Dan Parkinson (1935–2001)

The Fox and the Faith (Pinnacle Books, 1989) is a rousing adventure that should please any reader of historic naval fiction. This is the first of a four-book series that features Patrick Dalton. It is 1777 and the American revolution is starting to shape up as serious bid for independence. A lieutenant in the Royal Navy unjustly accused of treason, Dalton escapes New York in the schooner Faith, the personal prize of Captain Hart of the frigate Courtesan. Dalton has already publicly called show more Hart a coward (with complete justification, of course) and Hart is maddened with a desire for revenge. Dalton is the hunted fox and the action of the book moves inexorably toward a resolution. There is plenty of seamanship and hot action, as well as a charming love story, along the way. All of the ship handling passages are aboard the Faith, and Parkinson seems to be a thorough master of fore and aft rigged craft. Nevertheless, Parkinson was a writer of action adventure and not a naval specialist and a few gaffes appear, especially concerning the frigate. Early in the book, he describes the frigate as having two gun decks. What makes a frigate a frigate is that it's a single decker (even if it mounts a few guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle). Moreover, it is a 44 gun frigate. Frigates of that size (super-frigates) did not appear for another 20 years, and then in the American navy, not the British. Finally, at one point, he called the Courtesan an first-rate ship of the line! These quibbles do not mar the enjoyment of the book. It's a corker -- go read it. show less

As The Fox and the Flag, the third book in Dan Parkinson’s Patrick Dalton series, opens, Dalton still walks the won’t-support-the-rebellion-because-I’m-a-loyal-British-officer-even-though-I’ve-been-unjustly-accused-of-treason-and-am-hunted-by-the-Royal-Navy tightrope. He clarifies his scruples a bit by saying that it is a matter of honor (read pride) for him and that he owes allegiance to the flag, not King George. Flags, in fact, are an ongoing leitmotif in this novel and several of show more the most important moments (as well as some of the funniest) hinge on flags. Dalton can’t offer himself to the beautiful and adoring Constance Ramsey until he “settles his debts, clears his name, and chooses his flag” and, before the end of the book, he has made considerable progress toward an acceptable resolution.

Along the way, the reader is treated to cracking adventure, charming humor and Parkinson’s well-drawn characters. We continue to enjoy not only Dalton’s wonderful crew, but Commander Croney, the Javert-like officer who hunts Dalton, as well as Senior Captain Selkirk, Dalton’s high-minded former mentor in the Royal Navy. I like nothing better than fine wordplay and much of the humor is based in language. Dalton tells Charlie Duncan that the duties of a first officer include securing the cargo, so, at their very first port of call, Duncan goes ashore and secures a cargo. I don’t want to spoil the book, so I’ll just say that the Fury’s cargo will bring smiles to the reader for the entire book. Parkinson doesn’t telegraph his jokes; (like Patrick O’Brian’s) they kind of sneak up you. You’ll be reading along and all of sudden you’ll realize, “Hey. That was funny.”

For all the wonderful things that make this a rich and interesting book, The Fox and the Fury is first and foremost a naval adventure. You will not want to put it down as you turn page after page of unparalleled seamanship, gripping action, brilliant tactics and inspired strategy. Parkinson supplies a sketchy back story, enough to enjoy this book on its own, but it is clear that he expects the reader to have read the first two of the series. You will enjoy TFATFlag more if you read the books in order. show less

Patrick Dalton sails again in The Fox and the Fury with no friends except his faithful crew. Still loyal to the king despite being wrongly accused of treason, he is pursued by the Royal Navy, the British Army and a British lawman (a sort of English Inspector Javert). Fair game for colonial (whig) privateers and navy, he is also hunted by loyalist (tory) raiders because of his cargo. As if that's not enough, he runs afoul of Spanish pirates whose insane captain makes Dalton's destruction a show more personal project. Plenty of action, as you can imagine. Of course, setting up all these conflicts makes for a long exposition and it is 100+ pages before Dalton and his crew are afloat. Be sure to read the The Fox and the Faith first, or this may not hold your interest. Once Dalton raises his sails, however, the action is lively and carries the reader without pause to the end of the book.

Parkinson give more rein to his humor than in the first book of the series, to great effect. Sometimes it's just a phrase that brings a smile ("Constance has a whim of iron."), but Parkinson also sets up extended tropes that create several charming "who's on first" moments. The sailmaker is a ringer for Benjamin Franklin and no colonial can be dissuaded from believing that is his identity, to the bewilderment of all Britishers. The language games are endless and hilarious. There are two Indians aboard who speak broad Cockney, which only one crew member, a Londoner, can understand. There is only one man who can speak German with the five Hessian deserters who serve as marines. Mix in the Spanish pirates and some French non-combatants and we get wonderful misunderstandings and translations of translations that play out like a game of telephone.

After a slow start, TFATFury is a cracking good read with hold-your-breath action and wry humor. Read it. show less

The Fox and the Fortune, first published in 1992, is Dan Parkinson’s final contribution to the Patrick Dalton series. A shame, that. Not only will I have to forgo more of Parkinson’s sparkling writing, but he leaves several plot elements unresolved. Perhaps he planned another volume that has not been delivered.

I certainly enjoyed all aspects of the book -- the action, DP's writing and the humor. Dalton, still searching for his place in the world-turned-upside-down of 1778, finds himself show more in conflict with pirates who use the confusion of war to prey on merchant shipping. The pirates are appropriately treacherous and bloodthirsty and the action is compellingly written. Parkinson's delightful humor (as usual) centers around the ill-assorted groups of people that seem to stick to Dalton -- a couple of Frenchmen, a band of castaways and a group of lubberly and locust-like English colonists. A quibble: I could wish that Parkinson's French were better. He puts errors in the mouths of characters who are not likely to have made them. He seems sometimes to be spelling French phonetically, as if he learned it by ear. All well and good, but please, get a copy editor who can fix the French! (I'm afraid this is a problem for a number of authors of Historic Naval Fiction, including some currently writing.)

Dalton continues to be surrounded by the impressively-drawn supporting characters from the earlier novels, including the irrepressible Duncan and the lovely Constance Ramsey and her “whim of iron.” Constance manages to bully her way into the male-dominated action, although Parkinson misses a chance to integrate her fully into the plot.

Knowing this was the last published book of the series, I expected Parkinson to settle Dalton's crisis of conscience, but I was disappointed not to get a final resolution. The pleasure that Parkinson's story-telling gives is as much a reason to desire another book as the need to see Dalton find his fortune, his flag, his faith -- and his girl. Alas, Dan Parkinson passed away in 2001, leaving a rich four-book legacy to readers of Historic Naval Fiction, not to mention his works of adventure and Science Fiction. show less