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King, Ship, and Sword

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Synopsis

December, 1801. The Peace of Amiens ends the long war with Napoleon Bonaparte's France, but Captain Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy, is appalled by its consequences. What is a dashing and successful frigate captain to do with himself ashore on half-pay? And where will Lewrie twiddle his thumbs until the war begins again, as he's sure it will? Rejoin his wife and in-laws who (mostly) despise him like the Devil hates Holy Water, on his rented farm in Surrey? Peace and domesticity are hellish hard on the rakehells!
Yet by the spring of 1802, Lewrie and his Caroline have somewhat reconciled and are off to make a go of a second honeymoon—in Paris, France, of all places! There, Lewrie finds himself rubbing shoulders with soldiers, spies, and even First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte himself. When Lewrie can't help spurring Napoleon into a "kick-furniture" rage, he and Caroline must flee for their lives.
When war breaks out again in May of 1803, Lewrie has fresh orders, a new frigate, and a chance to punish and pursue the French, but it's no longer for duty or king and country—now it's personal!

Details

04 January 2011
368 pages
9780312668198
Imprint: St. Martin's Griffin

Reviews

“Stunning naval adventure, reeking of powder and mayhem. I wish I had written this series.” —Bernard Cornwell

“His mastery of period naval warfare gives his battles real punch.” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers who haven't yet sampled Lewrie's adventures need only know that comparisons to Forester and O'Brian are entirely appropriate.” —Booklist

“The best naval adventure series since C. S. Forester.” —Library Journal