Plymouth, julio de 1801: la pequeña escuadra de Richard Bolitho, aún inmersa en las reparaciones de los daños recibidos en la reñida Batalla de Copenhague, ha estado varios meses alejada de mar abierto. Pero el Almirantazgo necesita a Bolitho. Tras ocho años de guerra con Francia, Gran Bretaña debe hacer un gesto que muestre su fuerza y su determinación, un gesto que debilite de manera espectacular la causa francesa. El Almirantazgo quiere un ataque. El contraalmirante Richard Bolitho debe seguir la tradición de victoria de su bandera, aunque por primera vez en su vida tenga que debatirse entre las demandas del deber y sus necesidades personales.

Admiral Bolitho leads a small squadron tasked with destroying the small craft the French are building to convey an invasion force across the Channel, shortly before the anticipated Treaty of Amiens brings a temporary peace. His captains include Thomas Herrick (a commodore in this book), Francis Inch, Oliver Browne-with-an-e, John Neale, and Valentine Keen. And old Phalarope--Bolito's frigate in To Glory We Steer--joins the fleet on location, with Adam Pascoe as first lieutenant. Things go wrong, then they go right.

There are telegraph towers, too. All of these Royal Navy series need a story involving telegraph towers. (That's a cheap shot. Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

Besides the naval action, and a bit of political discussion, this book's notable for its portrayal of Belinda Laidlaw, who's loyal (far beyond the call of duty) and loving. At the end of the book Richard and Belinda marry.



McBooks Press (or perhaps IPG, their distributor) is the only publisher I read that routinely does scanned ebooks properly. They've obviously given thought to presentation, as chapter headings are deliberately (albeit oddly) formatted, nearly all scanning artifacts have been fixed, and mid-chapter text breaks are clearly indicated. The big publishers should take note, and follow suit.





This review has also been published on a dabbler's journal.
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July 1801, Plymouth . . . Richard Bolitho's small squadron is still repairing the scars of battle earned at Copenhagen. Now the Admiralty needs Bolitho again. After eight years of war with France, Britain must show her strength and determination and dramatically weaken the French cause. The Admiralty wants an attack. Rear-Admiral Richard Boltho must follow his flag's tradition of victory - even though for the first time in his life he is torn between the demands of public duty and personal need.