Jan Needle (1943–2023)

Why do sea novels always have to focus on officers? In this case a 15 year old up and coming young gentleman nephew of the tyrannical and insane captain. This book focuses enough attention on the "noble peasantry" to be found amongst the "drunken, animal rabble" that you wish more sea novels would take that approach because it's way more interesting than the hierarchical social conventions and imagined slights of the upper decks.
The book has the sort of stultifying, mannered prose that is comically suited to historical fiction. In that, it's a distant cousin of Mary Renault. it's just short of the enjoyable sort of boring that the best historical fiction is.

It's not good, but it's not bad enough that one can't finish it and has more than enough spicy flogging. However, I agree with the other reviewers who feel confused and disappointed that one of the least interesting characters ends up being the titular character of the series. It's like a secret Bildungsroman told at the expense of our best loved (and hottest!) characters. who is the rest of this series for? fans of boredom?… (more)