Customer Reviews

In Gallant Company (Richard Bolitho Novels)

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Of all the writers of historical naval fiction, Alexander Kent has by far the most inspiring titles. His titles suggest action and adventure and his novels appear to deliver. Unfortunately, readers might be inclined to take this novel less seriously than it warrants because of the title. That would be a shame as In Gallant Company has serious themes to it.

In Gallant Company is set in 1777 during the American Revolution and features Richard Bolitho who starts as a lowly lieutenant on a ship with 6 of them. The parallels to the British position in the 13 colonies and the American position in Vietnam are extensive; long supply lines, no great sense of purpose, atrocities on both sides, overwhelming firepower that is essentially useless, large neutral countries supporting the enemy and the inability to readily tell friend from foe. Some of the rebels have English accents and some of the royalists have American accents. Bolitho is participating in a truly nasty civil war.

The Revolution is the "bloody war" that junior naval officers look for and advancement comes to the talented Bolitho as much through attrition as through his heroism. War, as Kent describes it, is brutal and some horrible injuries are described graphically. While the title implies action, and Kent delivers it in spades, In Gallant Company is very realistic in its details especially in the effects of shot and shell on men.

In Gallant Company is an action tour-de-force and is suitable for all ages old enough to read it.

This is the first Richard Bolitho novel written, and the fourth by the series internal chonology. Bolitho begins the spring of 1777 as Fourth Lieutenant in the eighty-gun Trojan lying in New York harbor. Because of the death in action of one of his superiors and the capture of another, he ends as Second Lieutenant and then, to his surprise, as prize master of a captured American brig -- during the operation of which he manages to grab yet another enemy ship, which is more than enough to give him his step to Commander in the next book! Bolitho is an officer in the Hornblower mode -- self-possessed, self-critical, and sometimes prey to self-doubts -- which is to say, he's closer in some ways to a late-20th century man than a true denizen of the 18th century (like O'Brien's Jack Aubrey). The chracterizations are carefully done and the action is clearly described without being overly technical (also a difference from O'Brien). Note: I personally find series like this more interesting when the characters are younger and lower in rank, fighting smaller vessels. Flag rank tends to remove the officer -- and the reader's viewpoint -- too far from the "front lines."

This volume in the long Bolitho series has added value for North Americans. It takes place along and off the east coast of the American colonies early in their rebellion. Here we have an English view to match (and out-write and out-excite) the American view purveyed by James Nelson in his Biddlecomb series. Bolitho has the distinct advantage (to American readers) of growing up in the British Navy earlier in history than most of the other fictional naval heroes from the Age of Fighting Sail, who are confined to the Napoleonic World Wars postdating the American Revolution.

4th Lt. Bolitho is now small fry on a large third-rate (80-gun) ship. Tasked to supress rebel privateers working close inshore, duty combines endless waiting, tense anticipation, and the sudden shock of small and bloody actions. Bolitho is centrally and most audaciously involved in successive fierce actions, 2 in small boats, 1 between brigs, 1 aboard a 3rd-rate, and once in the taking of a fort ashore. As we see the chances of battle visibly empty the ranks above him, he advances by skill and survival. Kent does a great job of developing characters here, as we can even understand the motivations of the arrogant and the cowardly officers with whom Bolitho is juxtaposed, and with whom he must deal at critical moments. In the course of rising in rank Bolitho collects another devoted acolyte, a midshipman, and begins to build a reputation in the fleet for dash and success through unorthodox, bloody, and killing conflicts.

The narrative structure is somewhat loose and episodic. The cover art is exciting and "ripped from the very pages" of this novel, but there are absolutely no other visual aids like maps, sail plans, or ship diagrams. Kent focuses on exciting action rather than technical details, and from the point of view of the seamen and under officers in these early novels. So far Bolitho has been blessed with mostly competent and empathetic superiors rather than hacks or unprofessional political appointees, and visibly grows in the abilty to command.

The action in this novel covers the early years of the American War of Independence and the Royal Navy's Richard Bolitho is involved in a series of operations, mainly in small sailing units, aimed at preventing French supplies reaching the American forces. Much of the action takes place very close inshore and Kent conveys very effectively the nerve-racking nature of manoeuvring in shallow water and adverse winds. The political background is particularly well conveyed and we see it through the eyes of a conscientious young British officer, who is more concerned with doing his own immediate job well than with the rights and wrongs of the greater conflict. It is indeed one of the strengths of Kent in this and in later novels that he does not try to graft modern views and values on to his characters. Bolitho, though a humane and decent man, and an inspiring and tough leader, who does not shirk from the use of the cat when it is merited, is nevertheless a man of his own time and not ours. It is this stepping back into a internally-consistent recreation of the past, in its values and attitudes as well as its outward forms, that is one of the great attractions of this series of novels.

All of Mr. Kent's novels are excellent and completely enthralling. Richard Bolitho is an interesting and in-depth character sailing in a dangerous and fascinating time period. Dozens of unique characters crew the warships, all of them rich with personalities. Many do not survive the perilous adventures. These solid tales are alive with bloody sea battles, long voyages, violent storms, brutal superior officers, ruthless pirates and deadly mutinies. The books are all well researched and absolutely great reading. I highly recommend any and all of his works. Mr. Kent (Douglas Reeman) is a true English gentleman who does respond to his fan mail. The tale behind him choosing Alexander Kent is quite touching. Again, I found them all to be excellent and look forward to the new books that will round out the life and career of Bolitho and the rumored fresh tales of his nephew,but I don't wish to betray any secret. So scamper up the rigging, run out the 32 pounders and stand by to repel boarders. "Ahoy deck there! Sail hull down, port quarter, Sir. French frigate." "Very well! Stand by for action".

Richard Bolitho is assigned in this story as fourth lieutenant on the 80 gun two-decker third rate ship-of-the-line, Trojan. The year is 1777 and they are anchored off Staten Island as part if the inshore squadron under Admiral Coutt. Trojan's captain is the remote Captain Pears, and the first lieutenant a man named Cairns. In our modern navy, Cairns would be called the Executive Officer--next under the captain in the chain-of-command.

There is much action for Trojan, both as convoy escort, and in attacking a fort in North Carolina and again in the Carribean. Bolitho is of course heavily involved, in shore parties, as well as sea battles, and eventually gets temporary command of a prize and undergoes a sea battle in his own command.

This is a great series, and Kent (a pseudonym) displays more than a speaking acquaintance with the royal navy, its customs and conditions, in the late 18th century (not the 19th, as the Library Journal says in their review).

This is the third in the Richard Bolitho series, preceded by Midshipman Bolitho, and Stand into Danger. I am currently reading the fourth book in the series, Sloop of War. It is a thoroughly entertaining series, especially (but not exclusively) for aficianados of sea stories, and particularly historical square-riggers.

I recommend that the reader begin with the first book of the series, Midshipman Bolitho, and read them in order as they portray the protagonist, Richard Bolitho, through his career in sequential order. Each story does stand alone, however.

It is interesting to see the American Revolution through the eyes of an officer in the Royal Navy.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Kent's writing here (and in v.1&2) isn't geared for the ultra-knowledgeable Jack Tar, but for those whose feet are at least damp from the sea spray. No foot notes, but not much exotic vocabulary, either.

The writing style and non-stop adventure seem better suited for an action movie or adolescent reading. Now, that said, it would make a great action movie, and I would encourage younger kids to read it.

If you're shoaled on O'Brian's highly technical writing, give this a try. Chock full of adventure, a young boy is growing up in the Royal Navy. There are the continuing steotypes he uses to learn from (the overly-harsh lieutenant, the distant captain, etc.)

Bonus for us Yanks, this volume is set in America during the Revolution.

A good read: quick, easy. Read it to your kids, just to get them loving the sea early.

This series of novels is excellent, but if you really want the best novels about this era in British Naval history, you should read the Patrick O'Brian novels (the movie Master & Commander was based on the O'Brian books). They give you a much deeper understanding of that era, ashore as well as at sea. You will also want to get "A Sea of Words" by Dean King which is an encyclopedia of nautical and other terms of the period. Wonder what a "fid" is, or a "main topgallant studdingsail" is, or what "spotted dick" is? "A Sea of Words" will tell you.

"In Gallant Company" is an engrossing tale of the British Navy fighting against the American Revolutionairies, which makes it of particular interest to the American reader. In this story the protagonist, Lieutenant Richard Bolitho of the British Navy, is assigned to a Ship of the Line which is trying to suppress the shipments of arms by France to the American Revolutionaries. The author's British perspective view of the Revolution is interesting, and this story is well-written and holds the reader's interest throughout.

As an American (of English descent) I particularly enjoyed this one, and I must confess that I was in the odd position of rooting against the English in favor of my Americans. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable reading experience for the American reader who enjoyes taught naval fiction. The author's prose is quite good, although I will say that C.S. Forester's, in the Hornblower series, is better. At times I had trouble following exactly what was going on in some of the action scenes. No matter, most readers will enjoy this one. I did. RJB.

For those who enjoy naval fiction and expect something of quality (an O'Brian or Forester, perhaps) these books will prove to be disappointing. They are not bad, just not very well written; perhaps more suitable for teenage than adult readers. In addition to an abundance of clichés, Kent/Reeman employs bizarre similes which `slap' the reader out of the narrative, straight back to the printed page. In addition, the novels tend to be predictable and over sentimental. They are not bad but they are not that good, either.