Customer Reviews

The Guineaman

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

 

 

Interesting as a historical novel. It moves right along. The plot is borderline believable, and quite a bit of the prose is purple. The subject of the slave trade is the subject of a study which just came out. I recommend The Guineaman for its historical interest.

First in a series by the excellent Richard Woodman that never quite took off in the same way that the Nathaniel Drinkwater series has.
Kite is a man on the run from a false charge of murder, who ships aboard a guineaman - a slave ship bound for the west coast of Africa as surgeon. What he witnesses during the voyage shocks him so much that he develops a conscience that doesn't allow the use of slaves in his business - to the extent that he marries a black princess, much to the horror and censure of his friends and colleagues.
Setting up shop in the W Indies on the fringes of the 7 Year's War, Kite weathers intolerance and nature's forces in a fast-paced, rollicking tale that continues in 'Privateersman'.
As always with Mr Woodman, a worthwhile read from a man who is steeped in the romance of the sea. ****

This book starts out on the dead run and doesn't let up until the last page. A series of very believable situations (as in Before the Wind by Charles Tyng) woven through by some serious "in your face" action (reminiscent of Thomas Lord Cochrane), this could be three or four novels but printed as one. I was concerned that all of the adventure would be used up in this book, but as we near the end, well.... you have to read it to really find out what happens. Seems, this is only the beginning of what may surely be a powerful series of novels. Richard Woodman bows to no man.