"A Private
Revenge" by Richard Woodman
A Nathaniel Drinkwater Novel
After defeating
and sinking a Russian two-decker off the west coast of America
with his own once two decker (now cut down to a frigate) the Patrician,
our Hero, Nathaniel Drinkwater, along with his crew and over 100
Russian prisoners, heads for China. After weathering a severe
storm, they come upon a dismasted trading brig, which they take
in tow and head up the Pearl River for Canton. There the British
are having trade and payment trouble with the Chinese. He repairs
his ship and is ordered by admiral Drury to escort several company
and country ships to Penang. He takes aboard a secret passenger
that some how has obtained the missing specie (silver payment
due to the traders). This person turns out to be Morris, a foul
and despicable past acquaintance, once a fellow midshipman and
commander. Morris sabotages the convoy and two of the ships are
lost to pirates, along with most of the specie. After escorting
the remaining ships to Penang, Morris convinces Drinkwater that
he knows where the pirates are and that both the ships and specie
can be recovered. They set sail and the treacherous Morris deserts
and takes Drinkwater's trusty boatswain as hostage. A couple of
vicious battles, one at sea and one in the very pirate's nest,
then ensue. The evil Morris turns out to have been the leader
of the pirates for years. But since there are more Drinkwater
novels, you know that most things turn out well in the end.
This was a
very good read, but I was not as taken with it as I was with other
similar series (O'Brian, Pope, Lambdin, Kent...). Maybe it was
because this book was the only one in the series I have thus far
been able to find and it is well into the sequence.
Reviewed by Ken Smith, 30 June, 1999
Available from:
Mariner' Library Fiction Classics
Sheridan House Inc.
145 Palisade Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com
