Cross of St George (The Bolitho Novels) (Volume 22) [Paperback]

Alexander Kent (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Bolitho Novels | Publication Date: April 1, 2001

February 1813: As American privateers pick off British and Canadian ships in the wake of the War of 1812, Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho returns to Halifax to defend Crown property. In the cold waters off Nova Scotia, he fights fruitless skirmishes with men of the frontier, all the while longing for peace.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alexander Kent, pen name of Douglas Edward Reeman, joined the British Navy at 16, serving on destroyers and small craft during World War II, and eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. He has taught navigation to yachtsmen and has served as a script adviser for television and films. His books have been translated into nearly two dozen languages.

From AudioFile

Any fan of Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels or O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin sea stories will enjoy Kent's long-running series. In this entry, Captain Adam Bolitho commands a frigate and his uncle, Admiral Richard Bolitho, a fleet in Canadian waters during the War of 1812. Herein are lots of spectacular sea fights and lots of soap-opera-like visions of the characters' personal lives. Reader Michael Jayston has a somber British voice; he reads deliberately and somehow conveys the sense that the listener is with him. The strong emotions of the characters are put across with subtlety and skill in his low-key approach. D.W. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: McBooks Press (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935526927
• ISBN-13: 978-0935526929
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars so-so novel with feelings of doom, May 9, 2009

By 

Naor Wallach (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cross of St George (The Bolitho Novels) (Volume 22) (Paperback)

The war in Europe between England and France is coming to a close. Napoleon's forces are being defeated regularly and the focus is on land battles - which leaves England's Navy with little to do. Luckily for this series, there is another war going on - the war of 1812 with the United States. While England is focused on Europe, Admiral Bolitho is sent to Halifax to keep an eye on the American side.

There are some battle scenes in this book but they are not as well written as those on past volumes. The wonderful descriptions of the din and horror of naval battle in the age of sail, is simply not a factor in this book. I think that is because the author is maturing in his writing and is focusing more in the problems of command than on the brief periods of time when the guns have their say.

There are several story arcs that come together in this novel that are continuations of story lines from previous volumes: The love between Bolitho and Catherine is unextinguished and much in force, although it takes a back bench in this one; Allday has a daughter now and we read about his struggles to come to grips with staying in the navy and missing his daughter's first steps as well as other milestones in her new life. Since he never knew he had a son before, he did not know what he was missing until later, but now he is in his late 50's and he is getting more and more homesick; George Avery's story takes an interesting turn where he falls for a woman - as does Tyacke. With all of these men turning their thoughts to hearth and home, I was sure that the author was about to kill off one or more of them! Especially when he goes on to talk both about the marksmanship of the American sailors, as well as about their innovations in gunnery.

Another main story line that evolves a bit here is the one between Valentine Keen and Adam Bolitho. Val mourns Zenoria, but he is quickly captured by another woman while Adam mourns Zenoria and cannot understand how Val can move on in his life. An interesting little conundrum here is that Adam is Val's Flag Captain and runs his ship.

Given that Bolitho is a full Admiral, it is puzzling to note that Keen (A Read Admiral) remains in port in Halifax and attends receptions and takes care of all those things that one thinks of as an Admiral's lot, while Bolitho is almost constantly out to sea. I think this is becoming a bit of a bother as clearly the author is stretching things more and more to keep Bolitho in the fighting admiral role.

Another character who makes a brief appearance is Tom Herrick. He lost his arm and we see him in what is likely to be his last appearance as he comes in to be an investigator into a mutiny on board one of the frigates under Bolitho's command. He does say that he is going to quit the Navy after this, so I expect we will hear no more of him.

The other plot line has something to do with some revenge that some English Captain has against Bolitho dealing with how Bolitho dealt with his brother after a different mutiny 17 years before. There is really very little point to this whole thing except to set up some scenes so they seem to make sense. That part is rather confusing and there is no relevant explanation of what is going on (unlike Nathan Beer in previous novels), so that when the inevitable ultimate battle takes place, we have no idea why anyone would care about him or his battle needs.

So, I see this as yet another novel that is documenting some time in Dick Bolitho's life, but there is really little point in it. As a full Admiral, Bolitho should be in London consumed with other things than leading a single frigate in ship to ship action. I wonder how the next novels will play out with Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals in port and full Admirals commanding small frigate forces?

There is also a feeling of doom in this book. With all of his "Happy Few" talk, it really seems like the author is getting ready to kill off some of these characters. Certainly, I expected that at least one (Allday?) would be killed in the battle that is described at the end of the book. Well, that did not happen, but who knows what the next volume will bring?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Overwhelming Darkness, July 15, 2010

By 

Meredith A. Lahmann "Fantasy Lover" (Northern, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cross of St George (The Bolitho Novels) (Volume 22) (Paperback)

I have been a voracious reader of the Bolitho novels but Cross of St. George and the last two in the series have created a sense of overwhelming darkness. Even Bolitho himself, a paragon of good leadershio, is beginning to lose all sense of purpose beyond his empathy for the men in his command. The action scenes are, as usual, excellent, but the alienation of this fine officer from all around him is painful to read.
The Happy Few have nearly all been killed or maimed, and Kent seems intent on emotionally eviserating Bolitho as well as his nephew Adam. Even Herrick has become demoralized as well as maimed. There is no real point to the the War of 1812 leaving Englishmen to fight fellow Englishmen, although they now call themselves Americans. The Admiralty has learned nothing and continues to ask the impossible with too few ships while expecting miracles. Bolitho, a full admiral, is still constantly at sea with inadequate periods of recuperation. This is less a story of naval action than of extreme battle fatigue. While it has been Kent's genius to create a character so sympathetic that it is hard to put a Bolitho book down, the emotion destruction of that very character suggests that his future is limited. A common line in these novels begins..."If I fall today..." One expects that these men may fall gallantly in battle; it is sad that Mr. Kent seems intent on killing his main character by inches. Bolitho deserves to retire in happiness, but Cross of St. George traces the cutting down of a fine character "not with a bang but a whimper.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cross of Saint George, January 16, 2002

By 

Thomas J. Price (Amissville, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cross of St George (The Bolitho Novels) (Volume 22) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book, but did not think the story line was as strong as some of the earlier books in this series. I had a feeling the author was writing stories just to extend the series a few more volumes. But, since I am a Bolitho fan, I will probably end up buying all of them.