The Privateer's Revenge: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)
Hardcover – October 1, 2008
Description
From Publishers Weekly Readers unfamiliar with the previous eight books in the Kydd series ( The Admiral's Daughter , etc.) may find themselves lost at sea with the plot and setting of Stockwin's underwhelming latest addition. After the death of Cmdr. Thomas Kydd's one true love, Rosalynd, in Daughter , Kydd's depression only worsens when his ship, the HMS Teazer , is assigned to the Channel Islands, a backwater in the sea war between England and Napoleonic France. His crew's loyalty flagging, Kydd is framed for smuggling, then cashiered from royal service. After a brief stint working as a stagehand for a roving theater troupe, he is recruited to captain a privateer, duty he previously considered beneath him, while his steadfast friend and clerk, Nicholas Renzi, falls into the service of the prince of Bouillon, who is part of a plot to kidnap Napoleon and restore the Bourbon throne. Full of indecipherable sailing jargon and one-dimensional characters, Stockwin's plodding installment sinks. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. "Stockwin's richly detailed . . . portrait of life on ship and shore in Britain's oceanic empire is engrossing. He writes evocatively of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat, and the terrifying approach of a storm at sea, and he knows how to stage enthralling action scenes."xa0 — Publishers Weekly onxa0the Kydd Sea Adventures series"Likable Tom and his shipmates make a snug fit in that page-turning Forester and O'Brian tradition—thanks to retired Royal Navy author Stockwin."xa0 — Kirkus Reviews onxa0the Kydd Sea Adventures series"Fans of fast-paced adventure will get their fill with this book."xa0 — The Historical Novels Review on the Kydd Sea Adventures series During the location research for this book, set in the Channel Islands, between France and England, I developed a fresh admiration for Admiral Sir James Saumarez, a much-undervalued naval hero, whose integrity and sensitivity ensured he would stand in the shadow of other, more colourful characters. The inhabitants of the Norman Isles are fiercely independent and rightly revere their 1000-year history. There have been few of my research locations that have proved so little changed and so atmospheric. I do hope you enjoy this story; in the next book Kydd will be sailing into shoal waters of quite another kind... Julian Stockwin is a retired lieutenant commander ofxa0the Royal Navy Reserve. He entered the British Navy at age 15 and was eventually named a Member of the British Empire. Read more
Features & Highlights
- Following the loss of his fiancée, Lieutenant Thomas Kydd descends into depression in the latest installment of this riveting nautical-adventure series. Rescued from despair by his close friend, Renzi, Kydd finds life increasingly difficult when he is framed and dismissed from his ship. The pair eke out a pitiful existence in Guernsey, where, in a moment of desperation, Renzi offers his services to the Prince de Bouillon and becomes embroiled in covert operations. Meanwhile, Kydd accepts the captaincy of a privateer and is soon taking many prizes. Kydd longs to rejoin his rightful place in the navy, however, and when he gets his chance, he risks all for revenge and restoration.
