Customer Reviews

A Fine Tops'l Breeze (War of 1812 Trilogy, Volume 2)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first volume of White's War of 1812 trilogy was well written and interesting but did not tell much of a story. This second volume addresses that deficiency. It does tell a decent story and does so in an enjoyable fashion.

Like the first, this book tells two parallel stories that only come together right at the end. On the one hand, the story of Isaac Biggs continues as he sails as third mate on an American Privateer. The second thread concerns his buddies from his days as a sailor pressed into the Royal Navy. They are now sailing on an American frigate. That frigate is the Chesapeake, the one captured by the HMS Shannon. They are taken as POWs to Halifax where they rot in prison. The story comes together as the privateers attempt to release the captives, and act the US Navy can't or won't attempt.

As was the first, this is a refreshing view of fighting sail given from the point of view of Americans rather than the British. It is well done and I hope the writing continues to improve.

White's second volume in the War of 1812 Trilogy is superb! The action as we follow Isaac Biggs and his shipmates raiding British shipping in the Winter North Atlantic is great and the simultaneous action on USS Constellation with Jack Clements as they try to get to sea from Baltimore gives some insight to the problems experienced by the US Navy in this war. I was right there as the British stormed aboard the USS Chesapeake on June 1 1813 and accompanied the American survivors to Melville Island prison in Halifax. The concluding action which brings Isaac and his Navy mates back together is excellent. It will be hard to wait until Fall for the third and final volume. An outstanding read for all maritime history buffs.

I had been reading almost all of Patrick O'Brian's and Alexander Kent's historical naval novels, which are written from the English Navy's perspective. It was such a treat to discover William White's War of 1812 Trilogy, which is from the early American Navy's perspective. I am not a very critical reader ... having tried my hand at a few novels, I know how difficult the process is. I just enjoy the stories and allow myself to get caught up in the adventure. William White's 1812 Trilogy is a great adventure. I really liked each of these books!

Prentice Kinser III, D.Min. Author of: Limitless Living, A Guide to Unconventional Spiritual Exploration and Growth

This is the second novel in a trilogy. The main problem I have with this novel is the continual jumping back and forth between scenes of action, sometimes without finishing action in progress. The author still seems to have a problem writing characters out of situations he has written them into. He also sometimes has a tendency to write with an echo, repeating information he has already provided.

Overall, it is a somewhat interesting tale, covering about a year's time from late 1812 to late 1813 during the earlier stages of the War of 1812. It involves action in North American waters aboard both privateers and U.S. Navy frigates, and some interesting aspects of that time period, including the active trade between New England and Canada while the countries were at war.

The author has a tendency to write characters out of the plot by noting that they were killed in the last battle, although the action itself may or may not be included. Casualties in naval service were very high from battles, accidents (including shipwrecks), and disease. It is unlikely, however, that privateers would have fought with each other as there was little profit in that. C. Northcote Parkinson, in his novel "Devil to Pay," describes the attitude of privateers in regard to profit. Privateers and smugglers gave their first loyalty to money.

On an historical note, the War of 1812 was a war that should not have been fought. Issues between the countries had been resolved at meetings in London, and dispatches were sent to the American government. Before the dispatches arrived, the hawks in the U.S. Congress prevailed in passing a Declaration of War. The war resulted in a large number of deaths and disabilities, and substantial losses to commerce and property. The U.S. gained nothing of any substance. That lesson seems to have been lost by later generations.

The autobiography of Charles Tyng, "Before the Wind," starts at the end of the war and documents the re-emergence of U.S. maritime commerce following the war.