I enjoy historical fiction, so was interested to spot this in the Lighthouse charity shop, Bakewell, where we stopped for coffee on our way home from a lovely, relaxing holiday near Matlock, Derbyshire!

A novel set in and around the real-life naval Battle of Lowestoft, June 1665, during the Anglo-Dutch wars.
Having read the Prologue, Historical Note and the Acknowledgements, I've decided that this isn't really for me, so I'm making it Available to find a more enthusiastic reader!

Taking Christmas and New Year Greetings from North to West Yorkshire!

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Hi Nu-Knees. Sorry for the delay in journaling this. This looks right up my street. I've always loved naval fiction since discovering my Dad's copy of "Mr Midshipman Hornblower. This will be my first foray into naval fiction in the Restoration period. Thank you for sharing it with me.

It took me a while to get into this but once I did I was hooked. A well written fictional tale built around real historical events.

Not really familiar with the post Cromwell navy, it was fascinating to read about the frictions and mistrust between the Cavaliers and former Roundheads. I had never heard of the battle of Lowestoft even though I now think it should probably be as famous as Trafalgar.

I enjoyed this. Maybe you will too?

Happy Christmas.

What a lovely surprise. Many thanks for sharing it looks interesting and I look forward to reading it.

I felt that the sea-going elements of this book was well written, there wasn't so much sailing jargon that a non-sailor would become confused, the battle is well realised as is the devastation to ships and men that be wrought by cannon fire. Certainly anyone who enjoys reading about historical sea battles will almost certainly enjoy this element of it.

However, the tale was also a little rudderless at times. Every page seemed to be peppered with surnames and titles, even during the battle when one nobleman died whilst his companion survived we were told who inherited this or who went on to do that in an impromptu history lesson which did little to help the flow of the action. Similarly we are regularly reminded that the story is being told by Matthew well into his dotage thus removing any doubt that he will survive the onslaught. Equally I found the on shore element generally implausible.

On the plus side as a Cornishman I quite enjoyed reading about my stout brethren who along the awkward Welsh who crewed Quinton's ship. Also the fact that English were not fighting the French was a pleasant change. Overall some of the story is tremendous fun and come the end of the book I had learned a little something about a period of English history that I knew virtually next to nothing beforehand.

Going across the pond as a BookMooch. Enjoy!

A fellow BookCrossing member sent me this book from the UK in late July, 2020. I intend to leave this in a Little Free Library here once I have read it.