BOOK OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2008
UNDER ENEMY COLOURS
Sean Thomas Russell; £16.99
07181 5341-3
It could be argued that the market for seafaring adventures is full enough: that since Frederick Marryat spawned the novels of C S Forester’s Horatio Hornblower, which in turn inspired Patrick O’Brian and Jack Aubrey, we’re full to the gunwhales with maritime heroes and derring do on the high seas, but the exploits of Lieutenant Charles Hayden may yet find a place in the pantheon of adventurers – and would make a great action film.
Taking Marryat’s concerns with advancement through patronage to their ultimate conclusion, Hayden is unfortunate in having a French mother at the time of the Revolution in France, which calls his loyalty to the Crown into question. The novel is set onboard a British frigate, the Themis, and tells the tale of two very different Royal Navy officers: the ship's captain, Josiah (‘faint’) Hart, is a coward - incompetent, indecisive, tyrannical - but with excellent connections. In contrast, Hayden is a seafarer of impressive ability, well-educated and likeable, increasingly trapped between duty and honour, between an oppressive leader and a disaffected crew with leanings towards violence and possible mutiny.
A well-written narrative, with plenty of action and adventure, there is a lot of period detail to be had, and from the ending it is evident that there are further tales to be told than merely this introduction to Lieutenant Hayden – whose mother is married to a Bostonian ship-owner, perhaps allowing for some future transatlantic escapades? We do meet Henrietta, an attractive and talented relative of his best friend’s wife, but there’s no descent into sentimentality and – being the 18th century – everything is very properly conducted….
There is also some humour: when the ship’s surgeon is the worse for wear after an evening’s drinking, Hayden asks that he be taken to his cabin saying: “I believe he has a touch of seasickness”, the steward queries: “In port, sir?” to which the response is “I believe it was the claret”
All in all, a good yarn which places the reader in the midst of the action of battle. To be published in the UK in early March, this is an epic tale which should appeal to readers of Dudley Pope, Alexander Kent and Douglas Reeman – and many others besides.