The Fox and the Fury (Ulverscroft Large Print Series) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Dan Parkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000 | Series: Ulverscroft Large Print Series

In the bestselling tradition of Patrick O'Brien, Dan Parkinson has created a rollicking saga of men at sea, from the splintering, heavy hulls of frigates locked in battle to the desperate flights of merchantmen laden with contraband.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Parkinson's 1989 nautical adventure finds Patrick Dalton at the helm of the bark Mystery making a hasty getaway from Britain's colonies in the New World amid accusations of treason. The ship, however, quickly proves to be an even riskier business, as its cargo of canons makes it too heavy to navigate safely. His only chance for survival is to steal another craft from pirates.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

The late Dan Parkinson authored 38 novels, including best-sellers in four c

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Linford (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0708942091
• ISBN-13: 978-0708942093
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,128,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Action and Humor, March 1, 2009

By 

P. Keene "Pipester" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fox and the Fury (Fox series) (Hardcover)

Patrick Dalton sails again in The Fox and the Fury with no friends except his faithful crew. Still loyal to the king despite being wrongly accused of treason, he is pursued by the Royal Navy, the British Army and a British lawman (a sort of English Inspector Javert). Fair game for colonial (whig) privateers and navy, he is also hunted by loyalist (tory) raiders because of his cargo. As if that's not enough, he runs afoul of Spanish pirates whose insane captain makes Dalton's destruction a personal project. Plenty of action, as you can imagine. Of course, setting up all these conflicts makes for a long exposition and it is 100+ pages before Dalton and his crew are afloat. Be sure to read the The Fox and the Faith first, or this may not hold your interest. Once Dalton raises his sails, however, the action is lively and carries the reader without pause to the end of the book.

Parkinson give more rein to his humor than in the first book of the series, to great effect. Sometimes it's just a phrase that brings a smile ("Constance has a whim of iron."), but Parkinson also sets up extended tropes that create several charming "who's on first" moments. The sailmaker is a ringer for Benjamin Franklin and no colonial can be dissuaded from believing that is his identity, to the bewilderment of all Britishers. The language games are endless and hilarious. There are two Indians aboard who speak broad Cockney, which only one crew member, a Londoner, can understand. There is only one man who can speak German with the five Hessian deserters who serve as marines. Mix in the Spanish pirates and some French non-combatants and we get wonderful misunderstandings and translations of translations that play out like a game of telephone.

After a slow start, TFATFury is a cracking good read with hold-your-breath action and wry humor. Read it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Patrick Dalton's Second Sail, May 10, 2001

By 

Tom Dixen (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fox and the Fury (Fox series) (Hardcover)

Set in the 1770's, this book continues the story of a young Irish sailor named Patrick Dalton, an ex RN Lieutenant, attempting to maintain his association with the sea following accusations of treason against him by his former employers; details of which can be found in Dan Parkinson's previous book, "The Fox and the Faith".

Patrick and his rag tag motley crew, some of whom sailed with him on his earlier adventures, have found and restored a trading ketch, a casualty of the naval confusion between the many ships of convenience that sailed the east coast of the American Colonies at that time.

Outfitting at the same time as Patrick's ketch, is a patriot owned, purpose built vessel intended for privateering. It is a fine ship, but before it can be completed the Redcoats are reported in the district. Consequently it is forced to sail with an incomplete crew. Patrick in the meantime has been able to obtain a somewhat illegal cargo for his ship from John Ramsay, who has also agreed to support Patrick with his outfitting. Squire Ramsay is the father of Constance who had been an 'accidental' sailor with Patrick Dalton on his previous command, the "Faith".

The story continues with Patrick, and his now augmented crew, adventuring their way out of the Chesapeake to points south. As with any story like this, they do it with skill and determination, against all the odds that fate throws at them. You can almost smell the salt as they take their ship from one exploit to another.

Dan Parkinson's descriptions of the various ships is creditable evoking an understanding of the differences between the many types of vessels then afloat, and of the problems that his characters undergo and attempt to solve as they endeavour to achieve their aims. He uses all the necessary nautical terms, but they are not overpowering to one who may not know them.

Parkinson's references to adventures that occurred in his earlier book about Patrick are not excessive, there are enough to enable you to read this book on its own, and still enjoy the earlier one.

As an enthusiastic reader of 'Age of Sail', it is a pleasant change to read about the smaller ships which probably had a greater effect on the events of the day than most people might believe.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Could have and should have been much better, February 24, 2001

By 

Scott Blake - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fox And The Fury (Paperback)

After "The Fox and the Faith", this one was disappointing. The author did little to develop Dalton's character, the story wasn't compelling, and there was little progression as one would hope to see in a series. Still, it did have some good points. Those were in the form of two American Indians who learned Cockney English. Their presence was hilarious, and helped save the book. As I've already purchased the next volume, my hope is that it is an improvement.