- Paperback: 410 pages
- Publisher: Bantam (2 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553815164
- ISBN-13: 978-0553815160
- Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 2.5 x 19.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 697,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Treason's River
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Product Description
Review
"At last, the nautical Flashman! Martin Jerrold looks set to become one of the great British anti-heroes, boozing and lusting his way through Regency England."
-Andrew Roberts
-Andrew Roberts
Book Description
Book three in the reluctant adventures of Martin Jerrold.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The adventures of Martin Jerrold, of which this is the third, are always advertised as being the naval equivalent of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman. Anyone reading this latest adventure however (and possibly the two preceding it), may be forgiven for questioning this claim, for whilst Jerrold and Flashman do share certain characteristics such as cowardism and incompetence the latter has one trait that his naval counterpart is not; he's funny.
Now Flashman is not necessarily laugh out loud amusing I grant you, but there is certainly wit and humour to his escapades. With Jerrold's however, this critical element is sorely lacking and since it is one of the book's key selling points this can only be seen as a failure on the part its author. It also fatally undermines the whole novel as readers are geared up for a funny, rolicking adventure that never materialises. Instead what they get is an incompetent naval officer dropped into one of the lesser known events of post-Colonial American History.
The lack of obvious humour might still be forgiveable if, by his presence, Jerrold directly effected the outcome of events, but this he generally fails to do. For the most part the other protagonists are the architects of their own downfalls, with Jerrold little more than an observer of other men's follies. It is a role that means he is able to generate little in the way of vicarious excitement for readers to enjoy.
By the end you find yourself really wondering what the point of the book is. Yes, it does introduce an obscure event in American history that would make a good pub trivia question and its competently written (hence it scraping two stars). That however, is not enough and unless Edwin Thomas and his creation Martin Jerrold both find their funny bones then there would seem to be little point to this series continuing any further than Treason's River.
Now Flashman is not necessarily laugh out loud amusing I grant you, but there is certainly wit and humour to his escapades. With Jerrold's however, this critical element is sorely lacking and since it is one of the book's key selling points this can only be seen as a failure on the part its author. It also fatally undermines the whole novel as readers are geared up for a funny, rolicking adventure that never materialises. Instead what they get is an incompetent naval officer dropped into one of the lesser known events of post-Colonial American History.
The lack of obvious humour might still be forgiveable if, by his presence, Jerrold directly effected the outcome of events, but this he generally fails to do. For the most part the other protagonists are the architects of their own downfalls, with Jerrold little more than an observer of other men's follies. It is a role that means he is able to generate little in the way of vicarious excitement for readers to enjoy.
By the end you find yourself really wondering what the point of the book is. Yes, it does introduce an obscure event in American history that would make a good pub trivia question and its competently written (hence it scraping two stars). That however, is not enough and unless Edwin Thomas and his creation Martin Jerrold both find their funny bones then there would seem to be little point to this series continuing any further than Treason's River.
Format:Paperback
Lt. Jerrold is not Flashman, and the publishers have done him no favours by so obviously apeing the Flashman bookcovers and even including a quote from Andrew Roberts that declares "At last, the nautical Flashman!" They do him no favours because he is in fact a well-drawn character in his own right who, by occasionally lacking courage, drinking more than he should, and enjoying the ladies, becomes in many ways much more believable than Flashman who, whilst a joy to read, has a larger than life character that invariably conjures up ane image of a pantomime dame on stage. Once your hero is credible you only need a good plot and good dialogue to give the reader a story to savour, and Edwin Thomas delivers. There are many authors currently setting their novels during the Napoleonic wars but Lt Jerrold is distinctive. It is a great shame that the publishers apparently called a halt to the series after this third book, and I for one hope that Lt Jerrold will ultimately, and no doubt reluctantly, resume his adventures in the future.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
The Continued Misadventures of Martin Jerrold
19 Jan 2007
Format:Hardcover
In the first book of this series we are introduced to British naval officer Martin Jerrold who missed the Battle of Trafalgar by being drunk in his ship's hold ('The Blighted Cliffs'). With a character like that, how can you go wrong.
In this book, he has offended some of the most powerful men in England. He is faced with two choices. He can stand his ground and fight. Or he can run away. No question in Martin's mind, and we find him on his way to America. Of course he has in his possession a mysterious package to be delivered to Pittsburgh. And of course some of his fellow passengers (a lovely lady who may be more than just beautiful) and her father who ... well you can guess.
Martin Jerrold is certainly an unlikely hero as he goes from one exciting mis-adventure to another in a story told with humor mixed with a bit of history.
Great Fun!
In this book, he has offended some of the most powerful men in England. He is faced with two choices. He can stand his ground and fight. Or he can run away. No question in Martin's mind, and we find him on his way to America. Of course he has in his possession a mysterious package to be delivered to Pittsburgh. And of course some of his fellow passengers (a lovely lady who may be more than just beautiful) and her father who ... well you can guess.
Martin Jerrold is certainly an unlikely hero as he goes from one exciting mis-adventure to another in a story told with humor mixed with a bit of history.
Great Fun!
Treason's River: A good read.
4 July 2009
Format:Paperback
I am one who loves the O'Brian naval historical novels. While this one was good, it does not come up to the five star level of O'Brian. Nonetheless, it fills a certain void in a genre that I enjoy. It is really a "mystery" story set in the Napoleanic wars era. Enjoyable, and relaxing. Thomas is a very good writer and I sincerely hopes he keeps it going beyond the three published works with Martin Jerrold as the (anti)hero.
No super-hero, but Jerrold does all right!
5 Sep 2008
Format:Paperback
I love Martin Jerrold. He has all sorts of outrageous adventures, but is a normal guy, no super-hero. He, quite sensibly, doesn't want to risk his life. He'd rather have a good drink and a woman than fight battles. Sometimes the odd people in books who seem to have no fear and be willing to face death at the drop of a hat can pall. Who is really like that, after all???
This time out things are a bit more serious even though the task seems simple enough... Jerrold is to carry a letter-packet to the New World. After his last adventures, he's managed to annoy a number of powerful politicians and Royals and military folk, so getting out of the country for a spell is a good idea. Mr. Nevell of the Post Office has had the original messenger waylaid and the letter taken. They cannot open the letter since it's cleverly sealed, but Nevell says there's a possible conspiracy in the works and Jerrold just needs to deliver the letter and see if he can foil the plot.
Jerrold find himself in sea battles against a Spanish ships, dealing with a beautiful but deadly young lady and her rich and powerful father, having agents out to steal the letter--or kill him-- along the way to Pittsburgh, and involved in a conspiracy that leads him into the wilderness and down the Mississippi, led by the charismatic Aaron Burr...
This time out, Jerrold seems a bit more resigned to the adventures that keep him occupied, whether he wants them or not. He also seems to be growing a bit through the experience, also whether he wants to or not. Yet he's still very human, which is what I like about him.
I sincerely hope the author manages to sell more books in this exciting and amusing series.
This time out things are a bit more serious even though the task seems simple enough... Jerrold is to carry a letter-packet to the New World. After his last adventures, he's managed to annoy a number of powerful politicians and Royals and military folk, so getting out of the country for a spell is a good idea. Mr. Nevell of the Post Office has had the original messenger waylaid and the letter taken. They cannot open the letter since it's cleverly sealed, but Nevell says there's a possible conspiracy in the works and Jerrold just needs to deliver the letter and see if he can foil the plot.
Jerrold find himself in sea battles against a Spanish ships, dealing with a beautiful but deadly young lady and her rich and powerful father, having agents out to steal the letter--or kill him-- along the way to Pittsburgh, and involved in a conspiracy that leads him into the wilderness and down the Mississippi, led by the charismatic Aaron Burr...
This time out, Jerrold seems a bit more resigned to the adventures that keep him occupied, whether he wants them or not. He also seems to be growing a bit through the experience, also whether he wants to or not. Yet he's still very human, which is what I like about him.
I sincerely hope the author manages to sell more books in this exciting and amusing series.
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