Customer Reviews

A Matter of Honor

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We are, thank goodness, seeing a nice groundswell of naval fiction in the age of sail: A Matter of Honor joins Russell's fine novel Under Enemy Colors, and there are many other books to choose from as well--some memorable, some not so memorable. Most of these books feature officers in the Royal Navy: the RN was certainly the largest and most active fleet of any nation. Unlike, say, the French fleet, often blockaded by the RN, the British ships were usually at sea, and thus had plenty for a protagonist to do. A Matter of Honor features Richard Cutler aboard ships of the Continental Navy. This is a natural handicap for any author insofar as it certainly limits the scope of action compared to a Hornblower, for example. So the interesting thing is to see how the author handles this literary handicap.

Cutler starts off as a midshipman under John Paul Jones and later rises to acting lieutenant. Cutler has had plenty of seagoing experience aboard his father's merchant vessels--but not in a role of giving orders, not in a warship-type chain of command. Hammond is fine with the naval details of the ships--there's a fine authenticity here. What does not ring quite as true is Cutler's role as a midshipman--it just doesn't feel quite right--as if the uniform were two sizes too small or something. For example, before the start of the first cruise, when the officers are assembled, Jones asks Cutler's opinion about the rigging and balance of the ship, and Cutler notes that among other things, the masts are straked too far forward. Even though it's not the RN and though Cutler has spent time at sea, it seems out-of-place. I was trying to imagine a 20-year-old new ensign on a US Navy WW II destroyer being asked that same type of question by the destroyer captain. I also didn't get a sense that Cutler was learning. A midshipman is in training to become a lieutenant: you need to learn to command. I think that the problem is that authors like their protagonists to protagonize, so to speak, to influence outcomes, to have a good degree of control, as opposed to being fully in the control of others. Frigate captains are very popular protagonists--lots of room for glorious independent action.

When Cutler becomes an acting lieutenant, that role seems to fit him much better: I was delighted to see him threatening a green midshipman with kissing the gunner's daughter. He fit well in that role, unlike when he was a midshipman: the chain of command seems proper here. There are well-described sea battles: the author has a good feel for these. The scenes ashore are not as interesting, however, but I'm not sure that with the US Navy at that time long, near-continual sea-duty (as in the RN) would be realistic.

It's unusual for an author of naval fiction in the age of sail to have the hero start as a midshipman. In many ways, however, this should be perhaps the most interesting part of a naval hero's career--it's where he learns from mistakes, learns command from the bottom, learns patience and perseverance. Hornblower, too briefly, is a midshipman. Dewey Lambdin's excellent Lewrie series starts Lewrie as a midshipman who must--literally--learn the ropes, and a lieutenant's threat of making him kiss the gunner's daughter sounds most appealing to him. There's a fine sense of the learning process. I didn't get that same sense that Cutler was learning, and I cannot recall any mistakes that he makes. But it's good to see someone start this way, and Matter of Honor is a fine first novel.

What a great read! From the first page to the final page, I was engrossed in both rich history and wonderful story. I found myself reviewing American History and being reminded of tremendous feats of courage and honor that were carried out in the time of the Revolutionary War. At the same time, the storyline keeps one turning the pages, and I truly was unable to put this book down as I needed to see what would become of the various characters. My only problem will be having patience while I await the second book in Hammond's series. MATTER OF HONOR is truly an excellent work; it is nothing less than outstanding!

He's not Hornblower
He's not Jack Aubrey
He's not Bolitho or Ramage or Lewrie

Cutler, our hero in this story is just plain not...

Not heroic or exciting. He is wordy and he is so fortunate as to meet and be a part to great events. He meets and has intimate dialogue with John Paul Jones and gets to become a worthy companion so as to get to the French Court and meet notables there. He has strong ties to England so he can do a turn there and meet Nelson. (Both sides of our heroes bread is buttered it would seem.)

He witnesses the end of the war of the revolution. As an American, since we won't have another war until 1812 (30 years later) perhaps we will be spared seeing him again. Since 50 is the now 80's what with medicine and the hardships of life in the late 1700's... Something tells me though that every little provocation that the US is involved in will have this hero, or his descendents involved.

The author ruins a good read with too many coincidences of being involved in the great events of the day. Then making our lowly midshipman capable of giving long paragraphs of what should be short dialogue. The genre that so many worthy others have tackled has more adventure and less preaching by the protaganist to establish their characters. More show, less tell perhaps is the rule.

The hero is supposedly going to war over the death of an elder brother but there seems little emotion over that except as the briefest overlay. He falls for a daughter of a British Post Captain in the course of a few weeks one summer while in his early teens. That daughter can turn her back on Sovereign England for the cause of the Rebels just because they are so in love.

Just can't believe it. Which further makes our hero that much harder to accept. Cutler the hero is too much favored by providecne to be believable and thus the whole tale is weakened by it.

They say this is Hammond's first book. Unbelievable! He absolutely nails the writing craft. Historically informative, driving plot, full characters, insightful naval warfare, perfect dialog, balanced, with love and history and flaws and honor and expectation all wrapped up within extraordinary writing. I hope this is the first in a long series, a series that lives as long as I do.

How exciting and what fun! No one writes books like this any more, and Bill Hammond has written the first in what is rumored to be the first of six. (Protagonist Richard Cutler looks like he's going to be with us for a long while.) This is a salt water pot boiler that makes history as exciting as a pennant race. Hammond captures the formality of the rules of engagement in a tautly restrained way that makes history burst alive all around you. Bring on the next one.

I was truly sorry I had reached the last page! What a fun and informative read. I appreciated the historical context, the English point of view, geopolitics on both a continental and island scale, descriptions of battle preparations (down to the names of individual sandbars), and characters I cared about. What a treat.

The imagery in this book is striking - I can just visualize how this saga would appear in a movie. The nautical terminology is very accurate (a glossary of terms is included!) and adds to the realism of this tale. It will be too long a wait for the next installment.

From start to finish the reader is captivated by the fast moving plot, fascinating historical facts and detail, intriguing characters beautifully fleshed out by the author and their honor and values when facing momentous difficulties during a time of great upheaval The characters and story lines stay with the reader long after the novel is finished,giving great pleasure. How I long for a second follow up book!

I read a lot of historical fiction as well as non-fiction history books, but I have never read fiction about naval history unless you count SHARPE'S TRAFALGAR by Bernard Cornwell. While A MATTER OF HONOR did not convert me to this sub-genre, it's an intriguing story with the bold escapades of naval war hero John Paul Jones serving as a backdrop. It covers the years 1777 to 1781 with glimpses into the early Revolutionary War years, 1774-1776.

The hero, Richard Cutler, who lost an older brother he admired to the overzealous and cruel punitive practices of the British navy, joins the newly instituted U.S. navy under the command of JP Jones. His first adventure involves a bold strategy to attack the British navy in British waters. Events that happen here shape the immediate future for our hero.

Readers should keep in mind Cutler's age - 17 in 1777, as some of his daydreams might otherwise seem unlikely. I also had some trouble with his competence at such a young age, but his family did own merchant ships.

As the title indicates, this is a story about honor and courage. At times, though, Cutler's actions seem too incredible and over-the-top - like a Hollywood treatment of the story. Also, the scenes outside the naval adventure read more slowly for me.

Overall, I think the book is a very good first novel. Fans of naval fiction with history as context, rather than content, should enjoy it.

A great read! From the first chapter, I could not put the book down. Reading about battles at sea, politics, love, values and honor that forged the American way of life was insipiring as many of those traits have disappeared today.

The author brings in familiar names in American history and the importance of the roles they played while a boy turns into a man falling in love, protecting a family business, and defending his country.