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Quarterdeck (Thomas Kydd 5)
 
 

Quarterdeck (Thomas Kydd 5) [Kindle Edition]

Julian Stockwin
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £8.99
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Review

'Stockwin paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line... the harsh naval discipline, the rancid food, and the skill of the common sailor are all skilfully evoked.' - Daily Express

'I was soon turning over the pages almost indecently fast ... Roll on, the promised adventures of Kydd and Renzi.' - Independent

'The vantage point of the common sailor gives the nautical novel a fresh twist. In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world.' - Guardian

'Gripping . . . Rich in action and full of interesting characters, this thrilling novel leaves you in awe of the 18th-century seaman.' - Peterborough Evening Telegraph

'As with the previous books, Seaflower is a busy story, crammed with events but never predictable. Like all good sea stories, it takes you to strange and wonderful places. There are hurricanes and battles and intrigues . . . Fans of naval fiction, or just whose who appreciate a good yarn, will not want to miss it.' West Australian on SEAFLOWER

'The appeal of the story is in the telling, which is atmospheric, authentic and disclosed from the unusual perspective of the ordinary sailor working his way up the ranks. . . . The author had a long career in the Royal Navy, which adds to his prose that extra dash of salty realism.' Publishing News on MUTINY

Guardian

'In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world'

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 387 KB
  • Print Length: 324 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1590131282
  • Publisher: Hodder (28 Mar 2005)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B003LPUXE4
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #9,473 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Julian Stockwin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A. J. Watson VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This fifth novel in the series marks a major change - both for Kydd and the reader - as Kydd is no longer part of the crew, but an officer, with the uniform to prove it. Thus we are now party to strategy and decisions that were previously denied us due to Kydd's lowly rank.
Both Kydd & Renzi have their promotion and Kydd determines to 'improve' himself, in keeping with his new status. Renzi attempts to educate him on the finer points of genteel breeding, but with little success in the limited time available before they ship out on Tenacious, 64, escorting a large merchant convoy to Nova Scotia.
Her hard-horse captain has little time for 'tarpaulin' officers, forcing Kydd to prove himself at every turn, as well as trying to gain acceptance by the gentry class of officers.
Not only that; his new position alienates him from the deck-hands, making him feel more alone than at any time previously - until a blast from the past remedies the situation in a most unexpected way.
The N. Atlantic weather provides action and tension aplenty in the form of storms, fog and ice, with the added interest of French privateers and the tense Anglo-American political situation.
There is action on land as Kydd tries to locate a long-lost relative and as he sabotages the Frogs as they lay up for repairs.
His lack of social graces makes him an ideal candidate for an advisor to the newly-formed American Navy, where he makes a crucial but potentially foolhardy decision, putting him in the political spotlight.
The spotlight again falls on him in the most prominent way, as his gaucheness leads him to make his biggest social gaffe (of which he is completely unaware) in the funniest last chapter I've read in a long, long time - worthy of Patrick O'Brian.
As usual, the impeccable research (detailed in the Author's Note) lends authority to Lt. Commander Stockwin's fluid literary style, making the pages turn so fast that I had to ration my intake to extend the pleasure of this most excellent read - and we get a taster of the next book in the series,'Tenacious'. *****
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Parm TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The fifth book in a long running series that just seems to get better and better the characters keep growning and flowing with their ever expanding plot lines and movement into the ever larger arena of their times, as they and their careers / fortunes grow so do the scale and power of the troubles they encounter gone is the innocence to the plot a new origionality pervades the whole story and leaves the reader with a shanty lilt to their speech and a roll to their gait.

This book is one of my personal fav's in the series, this is when Kydd gets his step, when he moves from one world to the next, its told so well and so powerfully you can just feel all the uncomfortable moments, all the resentment and all the enthusiasm of the various players in the story.

Having read the rest of the series and read the rest of the reviews i can tell others that Julian did learn and progress the characters even further, and when that was coupled with his obvious passion for the sea and all things nautical, you end up with a series that does rank up there with Forrester and O'Brian, every year i look forward to my new instalment of Kydd...but to get there you have to start at the beginning.

Well recommended

(Parm)
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Good book in series 2 May 2006
By Dr J
Format:Paperback
The fifth book in the Kydd series (see my reviews of _Kydd_, _Artemis_, Seaflower_, and Mutiny_)sees our protagonist promoted to lieutenant and shipped off to North America. It's obvious that Kydd does not fit in with the other officers in the Royal Navy with whom he must serve. He simply comes from a different social class. This is the central theme of the book. The episodes are not as exciting as in the previous books, but this book is pivotal to the growth of Kydd as an officer in the Royal Navy. He is loaned to an American ship as an observer/advisor, where he experiences first hand how people can rise in society based on their merits. When he is offered a position in the American navy, Kydd seriously considers it. This seems like a dream come true. What will he do? Does he stay loyal to king and country, or does he do what millions have done-go with the future and opportunity? This book is interesting in that the conflict he feels is what every potential emigrant must face. One can only imagine one's own ancestors wrestling with the same conflict.
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