Press Gang [Paperback]

Adam Hardy (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: New English Library Ltd; First Edition edition (December 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0450013553
• ISBN-13: 978-0450013553
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,199,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swashbuckling action, March 18, 2006

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fox: The Press Gang (Fox Series 1) (Paperback)

This novel is listed as No. 1 in the Fox series, but it is predated by "Sailor's Blood" (titled "Powder Monkey" in the UK edition), which is actually the first novel chronologically in the series (and which the US publisher, for whatever reason, lists as No. 5).

This novel starts with Fox as the second lieutenant aboard the frigate Duchess. Unlike some other Royal Navy series, this series has only the minimum necessary in details of ship handling. Most of the story deals with action in battles, cutting out expeditions, etc., and his activities in port. Fox has a disliking for upper-class gentlemen, and will cheat them out of money if the opportunity arises. He resents the fact that they get promotions and commands based on influence, and take the credit while Fox does the work. The novel introduces us to Lord Lymm, who also appears in later novels.

After various action at sea, Fox has bad luck on shore, gets knocked out and robbed by a footpad, and ends up carried on board the Tiger by a press gang. As luck would have it, he distinguishes himself in action, is revealed as a lieutenant, and ends up aboard the Tiger as a lieutenant. At least he is free of the incompetant captain aboard the Duchess.

The novels in this series tend to fall in the action adventure genre rather than aspiring to being great literature. The Army had Sharpe. The Navy has Fox. It would make a good TV series for people wanting the roaring cannons type action. For whatever reason, the series has not been reprinted at this writing. Available copies of some novels in the series have become rare to unobtainable.