Continental Risque [Hardcover]

James L. Nelson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Pocket Books (1998)
• ASIN: B000MAJY46
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

More About the Author

I was born in a log cabin in the sea-side town of Lewiston, Maine.... Okay, maybe not a log cabin. And maybe Lewiston isn't exactly a seaside town. Despite that, my interest in ships and the sea began early, reading Hornblower and building ship models. In high school I built a fifteen foot sailboat, and with a friend, an eighteen foot canoe.
I graduated from Lewiston High School in 1980, if not with honors then at least with a diploma. After a year of hitchhiking and motorcycling around the country, I attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, later transferring to UCLA Film School (Official Motto: '...but what I really want to do is direct...') , from which I graduated in 1986. After working in the television industry for two years, I realized that I could not stand a) the television industry, b) Los Angeles and c) being ashore. In 1988 I joined the crew of the Golden Hinde (rhymes with mind), a replica of Sir Francis Drake's vessel of 1577. There I met a foretop person named Lisa Page, whom I beat out for the job of bosun. Lisa vowed then and there to marry me and make me pay for that for the rest of my life.
Leaving the Hinde in Houston, Texas, I worked aboard the brig Lady Washington (after my time she played the Interceptor in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie) and the ship 'HMS' Rose, (Surprise in Master and Commander, also after my time) I sailed aboard Rose for two years, as Able Bodied Seaman and Third Mate.
In 1993, I 'swallowed the anchor.' Lisa Page, made good on her threat and we married that year. The following year I finished By Force of Arms, my first book. I've been a full-time writer since then, with fourteen books either published or in the process of being published. My books have sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. My 2003 title Glory in the Name was selected as the winner of the American Library Association's W.Y. Boyd Award for Excellence in Military Fiction.
Recently, my writing has expanded to include non-fiction. My first work of non-fiction was Reign of Iron, a detailed look at the ironclads Monitor and Merrimack (Virginia, Benedict Arnold's Navy about the Revolutionary war naval battle that took place on Lake Champlain. My book George Washington's Secret Navy won the Naval Order's Samuel Eliot Morison award in 2010.
Lisa and I now live in Harpswell, Maine (which really is a seaside town), with our four children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well-paced and exciting nautical adventure story, August 11, 1999

By 

Ironmike (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Continental Risque (Revolution at Sea Saga #3) (Paperback)

The third novel in the series (a fourth is due out soon) is the best one yet. An exciting tale alive with history, battles, political turmoil, courage and cowardice. Captain Biddlecomb has developed into a seaworthy character who is brave, cunning and much to his discomfort, a patriot. The regional distrust between northern and southern politicians were most interesting, since most of the naval vessels were built, crewed and sailed from northern ports. The first contigent of Marines was a superb touch as was the first landings on a foreign shore. Much insight into the actual sailing of ships, positions of shore batteries, fortresses, local commanders were all presented in a fresh fashion. An excellent read, and am looking forward to the fourth novel. As I mentioned in my reviews of the first two books, far too many nautical terms that most landlubbers won't understand. But some really terrific sea battles, storms, neferous characters and dialog. I would like to see more books by Mr. Nelson, who really knows about sailing ships, perhaps the War of 1812, the Seminole War or something with the Barbary pirates. Perhaps another nautical series could develope about the Civil War featuring Biddlecomb's son(s)? That would be something to really look forward to.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nelson isn't Patrick O'Brian, he may be superior in his way., April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Continental Risque (Revolution at Sea Saga #3) (Paperback)

This is the third of a triology which will now have a sequel. Having read all of O'Brian's books, I found Nelson a pleasant change of pace. The story covers detail of the first exploits of the American Navy which moves at a pace not found in O'Brian's books. You won't find information on the variety of seagulls observed during the voyage, but the void is filled with more interesting insights of historical note. I recommend this series as an outstanding opportunity to enjoy a phase of American history not previously explored in my readings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A novel set in the opening days of the American Revolution, January 25, 2000

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Continental Risque (Revolution at Sea Saga #3) (Paperback)

Generally this is a good historical novel, and has more naval action than the author's last novel. The main problem is the author's refusal to allow the loss of a ship (and the main character's assignment to another ship). The story starts with an improbable, larger-than-life, rescue of the ship from where it was beached at the end of the previous novel. Making things too larger-than-life detracts from an otherwise good story. It is a good account of the creation of a fledgling navy. The politics described were a continuing problem for the young U.S. Navy for a long period of time, e.g., the appointment of officers based on connections rather than ability.