Stranded in Portsmouth, John Pearce has once again failed to secure the release of those who depended on him his fellow Pelicans. They have been shipped off to the Mediterranean while he was indulging himself in London. So he must take ship and follow them. His application to William Pitt for a place finds him as 8th lieutenant on HMS Victory, flagship of Admiral Lord Hood. South and ahead of him, his Pelicans are serving under a flogging captain, but all is not lost as each of the gang does what he can to promote himself O Hagan fights to establish his place in the below decks hierarch; Taverner carves out a niche where his trickery can work to the gang's advantage; Gherson ends up as secretary to Rear Admiral Ralph Barclay. As the action moves to the main French Mediterranean port of Toulon, the tension between crews and captains intensifies, coming to a brilliant head when the HMS Brilliant is detached from the fleet under the orders of Captain Horatio Nelson, bound for North Africa.
--This text refers to the
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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'High adventure and detection; cunningly spliced battle scenes which reek of blood and brine; excitements on terra firma to match' Literary Review 'John Pearce, the hero, is refreshingly different... I can't wait to read the next in the series' Historical Novels Review
--This text refers to the
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About the Author
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944 and has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The author of a number of bestselling books, he know lives in Deal with his wife, the novelist Sarah Grazebrook and their two children.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A complex and at times deadly naval adventure,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: An Awkward Commission (John Pearce) (John Pearce 3) (Hardcover)
Naval history buff David Donachie presents An Awkward Commission, the latest historical novel set in following the life of reluctant seaman John Pearce. Though Pearce is finally free to follow his dreams rather than serve in King George's Navy, his closest friends have the misfortune to be shanghaied off to the Mediterranean under the command of a ruthless tyrant. Unable to call in aid from any higher authority, Pearce must board a ship and follow them. A complex and at times deadly naval adventure, filled with power plays and plot twists; pure excitement from cover to cover.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining,
By
This review is from: An Awkward Commission (John Pearce) (John Pearce 3) (Hardcover)
Now a lieutenant, John Pierce wakes up after a drunken binge in a inn and discovers that he has allowed his friends to get pressed back into the navy. For a landsmen with no particular love of the sea, what is a young officer supposed to do? Follow, of course! After finagling a Admiral into giving him the job of mail carrier, John travels to the Mediterranean to liberate his buddies, but soon becomes embroiled in Naval politics.
This was an entertaining, albeit short read. John is a fun character, although I felt in this book he was a tad whiny. I know being pressed into the navy in book 1 was awful, but he really needs to get over it. His resentment and complaining just make him seem a bit of a loser. I also was bored with his vow of revenge against Barclay. Yeah Barclay was a jerk... But does he deserve death? I don't think so. I'd rather see John focuse his attention on something more worthwhile...Such as his career. Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read.... I can't wait for the sequel.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Character Creation,
By
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This review is from: An Awkward Commission (John Pearce) (John Pearce 3) (Hardcover)
Good character creation and interesting story line. I will be reading all of this series I can get my hands on.
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First Sentence:
The square was full of people, the ground covered in a putrid mixture of human and animal ordure, laced with blood and white viscous entrails that sucked at his boots. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
marine royale, commanding admiral, oilskin pouch, muster book, common seaman Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ralph Barclay, Lord Hood, John Pearce, Captain Barclay, Admiral de Trogoff, Lieutenant Pearce, Admiral Hotham, Emily Barclay, Captain Gould, Adam Pearce, Admiral Graves, Grande Rade, First Lieutenant, King George's Navy, William Pitt, Toby Burns, Captain Freemantle, French Navy, Admiral St Julien, Peg Bamber, Mont Faron, Charlie Taverner, Tour de Mitre, Ben Walker, Michael O'Hagan Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The square was full of people, the ground covered in a putrid mixture of human and animal ordure, laced with blood and white viscous entrails that sucked at his boots. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
marine royale, commanding admiral, oilskin pouch, muster book, common seaman Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ralph Barclay, Lord Hood, John Pearce, Captain Barclay, Admiral de Trogoff, Lieutenant Pearce, Admiral Hotham, Emily Barclay, Captain Gould, Adam Pearce, Admiral Graves, Grande Rade, First Lieutenant, King George's Navy, William Pitt, Toby Burns, Captain Freemantle, French Navy, Admiral St Julien, Peg Bamber, Mont Faron, Charlie Taverner, Tour de Mitre, Ben Walker, Michael O'Hagan Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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