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A King's Cutter (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics) (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics)
by Richard Woodman
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Sheridan House (2001-02-01)
ISBN: 1574091247
EAN: 9781574091243
Dewy Decimal #: 823.914
Paperback: 170 pages
SKU: 6561
Condition: Very Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
In 1792, Nathaniel Drinkwater returns to the Royal Navy with an appointment to the twelve-gun cutter KESTREL, commanded by the inscrutable Madoc Griffiths. Beneath the gathering shadow of the French Revolution, he undertakes dangerous secret operations off the coast of France, including the rescue of émigrès and the landing of agents.
As Europe plunges deeper into war, KESTREL participates in the struggle for the Channel, and Drinkwater encounters the devious and sinister Edouard Santhonax, who is attracting a great deal of interest from the British government.
Drinkwater eventually uncovers a network of intrigue that paralyzes the Royal Navy with mutiny, leading to a bloody confrontation at Camperdown, where Drinkwater and Santhonax come face to face.
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Customer Reviews
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Drinkwater
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-03-04
Richard Woodman's Drinkwater series have the authentic smell of the sea about them. A feature not dislayed in Patrick O'Brien's novels. Drinkwater is real, with flaws and solid worth. I recommend them to any lovers of fiction set in the days of Nelson.
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Clearly a step forward
Rating  (4)
Date: 2007-01-13
I can only agree with the reviewer who noted the ten-year time jump between the setting of the first novel (An Eye...) and this one. Lots of material lost there, perhaps.
But, this is a notably better book than the first: sharper in focus on both character and plot. In addition, the secondary characters have more life to them and in this remind one in the best ways of the lesser figures in the Hornblower series. Drinkwater, himself, is a broader fellow (undoubtedly because he is older), and in his maturity we see a maturing action and plot. The second book is as much about character as about the naval technicalities and detail that another reviewer so bemoaned. This is all to the good, and the balance continues into the coming books.
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Discover another great Seafaring series...
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-11-04
I have found these to fit well on my shelf next to my Forester and O'Brian series. While not quite as insightful into the emotional or historical realities of the period, they are very well written. Hornblower is still my favorite, but Drinkwater is another great Captain to cheer for.
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A shipping manual disguised as a novel
Rating  (1)
Date: 2005-10-10
8 out of 10 customers found this reveiw helpful
I gave up on this book at page 42 owing to paragraphs of marine jargon that meant absolutely nothing to me. Unless you are interested in the very detailed workings of an old sailing ship this book is not for you. Descriptions such as this seem to be on every page:
"By the mast the jib halliard was started and waist deep in water on the lee bow the flogging jib was pulled inboard. Within a minute the spitfire was shackled to the halliard, it's tack hooked to the traveler and the outhall manned. Even as the the big iron ring jerked out along the spar the halliard tightened" Make sense to you? Me either.
I feel that there is a difference between attention to detail and too much detail, especially for us landlubbers who have no idea what he's on about (he doesn't explain it!).
The plot seems to take second place to the author's need to show off his knowledge of seafaring and I was sadly disappointed.
I also found the characters totally forgetable and shallow.
Up to page 42 there is more jargon than plot.
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History lives in these novels
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-06-24
2 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
In his second book of the Nathaniel Drinkwater series, Richard Woodman continues to show his ability to communicate the events of the time in an interesting and somewhat suspenseful way. Nathaniel Drinkwater is second in command on the Royal Navy cutter Kestral which seems to keep finding itself in harm's way as the winds of war blow across Europe in the late 1790's. Those of us who grew up reading about the adventures of Captain Horatio Hornblower are returned to the days of sail again. You can feel the wind and smell the salt air as Drinkwater's adventures continue. Good stuff.
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Retail Price: $14.95
Our Price:$6.50
That's 57% Off!
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