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jroubucks's review against another edition
3.0
More contemporary (less unreadably 1950s) than the original high seas series but this first trilogy of the series degraded rapidly in coherency. I thought the author was having a stroke but the third book ended. Thoughts were inconsistent and while a great story line it was ruined by very fragmented writing and apparently no editing/advice.
raytheron's review against another edition
5.0
What a totally unmitigated pleasure to make Richard Bolitho's acquaintance again after many, many years! Alexander Kent (penname for Douglas Reeman) has a fluent and captivating style. Reading his work reminds one of how aware one is of actually going through the actual process of reading when it comes to a large number of other authors. Kent's narrative flows much more like the spoken word.
The characters we come across in this edition (combining the first three boks in the series) are all fully credible, very human and largely unforgettable. Those we do not like are never caricatures, but are portrayed in such a way that we dislike them, yet do not see them as inhuman or grotesque, and those we get to like are never portrayed in a sentimental manner. The description of events, both shipboard actions and those ashore, is brisk, well-written and carries the reader along, usually at breakneck speed. I often had trouble putting the book down.
There are many authors of novels in this genre (18th and 19th century naval warfare, mostly British), but Kent ranks up there with C S Forester, the doyen of the genre in my opinion, and the very best. I cannot recommend the Bolitho series, and this volume in particular, highly enough.
The characters we come across in this edition (combining the first three boks in the series) are all fully credible, very human and largely unforgettable. Those we do not like are never caricatures, but are portrayed in such a way that we dislike them, yet do not see them as inhuman or grotesque, and those we get to like are never portrayed in a sentimental manner. The description of events, both shipboard actions and those ashore, is brisk, well-written and carries the reader along, usually at breakneck speed. I often had trouble putting the book down.
There are many authors of novels in this genre (18th and 19th century naval warfare, mostly British), but Kent ranks up there with C S Forester, the doyen of the genre in my opinion, and the very best. I cannot recommend the Bolitho series, and this volume in particular, highly enough.
megmcardle's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, but without the depth of character of the O'Brian books.
commissarmatt's review against another edition
3.0
Meh, bit black and white, and nothing much interesting happens
honeybeef8844's review
3.0
Not as good as the Hornblower novels, but I'm willing to give another a chance. Not much in the way of characterization.
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