|
The King's Commission (Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures) | 
 enlarge | Author: Dewey Lambdin
Publisher: Fawcett
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $1.45
You Save: $6.54 (82%)
New (25) Used (39) from $1.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 133372
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 044922452X
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780449224526
ASIN: 044922452X
Publication Date: January 31, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, best prices.
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
1782 First officer on brig o'war . . .
Fresh from duty on the frigate Desperate in her fight with the French Capricieuse off St. Kitts, Midshipman Alan Lewrie passes his examination board for Lieutenancy and finds himself commissioned first officer of the brig o'war Shrike. There's time for some dalliance with the fair sex, and then Lieutenant Lewrie must be off to patrol the North American coast and attempt to bring the Muskogees and Seminoles onto the British side against the American rebels (dalliance with an Indian maiden is just part of the mission). Then it's back to the Caribbean, to sail beside Captain Horatio Nelson in the Battle for Turks Island. . . .
Naval officer and rogue, Alan Lewrie is a man of his times and a hero for all times. His equals are Hornblower, Aubrey, and Maturin--sailors beloved by readers all over the world.
Praise for The Naval Adventures of Alan Lewrie
"Plenty of action . . . Fast-paced, graphically descriptive and well-plotted."
--The Virginian-Pilot & The Ledger-Star
"Fast-moving. . . A hugely likable hero, a huge cast of sharply drawn supporting characters: there's nothing missing. Wonderful stuff."
--Kirkus Reviews
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
D Lambdin September 11, 2008
I ran across this book somewhat by chance. Having read Horatio, J. Aubrey and Richard B., I thought it was worth exploring. I found it a good read with a bit more humor in it than the other book series previously mentioned. It does seem to delve a bit more into sexual encounters which may or may not be a negative for some readers. Since this is the first in the series I will have to see if the sexual encounters prevades future books in the series. Alan Lewrie, the main character, seems to be a believable and enjoyable character. I am looking forward to the next in the series to see how it continues. Alan sure starts out with a lot of obstacales which he will have to overcome if he is to have a career in the Kings/Queens Navy. Based on the number of books in the series so far he surely must overcome some of them. We will have to see?
How about a "Lilycrop" series? May 9, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Alan Lewrie, now an experienced seaman and junior watch-stander despite only a couple of years in the Royal Navy, is a refreshingly Corinthian your rake, dividing his attentions pretty much evenly between increasing his growing competence in his profession and topping every female he can find. Here he parts company from the unpredictable Capt. Treghues and from his friend and mentor, Lt. Railsford. Then he receives, as a reward for bravery and demonstrated abilities, an early appointment as 1st Lieutenant into a small brig commanded by the superannuated Lt. Lilycrop -- one of the most delightful and fully developed supporting characters Lambdin has yet come up with. Of course, Alan later learns his being given such a post was a clerical error, . . . but he manages to keep his job nevertheless. (As a more senior officer later remarks, sheer luck and the ability to land on one's feet is probably as important a factor in naval success as seamanship.) Then comes a galloping but adventure among the Creeks of the West Florida coast -- including Lewrie's temporary acquisition of a lovely young Indian wife. The character of Desmond McGilliveray is based on the real Alexander McGillivray, a Creek-Scot half-breed raised white but still well-connected among the tribes. Lambdin paints him as a superior, rather prim sort, which doesn't really fit with the historical McGillivray's character (with which I am familiar from rersearch on the Panton and Leslie trading companies during that period). Nothing really goes quite right for Our Hero in this volume, but that's the way real life often is. An increasingly enjoyable series.
If you want to escape to sea, pick it up. April 1, 2004
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you sail; if you enjoy history or if you want to do either, pick up a Lambdin book. As I read these books with a map at hand to locate the anchorages and the harbors, I sometimes even feel the wind in my hair with writing like this! ....and I know it is coming over my larboard quarter too.
To be honest, I have NEVER enjoyed reading more. The early books in the series waver a bit, but they are still a great read. It's all here: history, dialogue and the information detailed enough so a reader can"be in the action".
 Great below-decks descriptions. June 17, 2003
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
It is early 1782 and Desperate, 20 guns, having 'retreated gracefully' from the Yorktown debacle is now in train with Admiral Hood's fleet running down to the Caribbean. Unfortunately, the Frogs are chasing under the command of the wily de Grasse, who didn't get where he is by avoiding encounters.
The action starts soon enough and de Grasse exploits every possibility to bring the Rosbifs to task, but fails miserably, leaving Desperate to pick off a 28 shadowing a message schooner. In the aftermath of the battle, Alan Lewrie is appointed master of the prize. The result of Alan's actions is unexpected promotion into the brig Shrike, a Dutch-built 12, as 1st luff under a wily old sea-dog as mad as a hatter.
Alan can't keep his mouth shut or his breeches buttoned-up, which leads to some unfortunate and raunchy interludes, affecting his earlier career, and, it seems, his future.
Not a series for those new to the genre, or with no nautical knowledge, as there is not the untarred landsman colleague to explain the intricacies of naval terminology to, as in Aubrey & Maturin.
But ... the above- and below-decks descriptions are among the best I've read, although Mr. Lambdin does rather overdo the vernacular and accents a bit too much for fluid reading, however it does add an extra touch of reality.
Luck plays its part again in the aftermath of another debacle, this time to good effect as Lewrie meets Nelson and receives his second promotion in a year.
A raunchier series than most, but well worth reading.*****
 passing decent Sea Opera January 7, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Fast-paced and fun, this is a pretty good choice for fans of the really GOOD wooden ships & iron men stories. Lambdin isn't technically much of a writer and characterization is minimal but the pace is great and the author not only really seems to know his Age of Sail history. The anti-hero aspects of Lewrie make a pleasant break from his rivals who are generally perfect. Not as much of the fun bawdy sex in this one as in King's Coat, but its a plus. Comparisons to Patrick O'Brien or even C.S. Forester are embarrassing and stupid--this stuff is fun to read but Mr. Lambdin falls well short of the master..
|
|
|
Copyright 2008 - RailroadBookstore.com
| |
