J. D. DaviesCritiques

An interesting wrinkle in this "Age of Fighting Sail" tale; is a French frigate captain as the focal point of the story. Roots in America was promoted to captain while serving in Russia and now returned to join the French Navy. As an "aristo", it will not be an easy task. His frigate meets a larger English opponent and his life in captivity could change things.

Firstly I should point out that is the third book in this series, a fact that I hadn't realised myself before picking it up. However, whilst I suspect whilst that previous books may have given a bit more of Matthew's family history and hence helped with some of the land based action I didn't feel that it unduly affected the on-board action, as such I believe this can be read as a stand alone novel.

Set in 1665, Charles II has recently been restored to the throne after the stern Puritans had been ousted. England is a country still riven with division between the Cavaliers are the former followers of Oliver Cromwell. London is suffering from the Plague and will shortly burn during the Great Fire. Similarly, it is almost expected that kings can sleep with any woman at court even if it is frowned upon by most meaning that religious divides add to the tensions.

England has recently gone to war with the Dutch over commercial rather than political differences and with disease decimating the land ships, even those about to go into battle are seen as safe havens, the Navy is still a place where family connections not ability is how the captains will earn their commands and where prize money means that fortunes can be made.

At the beginning of the book Matthew Quinton has recently been relieved of his command and as war is declared is without a ship. Unexpectedly he is given the command of a vast and ancient man-of-war far bigger than anything that he had previously captained. Forced to contend with fractious ministers of state, a raw, rebellious crew and an alleged curse on his ship Quinton joins the English fleet to battle the Dutch in what becomes the Battle of Lowestoft. The book opens with a massive explosion on an English warship whilst tied up on the river and pretty well ends when an enemy flagship similarly explodes during battle, hence the blast of the title.

I felt that the sea-going elements of this book was well written, there was 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.

Lost interest in the format.

Captain Quinton rides again! For a gentleman captain, he does spend a lot of time, fighting ashore.
One of Holland's previous defeats, the attack on Vlie anchorage, is avenged by a very well executed attack on English ports including those on the Thames. We get to meet Michiel de Ruyter, arguably, one of the best sea warriors of his time. Matthew observes the destruction and capture of one of his previous commands while a prisoner about his Dutch brother-in-law's ship. Another excellent episode, Davies knows his British Maritime History and continues to translate it into a fine series.

A writer with knowledge and excellent research can produce a good history book. An author with these skills plus the ability to tell a story can write a historical novel. An excellent author who can sustain these skills for an entire series is an excellent author and this is truly a fine series. The British Navy was a work in progress during this era, contaminated by courtiers, challenged by corruption and lacking competent sources and training for sailors of all ranks. It truly reflected its times and we are fortunate to have J. D. Davies to cull the wheat from the chaff and provide such an enlightening and entertaining series.
Battles were horrific shambles, strategy was rarely considered and involved while tactics were those of the prize ring; two ships to engage until one could no longer continue.

This series and its gentleman captain continue to evolve nicely. 17th Century sea going rules the day as the restored monarchy seeks power and gold. A corsair's tale sends Quinton on a royal quest½

Lots more intrigue and reluctant diplomacy from the bluff sea captain as we look at early days in the "Age of Fighting Sail". One rousing and horrific sea battle against the Danes, A cameo appearance by Queen Christina of Sweden, who's father Gustavus Adolphus had turned Sweden into a military power. Interesting times related well.½

Complex relationships require complicated books by a knowledgeable author. This is such a book about the early days of the "Age of Fighting Sail". There were admirals and there were captains during this era but most seemed to be entitled courtiers rather than professional seamen. Matthew strives to rise above this model but the times and sheer-number of nobles clearly make him an exception. Lots of conflicts and exciting battle scenes with historically accurate personages and events being massaged nicely into a compelling story.

Interesting era to explore. A changing perspective does not make Mathew Quinton a particularly interesting character. but I will try the next installment.½

This is an account of the Gowrie Conspiracy, in which the Earl of Gowrie and his brother were killed for an alleged attack on King James VI of Scots (later King James I of England). This version is based on records preserved in Wales by descendants of the Ruthven family (the family of the earls of Gowrie). It is written in a cheerful tone with a full awareness of the very wide range of explanations which have already been offered for the mysterious event. The author personally favors the theory that the Ruthven brothers were trying to kidnap the king (as their father had successfully done a generation earlier in the Ruthven Raid) rather tan kill him (as the king later claimed), and bungled the plot badly. He does not adopt the theory of the Ruthvens' defenders that the king deliberately set up the "attack" as an excuse to destroy the Ruthvens, though he does not that afterwards the king and his supporters were careful to describe the event (and especially the young earl of Gowrie' part in it) in terms that justified forfeiting his estates for treason. He explains some aspects of the manipulated evidence as an attempt to hide the involvement of influential courtiers, and even the king's consort Anna of Denmark, in the plot. He also examines and debunks a lot of ancilliary claims, especially the idea that the earl had a legitimate claim to be the heir to the kingdom.

A fun series set in the English Restoration, rather than the Napoleonic wars so the ships are smaller, and the Dutch are the enemy.

I'm really enjoying this series and hope there are more to come.

Davies introduces to a time of the Age of Sail that I haven't found readily covered by others. Restoration England, Charles II newly upon his throne. A throne that still has enemies not only from without, but within the kingdom. The Religious wars of Europe still resonate and upon the shores of Britain no one is certain that Protestantism will prevail and people are willing to fight over their flavor of God.

Thus nothing ever changes, and nothing ever will, but now we see a hero arise with some complexity to him, and a crew molded during this time. A hero we see differently than Hornblower, Bolitho, Aubrey and many others.

This era, the ships vary from those of the Napoleonic and makes for a refreshing change. The plot is relatively complex when involving our hero and his ship and so we arrive at a satisfying and quick read.

ARC for Kindle

Gentleman Captain
J.D. Davies

Let’s face it. If you’re going to sing the Blues, you’re going to be compared to Bessie Smith. If you write detective novels, you’ll be compared to Raymond Chandler. Get yourself elected president and you’ll be looking over your shoulder at Abe Lincoln. Write about those days of wooden ships and iron men, and Patrick O’Brian is the gold standard.

I was prepared not to like this book. J.D. Davies, after all, is not Patrick O’Brian. And a good thing, too, coz he doesn’t have to be. Come to find out, Davies can tell his own story, thank you very much, even if certain characters aboard the Jupiter bear a ryther suspicious similarity to characters that will appear aboard the Surprise more than a century later. Davies knows how to write, and he probably knows as much about Charles II’s navy as any man alive.

Our hero starts out by wrecking his ship, or rather, the ship he has been placed in charge of. Matthew Quinton is no seaman, but a political appointee. Consequently he’s a bit reluctant to tell the drunken shipmaster where to put it. So the good ship Joyful Restoration dies on the rocks. With many a good man clinging to the rigging.

Then, expediency being all, same as it ever was, Matthew is given another ship and sent up to Scotland, where the fogs of discontent and political skullduggery are thick enough to cut with a claymore. No trip to sunny Bermuda for young Matthew. Why, you might well ask, send a callow youth to do a job where even the smoothest of smooth talkers might well find himself in deep doo-doo at the slip of a tongue? Here we just have to shrug and give it up for poetic license. This is, after all, a novel.

Once we get to where we’re going, trouble blossoms like a hot-house orchid. The beautiful countess with flashing eyes, the body washed up on the beach, the army hidden in the glen; trouble that Matthew is supposed to grow into. And here’s the rub. All this contention, the switching of sides, the unpredictable countess, the Cromwellian ship captain cavorting about in make-up as if he just stepped out of a bad movie about French aristocrats, the last minute deus ex machina rescue, all seem a bit contrived, sort of tacked on, and far, far too complicated.

But these are just niggling complaints. Readers will enjoy this book if they enjoy sea-tales, sailing ships or Seventeenth-Century European history. Davies has an excellent command of the language, and would probably know exactly what to do if you sent him aloft. His characters speak lines that are believable and flowing. There is none of that awkward screeching to a halt to be sure you read correctly. The slight clumsiness at the finish of this book is probably the mere result of inexperience and enthusiasm.

GENTLEMAN CAPTAIN by J. D. Davies is a historical suspense set in 1662 England. It is written with details. It has a gripping plot with twists and turns, intrigue, friendships, loyalty, traitors, lies, betrayal, and a young captain who is determined to prove himself to his crew and King. This is an epic tale of adventure on the high seas of treason, nobles, heroes and deception. The characters are gripping and strong. If you enjoy stories of the high seas, naval intrigue you will surely enjoy this one. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found atHoughton Miffin Harcourt and My Book Addiction and More.