H.M.S. Cockerel

by Dewey Lambdin

Book Overview

The year is 1793 and after four years spent ashore, the thrill of the high seas awaits Alan Lewrie once more. Finding life as a gentleman farmer and family man oppressive, Lewrie is gratified when Revolutionary France threatens war and the Royal Navy beckons. All does not go smoothly, though, as he soon finds himself aboard the HMS Cockerel dealing with a difficult captain and disgruntled crew. Once in the Mediterranean, he throws caution to the wind...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590131312
• ISBN13: 9781590131312
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: McBooks Press
• Length: 446 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Alan Lewrie meets the French Revolution

Lieutenant Alan Lewrie seems to be getting good at this navy thing. In this sixth in the series, it's January 1793 and four years have passed since Lewrie returned home to his wife and kiddies (three of them now); the matrimonial state, as well as playing the almost-squire, is beginning to wear on him just a bit. The French Revolution is under way, though, and renewed war with a very different sort of France is in the air. Lewrie is called up by the Admiralty (he debates whether to accept for, oh, . . . two minutes), but his enemies see to it that he gets shunted to the Impress Service. But that provides an opportunity to get his own back with his detestable half-brother, Gerald, so it's not all wasted time. Then he gets posted to COCKEREL, a 5th Rate frigate under the hard hand of Capt. Braxton, an ultra-nepotistical near-psychopath who is determined that this last opportunity in his career to make his mark will go absolutely perfectly -- even if he has to flog every member of the crew and bully every officer to do it. Lewrie is between the proverbial rock and hard place, between a micro-managing captain who is impossible to please but whose will he must enforce, and a crew nearing mutiny. But all that, while a very well painted portrait of a ship on its way to disaster, is still only the background for the set-piece of this book, which is the disastrous Allied capture and occupation of, and final rout from, the Royalist Mediterranean city of Toulon -- the victim of divisive party politics back in London. Of course, no matter how much Lewrie might truly love his wife, he still can't keep his breeches zipped. First, there's Lady Emma Hamilton in Naples (and he gets there before Nelson), and then there's the adorable little French whore, Zoe, whom he rescues from death at the hands of the Republicans. But Lewrie's big discovery is just how loud a bang a naval mortar can make. And there's also an encounter on the beach with an artillery colonel named Buonaparte, just to keep things interesting. And, by the end of the story, our lieutenant -- now over the hill (in his opinion) at age thirty -- makes his next jump up the ladder of success. An excellent episode in the series. (And Waterloo is still twenty-two years away!)

HMS Cockerel

This is the first Alan Lewrie novel I've read, and though starting in the middle of a series might be off-putting, I was instantly hooked. There are some great character profiles here, particularly the weak and horrible Captain Braxton. Lewrie is a great mixture of the upright English imperial master of all he surveys while at sea, and on shore, a captive of the baser desires. The only shorcoming of this novel is the excessive use of outrageous Frrrench accents (to borrow from Monty Python) by some minor characters, that grated. Problem being, every French character seemed to 'ave exactement zee same amount of mal Ainglish at zer deesposal. Otherwise, a great read.

OUTSTANDING

This is in most respects the best Alan Lewrie adventure to date. Great sea adventure, great human adventure, great story. Dewey Lambdin has created a lovable, believable hero. One that is so human, he feels guilty about it. If you are a history buff, a Navy Sea Story buff, or just enjoy a good story that is peopled with real characters that behave like real people, then you will enjoy Dewey Lambdin's Alan Lewrie. Very Highly Recommended.

One of the best naval historical fiction series to date.

Dewey Lambdin does an excellent job portraying the image of living and working a wooden sailing vessel as well as give a feeling for what it was like in the British navy of the late 1700s. Unlike other authors who use the British navy as a setting for a plot, the author evokes the feeling that you are part of the character and the story is happening to you. The protaganist is a normal young man who was kicked out of the house for being to hard a child to handle (supposedly). Part of the assocoation with the protaganist comes from the down to earth situations he gets himself into. Like any other young 'buck' in his late teens, early twenties, he doesn't always think with his head on his shoulders when he is looking for a good time. This is definately the series for you if you want an honest look at life in the King's navy with the attending comradere, boredom and technical details. It is not for those who feel that thinking/acting like a sex a sex starved young man is unacceptable. I suggest you start reading as early in the series as you can. Start with 'The King's Coat' (if available, it might be out of print), move on through 'The French Admiral', 'The King's Commission', 'The King's Privateer', 'The Gun Ketch' and 'HMS Cockrel'. 'For King and Country' is a trilogy that begins where the protaganist begins to settle down and contains 'The King's Commission', The King's Privateer' and 'The Gun Ketch'. It will be interesting to see how the author handles the young man coming of age. That telling of that kind of transition is what will really determine if the author is as good as he appears to be.

Lt. Lewerie's Latest Sea Adventure - Pre Napolean

Our hero Lt. Alan Lewrie is called back to service in the British Navy in the late 18 century as England finds itself at war with France. Now the First Lieutenant of HMS Cockerel Lewrie finds himself aboard a ship with a tyranical Capt. and his family. Fate deals him a sudden twist and he winds up in Italy meeting Lady Hamilton prior to her escapades with Capt. Nelson. Then onto the battle of Toulon a little known war of pre-Napoleonic France. Lambdin is growing with his creation. Now melding fiction with factual history to bring us a vivid portrayal of the British Navy at the turn of the 18th century. If you like this gendre by all means read this action packed book. Having read all the authors in this period I welcome any questions on authors of the Napoleonic, Revolutionary and War of 1812 fictional sea stories.