Touch and Go

by C. Northcote Parkinson

Book Overview

With his Royal Navy commission in hand, Richard Delancey is posted to Gibraltar to command the sloop Merlin for convoy protection in the Mediterranean. Overcoming problems with his crew, Delancey quickly proves his mettle during the siege of Valletta and during the battle at Cadiz.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590130251
• ISBN13: 9781590130254
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: McBooks Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable read

The fourth book of the Richard Delancey series has him with his own command (just a sloop, but enough) and there's plenty of action without dwelling on the frustrations of inept higher commanders. Great research and authenticity, a lesser-known sphere of action, and a great writing style. A large number of books have been written in this genre, many by excellent authors, but this one stands on a par with the best.

Action in the Mediterranean

This is the fourth novel, chronologically, in the Richard DeLancey series. The first, "The Guernseyman," covered the beginning of his career in the Royal Navy. The next two, "Devil to Pay" and "The Fireship," covered his service as a lieutenant. The present novel starts with his promotion to command the sloop Merlin in early 1799 after serving 16 years as a lieutenant. Some officers were promoted due to connections and influence (see Frederick Marryat's "Frank Mildmay or the Naval Officer"), some by surviving and being at the right place when someone was needed (see Frederick Hoffman's "A Sailor of King George"), and some like the fictional DeLancey or Forester's Horatio Hornblower for exceptional action against the enemy.The Merlin is assigned to dreary convoy duty and carrying dispatches, but eventually sees action with the fleet at Malta in the capture of Valletta (see Showell Styles "The Malta Frigate" for more details about Malta). That is followed by further action and a brief meeting with Commander Lord Cochrane. DeLancey makes a side excursion which takes him to a slave market on the North African coast, before eventually arriving at Gibraltar in time for Rear Admiral Saumarez's attack against the combined French and Spanish fleets in July 1801 (a fictional account of that action will also be found in Patrick O'Brien's "Master and Commander," where he has replaced the real life Cochrane with the fictional Aubrey). Ordered home to England, DeLancey makes a detour for his own profit with some help from his old smuggler friend Sam Carter.The cover illustration, for unknown reasons, shows what appears to be a single masted cutter which seems to play no part in the story. There are a few technical glitches. The sloop Merlin is described as having 121 men and 24 guns, but later is said to have 9 men in each gun crew.As an added note, W. P. Gosset's "The Lost Ships of the Royal Navy" shows Commander Lord Cockrane's brig sloop Speedy was captured by the French fleet under Rear Admiral Linois on 3 July 1801, and taken into Algeciras two days before the British attack on the anchored ships on 5 July 1801 during which the Hannibal was lost.

As good as O'Brien, Pope, or Kent. Not to be missed!

This is the 3rd book in the Richard Delancy series by Parkinson. I had heard of these books for several years but until recently was not able to obtain one. Most of the action takes place in the Mediterranean Sea in 1799. Delancy, Captain of the sloop HMS Merlin, is sent on several escort missions, and encounters Lord Cochrane and his ship the sloop Speedy. Cochrane tries to enlist his aid in a little ambush of French sloops raiding British commerce...Not as epic in proportion to other books of this genre, but by all means a most excellent read.