at fearsome cost - the impossible was achieved.
The Sea Warriors
“A marvelous book. . . . shows where Patrick O’Brian and C.S Forester got all their stuff from, but is more exciting than either.” —Times Literary Supplement The Sea Warriors is the true story of the great frigate captains of the Nelsonic Royal Navy who spent long and arduous years away from their homes fighting for king and country, to win and hold control of the seas. Richard Woodman skillfully dissects the events of the war years, focusing on the cruiser war, that war between opposing frigates that entailed the blockade of enemy ports, the interception of enemy trade, and the protection of Britain’s merchant ships. The whole magnificent sweep of this great struggle is set agains...
The Guineaman
Fear and fighting on the High Seas. When William Kite runs away to sea to escape a charge of murder, he finds himself aboard the Enterprize, a Liverpool Guineaman, or slave ship, destined for the coast of West Africa. Once loaded with slaves, the ship then crosses the Atlantic, bound for the sugar plantations of the West Indies. Despite the accusation hanging over him, Kite’s compassion for the slaves’ helplessness finds him serving as a surgeon on the ship, exposed to the dreaded yellow fever. But as the Seven Years’ War looms on the horizon, Kite’s life will be threatened by more than just sickness... The first in the William Kite Naval Adventures, The Guineaman is perfect for fans of Patrick O’Brian, Julian Stockwin and C.S. Forester.
An Eye of the Fleet
Nathaniel Drinkwater's life at sea begins with the HMS Cyclops' capture of the Santa Teresa during Admiral Rodney's dramatic Moonlight Battle of 1780. Subsequently, Drinkwater's courage and initiative are put to the test as the Cyclops pursues American privateers threatening British trade and is later dispatched to the swamps of South Carolina, where many lives are lost both at sea and ashore. Gradually, Drinkwater matures into a capable and self-assured sailor. As he contends with enemy forces, the tyranny of the Cyclops' midshipmen, and the stark contrast between the comfort of home life and the brutality of naval service, he finds strength and sustenance in the love of his beloved Elizabeth.
A Brig of War
In A Brig of War, Nathaniel Drinkwater is promoted lieutenant of the brig Hellebore. He finds routine convoy escort duties end abruptly when Admiral Nelson, pursuing the French fleet to Egypt, sends Hellebore to the Red Sea with an urgent warning to the British squadron there. However, Nelson’s apprehensions over French ambitions in the East are more than justified. Edouard Santhonax, Drinkwater’s old enemy, is already preparing for a French descent on India. The hunt for this elusive Frenchman and his frigate is combined with British naval operations on the flank of Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. It is during the attack on Kosseir that Drinkwater is left for dead. His escape and the subsequent desperate attack on Santhonax leads to a still more dangerous situation under Augustus Morris, former tyrant of the midshipmen’s berth on HMS Cyclops. Drinkwater’s fight to bring a half-armed ship safely to the cape of Good Hope is beset with personal enmity, the activity of the French, and the violence of the sea.
A Ship for the King
With war on the horizon, his path to greatness will be revealed. Bristol, England, 1618. Kit Faulkner is a young vagrant orphan, taking life as he finds it in the rough world of the docks. But after a chance encounter with two men while out scavenging for food, his fortunes are changed forever. Kit is taken aboard the Swallow, a large merchant ship partly owned by the two men, and after spotting some promising qualities in him they decide to train the boy for a life at sea. And so begin the adventures of Kit, which see him rise through the ranks and risk all on the high seas. Meanwhile, England edges ever closer to civil war, and very soon Kit must choose which side he will fight for... A scintillating adventure at sea, based in detailed historical research, perfect for fans of Patrick O’Brian, C. S. Forrester and Julian Stockwin. Praise for Richard Woodman ‘Woodman is a master of both maritime nonfiction and fiction’ Booklist ‘Gripping ... Woodman spins an exciting tale’ Publishers Weekly
Ebb Tide
It is 1843 and Captain Nathaniel Sir Drinkwater embarks on the paddle-steamer Vestal for an inspection of lighthouses on the west coast of England. Bowed with age and honors, the old sea officer has been drawn from retirement on half-pay to fulfill his public duty. The following day, tragedy strikes, and Drinkwater is confronted with his past life: his sins and follies, his triumphs and his disasters. Drawing on a true incident, Richard Woodman deftly concludes the career of his sea hero. Drinkwater’s complex character is revealed in its entirety. Far from being the reminiscences of an old man, the novel skillfully weaves the past with the present; the personal tensions below decks, the straining creak of a man-of-war under sail, the crack of a cannon shot, and the plaintive mews of the trailing gulls are never far away. To the end, Nathaniel Drinkwater’s life is full of incident and the unexpected, so typical of the sea officers of his day.
The King's Chameleon
The shattering finale to the Kit Faulkner naval adventures. England, 1659. Captain Kit Faulkner’s house is prospering; his eldest son has recently returned from a profitable trip to Jamaica in the good ship Faithful, and his daughter is to be married. But the resignation of the Lord Protector, Richard Cromwell, throws England into uncertainty. Will the republic flourish, or will a King return to the throne? Kit is content to let matters take their natural course, but his younger son, Henry, is an idealist with political ambitions. It soon becomes clear that Henry is in much deeper than Kit first realised, and his son’s actions may threaten everything Kit holds dear... An absolutely gripping maritime thriller, perfect for fans of Hornblower, C. S. Forrester and Patrick O’Brian. Praise for Richard Woodman ‘A sure bet for Patick O’Brian fans’ Library Journal ‘Woodman spins an exciting tale’ Publishers Weekly
