Ebb Tide (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics, 14) [Paperback]

Richard Woodman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mariners Library Fiction Classic | Publication Date: May 1, 2002

It is 1843 and Captain Sir Nathaniel Drinkwater embarks on the paddle-steamer Vestal for an inspection of lighthouses on the west coast of England. Bowed with age and honors, the old sea officer has been drawn from retirement on half-pay to fulfill his public duty. The following day, tragedy strikes, and Drinkwater is confronted with his past life: his sins and follies, his triumphs and his disasters.

Drawing on a true incident, Richard Woodman deftly concludes the career of his sea hero. Drinkwater's complex character is revealed in its entirety. Far from being the reminiscences of an old man, the novel skillfully weaves the past with the present; the personal tensions below decks, the straining creak of a man-of-war under sail, the crack of cannon shot and the plaintive mews of the trailing gulls are never far away. To the end, Nathaniel Drinkwater's life is full of incident and the unexpected, so typical of the sea officers of his day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Woodman knows his ships and the sea and is a craftsman of great ability' --Guernsey Evening Press

'Brilliantly told...the characters are real and lively, the language similar; but above all it is a convincing and compulsive seafaring story' --Oxford Times

'Brilliantly told...the characters are real and lively, the language similar; but above all it is a convincing and compulsive seafaring story' --Oxford Times

From the Publisher

*The 14th and last of the Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater novels.

*The series is now well established and the number of Drinkwater fans keeps growing with each new book.

*High level of current interest in Hornblower/Patrick O'Brian type sea adventure novels as evidenced by articles in PW, USA Today etc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574091042
• ISBN-13: 978-1574091045
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,797 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:

3.0 out of 5 stars I Suppose It Had To Be..., March 6, 2007

By 

John A. Van Devender "Gadfly" (Millersville, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ebb Tide (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics, 14) (Paperback)

First of all, if you have got this far in the series you have to buy this book. It completes the series by tying up several loose threads that no doubt you have already wondered about. That being said, why do I only rank it with 3 stars?

I am a Nat Drinkwater fan and have generally loved the whole series. I am a bit disappointed in the manner in which Woodman brings it all together. The story involves a series of vignettes that address earlier periods in his life. It is a pretty imaginative way to handle it and there is a nice symmetry to the literary device. Unfortunately the sub-plots are a little too contrived and the outcomes are a bit too convenient.

The strength as well as the downside of the Drinkwater series is the way Woodman resists all inclinations to over-romanticize the characters or the plots. People die. People that you really like die, regularly and often. The seamy as well as the noble sides of the profession of arms is present though perhaps a little more darkly than absolutely necessary. Drinkwater himself is not a romantic figure in a strict sense. He does his job and struggles with himself as he does it. The historical detail and the apt descriptions of ship life are well integrated through out the series, something which cannot be said of Pat O'Brian's work.

So, on the whole, the series easily rates five stars. This particular work could have been better in my opinion, but after 20+ years of developing this series, Woodman can be excused for just wanting to "get it done."

Buy the book... it's a good read even with its faults.

1.0 out of 5 stars Forget it, January 11, 2012

By 

steelmaker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ebb Tide (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics, 14) (Paperback)

I read all the previous Drinkwater novels, and thought they were mostly interesting, Not up to the caliber of some other British naval series, but OK.

However this last one is horrible. Our hero drowns, the rest is a mishmash of varying events in his life. I started reading, and ending up skipping pages it was so boring.

5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously Thrilling, August 22, 2007

By 

T. A. Dieter (East St. Louis) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ebb Tide (Mariner's Library Fiction Classics, 14) (Paperback)

The good:
1. Ebb Tide kept me on the edge of my seat. With characters forcing us to care deeply about them, unrelenting suspense, and vividly sketched nautical settings, this book was a real treat.
2. I listened to the audio version. Michael Tudor Barnes' bold yet relaxed performance proved such an authentic and natural extension of the story, that, ironically, it seemed imperceptible. Excellently paced narration.

The other:
1. I wish the ending had been different.
2. I had to listen to the first CD three times before I understood who everyone was. It was well worth the effort and time. I attribute my initial lack of understanding to unfamiliar seafaring terminology.