Sloop of War (Bolitho Novels) [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

This book in the series, which tells the tale of our hero, Richard Bolitho, as a young naval commander in his first command, the Sloop 'Sparrow' during the American Revolution, is a tale of leadership, betrayal, intrigue, and fast-paced, bloody action. Ships, seaman, soldiers, and the sea all combine to give a fast-paced. grim and bloody tale of those men that 'go down to the sea in ships,' and put those ships 'in harm's way.'

Bolitho's First Lieutenant is an American Loyalist, and the relationship Kent builds for these officers, as well as the rest of the crew of HMS Sparrow is one of the highlights of Kent's novels. Kent knows men and ships, and it shows in his action-packed prose. Ships to him are living things, and his affection for them and the sea in general, is quite obvious. My own father was a professional seaman, which may be the reason these books are a favorite.

Better than the Hornblower series, as serious and grim as actual history, they are a pleasure to read, and to follow the fortunes of Bolitho from Cornwall and the colorful cast of characters that Kent has created. The Royal Navy during the period has been accurately described by a modern historian, and authority on the period, as 'man-eating' and Kent brings this out. His characterization of Bolitho as a humane officer is also compelling, for during this age thoughtful commanders took good care of the men they had to lead into the hell of combat.

Good book, excellent read, compelling characters, superb adventure-what else could you ask for?

Sloop of War is set during the American Revolution and follows a format that Kent used as Reeman in HMS Saracen i.e. there are two separate and almost stand-alone parts to the novel. In Sloop of War the separation in time between the two halves is much briefer. The novel features the young Richard Bolitho with his first command as the captain of a sloop fighting the corruption of the Royal Navy and the English powers that be as much as the dastardly American revolutionaries and their French allies. Only on the open seas are things simple or are they? Treachery on land or at sea is to be expected.

I suspect that Kent probably knew that he might alienate American readers by having his hero fighting against the American Revolution. However, he deftly avoids having major conflicts between American forces and his own. Furthermore, he has an American first officer accentuating the sense of internal conflict caused by the revolution. The causes for the war are not discussed and one senses that Bolitho has some sympathy for the colonists although he is bound by duty to fight against them. Wisely Kent does not have Bolitho slaughtering large numbers of American sailors in sea battles.

Kent writes well of the sea and its changeable weather. He is very strong on the action. There are also some serious themes. For instance, the men in Bolitho's ship may be fighting for King and country but ultimately they are fighting for each other. Bonds formed in war are much stronger than bonds based on idealism. The men one fights with can be relied on more than the women one is attracted to.

I did have one bone to pick with Kent's historical accuracy involving Canadian scouts. Kent describes the Canadians in the way that I think of voyageurs or courier de bois. In fact, Canadians in 1778 would have been French. The few English speaking Canadians of that day would not have been the woodsmen that Kent describes. However, it's a minor nit-pick in a thoroughly entertaining story.

Reeman/Kent was at his peak in writing stirring yet grim and realistic action novels when Sloop of War was published. It is not great literature by any means but it's a damn entertaining read.

This book in the series, which tells the tale of our hero, Richard Bolitho, as a young naval commander in his first command, the Sloop 'Sparrow' during the American Revolution, is a tale of leadership, betrayal, intrigue, and fast-paced, bloody action. Ships, seaman, soldiers, and the sea all combine to give a fast-paced. grim and bloody tale of those men that 'go down to the sea in ships,' and put those ships 'in harm's way.'

Bolitho's First Lieutenant is an American Loyalist, and the relationship Kent builds for these officers, as well as the rest of the crew of HMS Sparrow is one of the highlights of Kent's novels. Kent knows men and ships, and it shows in his action-packed prose. Ships to him are living things, and his affection for them and the sea in general, is quite obvious. My own father was a professional seaman, which may be the reason these books are a favorite.

Better than the Hornblower series, as serious and grim as actual history, they are a pleasure to read, and to follow the fortunes of Bolitho from Cornwall and the colorful cast of characters that Kent has created. The Royal Navy during the period has been accurately described by a modern historian, and authority on the period, as 'man-eating' and Kent brings this out. His characterization of Bolitho as a humane officer is also compelling, for during this age thoughtful commanders took good care of the men they had to lead into the hell of combat.

Good book, excellent read, compelling characters, superb adventure-what else could you ask for?