Captain Kilburnie: A Novel [Hardcover]

William P. MacK (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

A swashbuckling novel that charts the glorious rise of Fergus Kilburnie through the ranks of Nelson's navy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Compelling. The book has plot, the characters have motivation, the action is exciting and the background is authentic. -- Annapolis Capital --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

William P. Mack is an award-winning author who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars before retiring as a Vice Admiral. The novel he co-wrote with his son, South to Java, was a Book-of-the-Month Club award winner. He brings his unique voice and experience to this historical, swashbuckling adventure set in the age-of-sail. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 367 pages
• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557505861
• ISBN-13: 978-1557505866
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,412,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sink Captain Kilburnie Before More Trees Die, March 9, 2000

By 

Richard Staley (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captain Kilburnie: A Novel (Hardcover)

What utter dreck! The only reason I finished this wretched work was because I paid full retail for it (and then only succeeded by skipping large tracts, which did not diminish from the story one wit.) Admiral Mack may be good with fictional accounts of modern destroyer operations, but in a genre dominated by the late (lamentably) and superb Patrick O'Brian, Mack has no place. His story is plodding. To call his characters "cardboard cutouts" is to insult cardboard. He has absolutely no feel whatsoever for the Age of Fighting Sail and has concocted some of the lamest, modern colloquilism-laden dialogue I have ever read. He handles nautical details with the aplomb of a third grade textbook. The book jacket says (warns!) that the author is working on a sequel. The admiral would be better advised not to waste his time. The US Naval Institute, his publisher, should spare the trees which a sequel will needlessly consume. An utter disappointment -- stick with Aubrey and Maturin, Horatio Hornblower or even Ramage, if you must, but don't waste your money on Kilburnie.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This could have been a good book., January 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Captain Kilburnie (Mass Market Paperback)

The author had a good plot and enough basic knowledge of sailing ships to write a decent book. Unfortunately, he apparently lacked a strong editor to send the book back for a second draft. The vapid dialog needed re-writing and his characters could use a little more depth. In addition, there were several places in the book that read like a paragraph or more was accidently left out. For example, Kilburnie is suddently a captain, but the book doesn't tell us how he found out about his promotion. Finally, Mack's description of how the British Navy operated (for example, how Captains were assigned to ships) is very different from how every other author I've read has descripted it. Overall, there are many better choices to choose from if you want to read about 18th & early 19th Century sailing ships.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Filled with good characters and sharp actions, April 7, 2000

By 

Kenneth S. Smith (Goleta, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Captain Kilburnie: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book is similar in style to the great books of Captain Frederick Marryat. The writing is simple in style and straight forward. The main character starts low and ends high. Not one of the greatest of this genre that I have read, but I loved this book. Angus Kilburnie is a young Scotsman that is caught with the daughter of an Irish lord and banished. He decides to make his life at sea as did his Grandfather. With the aid of his naval veteran Uncle, he is assigned to a "good ship" and does well. He is promoted from the ranks to midshipman and through good service to lieutenant. As lieutenant on a new ship, he has a foul captain and is pawned off by the bad captain to serve as First Lieutenant on a transport (a converted 74). He goes on to do great deeds on this ship and beyond. To disclose more would spoil the fun. Filled with good characters and sharp actions. If you love books about the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, this one is not to be missed. I anxiously await the sequel. Be sure to check out the excellent WWII Destroyer books by Adm. Mack. Especially don't miss "South to Java", one of the greatest works of fiction I have ever read in any category!