This month has turned into PHILIP K. ALLAN month for me. I just finished book four in the Alexander Clay series entitled A MAN OF NO COUNTRY. Captain Clay of the British Royal Navy has married Lydia Browning and has recovered, mostly, from his wound suffered in book 3. A few months on shore can be worrisome for a ship’s captain. Will the repairs to his ship be satisfactory? Will his officers and crew return from leave? What will be his next assignment? Add to them the fact you have added a wife and problems could be on the horizon.

The story opens with a boy and his merchant father being attacked at sea by Barbary pirates. The boy is given the option of joining the pirates by killing his father or dying with him. His father told him in no uncertain terms that he must survive and join the pirates.

Clay finally hears his ship, the 36-gun frigate Titan, has been refurbished and is ready to receive her crew. Most of the characters from Clay’s previous crew have returned. Jacob Armstrong is the new Sailing Master, a former American who fought in the American Revolution on the side of the British. The Titan is assigned to the squadron commanded by Admiral John Jervis, Earl of St. Vincent, off the coast of Spain and Portugal.

On the way there, Titan intercepts a pirate ship and rescues John Grainger, a crewmember of the pirate ship. He has a strange tale to tell but is still accepted into the Titan’s crew. Another new member of Titan’s crew is seaman Daniel Oates from Bristol who may or may not be familiar with the story of Joshua Rosso a trusted seaman from Titan’s previous adventures. Rosso was also from Bristol. He had a shady past that Clay knew about but considered to be of no importance.

As in the previous books in the series, there is land-based and sea-based action. In Spain Titan’s crew captures a multicannon fort protecting a small bay where a prize ship awaits its inevitable capture by Titan. Grainger eliminates one of the Spanish sentries in a brutal fashion. That will come into play later in the story.

Titan’s assignment from Admiral Jervis is to spy on the French naval activity in the western Mediterranean Sea and report back to him. That includes visiting the city of Naples to talk to the British Ambassador there. In Naples, he meets Lady Emma Hamilton the Ambassador’s very pretty young wife. If you know British history, Emma was Horatio Nelson’s very public mistress. Of course, Nelson makes his appearance in the story. Eventually, Nelson, Jervis and the Titan end up in Egypt for the naval battle known in history as the Battle of the Nile near Alexandria, Egypt.

To add spice to the story, there are a series of cash thefts on the Titan that lead to a murder. The investigation of those shipboard crimes goes nowhere until Clay asks for help from freed slave turned ship’s coxswain Able Sedgwick. From his introduction into Clay’s story, Sedgwick had become one my favorite people. As a character, he just keeps getting better.

Once again, if you are devotee of British Naval fiction, this is for you. Allan is comparable to Forester, O’Brian and Kent as a storyteller. There are real people and real events in the books. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

GO! BUY! READ!
british-history british-naval-history british-naval-history-fiction ...more7 s Steven Toby186

Battle of the Nile

This book is a lightly fictionalized version of the events leading up to the Battle of the Nile (Aboukir in some sources, which I think is closer to the actual location). While I have read many accounts of this battle in non fiction this is my first exposure to a version incorporating Captain Clay and the Titan crew familiar from earlier episodes in the series. The description of the battle is excellent and the more accessible point of view of Clay and his crew dramatically enriches the experience. No one alive today has experienced a fleet action between evenly matched groups of ships of the line so it was a formidable task to describe the overwhelming sights, noise and other impressions.
I have not been reading these in order so it wouldn’t be correct to call this the best yet in the series but it gets 5 stars from me. An excellent read!1 john temple124 1 follower

Thoroughly entertaining

Another sparkling episode in the life of Alexander Clay and various members of his ship and other notables he comes into contact with. This novel and others in the series differs from most naval stories in that you know far more characters than is usual. This knowledge has far more depth than usual and makes for a gripping and entertaining read. The interwoven fact and fiction is fantastic and the battle said yes are so masterful that you can almost feel the battle raging around you. A fabulous story.1 Cindy VallarAuthor 5 books18

After marrying the love of his life, Captain Alexander Clay finds his idyllic shore leave cut short. His frigate Titan has been repaired, but instead of rejoining the Channel Fleet, he and his men sail for the Mediterranean to assist Admiral Lord St. Vincent. Rather than the boring voyage expected, they investigate suspicious actions aboard a merchant brig and thus discover that pirates control the vessel and the crew is locked below. After rescuing the captives, they later spot a Russian sloop that runs aground rather than fight. When Clay’s men reach the shore, one of the evaders turns out to be John Grainger, who claims to have been forced to navigate for the Russian privateers. Although he dresses a Turk, was raised in Algeria, and has their coloring, he speaks English and has piercing blue eyes. He just claims not to know where he was born. Once aboard the Titan, he joins the Royal Navy.

When they arrive on station, Clay meets with the admiral. He and his vessels maintain a blockade on the Spanish navy, which means no naval ship has ventured far into the Mediterranean. Therefore, Titan is to become the eyes of the fleet. Clay will find out what’s happening, what the French are planning, and visit Ambassador Hamilton in Naples.

While the ship resupplies and their captain meets with the admiral, Sam Evans, Adam Trevan, Joshua Rosso, and Sean O’Malley, along with John Grainger, visit a tavern. Able Sedgwick arrives late, having stopped to purchase a blank journal in which to record his life’s story as an African slave to help the abolitionist cause. John mistakes the journal for his own and when he accosts Able, the serving girl notices John’s tattoo and becomes terrified. When Able later questions her, she divulges the true meaning of the mark.

Once the Titan returns to sea, she becomes enshrouded by a dense fog and those aboard find themselves surrounded by the Spanish fleet. Since they remain invisible to the enemy, Clay tricks two of the vessels into firing upon each other. It’s a neat trick, but later he regrets how he endangered his mission. He soon puts his reckless misstep behind him, when he sends his men ashore to seize a merchant ship that eluded them and to launch a surprise attack on an enemy fortification. In doing so, they discover the captured prize carries military tents and cooking equipment bound for Marseille.

Upon their return to the ship, Sam discovers that he’s been robbed. More thefts soon follow, and Able overhears one of the new men threatening someone. No matter how much searching the master of arms does, he finds no trace of the missing money or the thief. To keep the growing discontent from endangering the ship, Clay enlists Able’s help in discovering the truth.

As the Titan ventures past numerous harbors, Clay has lookouts count the ships in the harbor. When combined with the tents and cooking equipment, it soon becomes evident that General Napoleon Bonaparte is amassing an enormous fleet. Clay immediately returns to report to the admiral to find that Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson has arrived with reinforcements. Clay joins his squadron and they set out to determine where the French plan to go. When Titan revisits the harbors, Clay discovers the French fleet has disappeared. It soon becomes a battle against time to find out where Bonaparte intends to launch his next invasion.

A Man of No Country is the fourth offering in the Alexander Clay series. The eye-opening prologue is a powerful and horrifying depiction of a Barbary pirate attack, where the merchant captain warns his young son that should he be captured, he must join the pirates in order to survive, but his request comes at an excruciatingly high price. Discovering the identity of the thief proves to be a challenging mystery for the reader. We also learn more about Able’s traumatic and chilling journey from Africa to the Caribbean. A bit of humor is inserted into scenes where Clay meets Lady Emma Hamilton, and Allan does a fabulous job in making the reader experience Clay’s awkwardness and discomfort at becoming prey to her feminine wiles. There is also a daring sea rescue in the midst of a terrible gale. All the adventures lead up to the stunning and breathless sea battle between the Royal and French Navies that history knows as the Battle of the Nile.
Jim314 2

Captain Alexander Clay, CO of HMS Titan, is ordered to the Mediterranean to keep an eye on the French fleet. He is soon attached to the fleet commanded by Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson. In Naples he meets the British ambassador, Sir William Hamilton and his wife, Lady Emma Hamilton. Patrolling off the ports of Toulon and Marseille, Clay discovers that a large French fleet has taken sail, its destination unknown. Nelson uses Clay to seek out the French. Clay discovers that the French have gone to Egypt. Clay and Titan lead Nelson’s fleet into Aboukir Bay and participates in the Battle of the Nile. Christopher TaylorAuthor 10 books78

This story follows the exploits of one particular sailor through months at sea under Captain Alexander Clay in the Mediterranean. The French have broken out of their harbor and built a huge squadron; where are they going? Rear Admiral Nelson is tying to find them and discover their destination, and Captain Clay is the key.

One of the strengths of this series is the swap between POV between the officers (informed, more concerned with honor and politics) and lower decks (concerned about survival, rumors, speculation, superstition, with loyalty, courage, and strength). This dual perspective helps make the story richer and deeper, and allows a fuller perspective on events. Todd Gutschow303 5

Solid English Sailing Adventure

If you enjoy English sailing stories this series has everything you would need. Well developed characters, interesting storylines, and exciting battles on land and in the sea. Tonya DeLargy23

A Tremendous Tail

This instalment of the Clay series was thrilling from start to finish.As in real battle, the loss of a character that folks have come to know is always hard but it was well done and Rose I died well. Well done Mr. Allan and thank you Wytzia Raspe492

We know what Napoleon's plans were but the English navy was in the dark. What is he planning with all those ships? We follow captain Alexander Clay, his sailors and his frigate over the Mediterranean. Good story but you do not really bond with the characters. adventure historic-novel war Joseph A3

A Great Read

Fast moving action and historically correct with well developed characters and sub plots. All set in a background of history and nautical erudition match by few other authors. Piers Daubney1 review

Brilliant book.

Can’t wait for Alexander Clay episode 5. I’m sure it will be as brilliant as the first four have been. Helen HollickAuthor 56 books520

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

"This is the fourth in the series, and as with the previous three, the action doesn't let up." 09/01271

Another great yarn

Well researched novel, of Pipe"s journey through the Mediterranean t the battle of the Nile. Some old acquaintances have gone some new ones made. Chaplain Stanley Chapin1,978 18

A action filled story

A sailing ship that went through a lot of action ,weather , sailors and battles a intriguing story line that developed thru the end ChrisAuthor 1 book1 follower

A fine tale

This book is a modest, easy-going story of men at sea. The tidbits of the history surrounding Nelson’s victory at the Nile added to the enjoyment. Ron Collins332 2

Pipe's adventures successfully continue. Shayne23 1 followerRead

I’ve read the classic authors in this genre: Forrester, Kent, etc, and believe that Mr Allan certainly holds his own.
I particularly enjoyed the description of the sea action at night.
Autor del comentario:
=================================