Man of War: Sir Robert Holmes and the Restoration Navy

Reading this marvelously written biography of a seventeenth-century English naval officer, I was reminded of Patrick O'Brien's fictional Jack Aubrey. On looking up the author, Richard Ollard, I learned that writing history was a sideline for him, as he is best remembered as the preeminent book editor of his time. Among the authors to whose works he stood as godfather was -- Patrick O'Brien.

Spirited and adventurous, Sir Rupert Holmes lived a life rich with escapades. Embarking on one of the strangest and most romantic episodes in naval history, he accompanied the exiled Prince Rupert on a cruise to Portugal, the Mediterranean, West Africa, and the West Indies. And, after the Restoration, Holmes--in perhaps the most successful single feat of arms of the century--succeeded in destroying a great part of the Dutch Merchant Marine. In a biography that overflows with as much excitement, intrigue, and vitality as its hero, all Holmes's contributions to England's seagoing supremacy--as well as the gusto of the Restoration period--shine forth. "A first-class account written with a nice mixture of humor, observation, and narrative show more skill."--C.V. Wedgwood.

Richard Laurence Ollard was born in Yorkshire on 9 November 1923, the son of Rev Dr S. L. Ollard, an Anglican clergyman. He was educated at Eton College where he was a King's Scholar. He joined the Navy during the Second World War and won an exhibition to New College, Oxford at its conclusion. For twelve years from 1948 to 1959 Ollard taught history at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in London. In 1960 he joined the publisher Collins as a senior editor, where he worked until his retirement in 1983. After his retirement from Collins he continued to research and publish widely and lived in Morecombelake, Dorset. He died of leukaemia on 21 January 2007. Richard was married to Mary (née Riddell) for 53 years & leaves 3 children & 5 grandchildren. show less