The Admiral (Hardcover)

~ Nigel Tranter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

³A wonderfully prolific author...He knows how to keep the plot spinning.² -- KIRKUS REVIEWS --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

A stirring 15th-century tale of seafaring hero Andrew Wood, loyal supporter of King James III. This is a swashbuckling yarn set against the rugged climate of Scottish history.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Headline (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340770147
• ISBN-13: 978-0340770146
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,571,785 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story, July 10, 2002

By	Robert MacDonald (Natick, MA. United States) - See all my reviews

Very hard to put down my only regret was that it wasn't a bit longer. Mr. Tranter found his gift in storytelling and giving everyone the ability to be captivated by his telling.

3.0 out of 5 stars Scotland's private Admiral and private Navy, December 14, 2006

By	Shawn Marchinek "Marchinek/Marcinek/Marcsinek" (Rhode Island, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Admiral (Paperback)

The Admiral, by Nigel Tranter is one of his faster reads. This is the story of the rise and life of Andrew Wood from fatherless farmer, helping his mother and brother, to Lord High Admiral of Scotland and Knight. Andrew wood served 3 kings and witnessed the birth of Queen Mary of Scots. Andrew Wood was the eldest son of a merchant who was killed by pirates. Andrew at the age of 20 leaves the family farm and goes to sea. There he gets revenge against pirates for his father's death and captures their ship single handedly. This gets him started on a rapid rise his own trading merchant and the recognition of King James III. From there he establishes his trade between, Iceland, Scotland, Denmark, Norway and the Lowlands and creates his own fleet. He dedicates the fleet to the will of the crown when ever there is a need. Through King James III, James IV and James the V his service is requested from making a religious pilgrimage, seeking the pope, fighting Isle men in the Hebrides to battling English and rebels in Scotland. He even helps in seeking a wife for the young James V. Throughout his adventures and service he finds a little time to marry and have a son who succeeds him as Lord High Admiral. Andrew Wood led an adventure filled life straight to the top of society. Nigel Tranter covers his life quickly in "The Admiral", I feel is could have been expanded and it left me wanting more 1st and 2nd person thought and detail. It didn't have the depth of typical Tranter. A undertold story and quick read left me wanting.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A review of the book, 'The Admiral', by Nigel Tranter, August 9, 2005

By	Omar C - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Admiral (Paperback)

This is a fairly well written book. However it is not quite up to the high standards seen in The Robert Bruce trilogy. The story of how a relatively low-born sailor's son became so successful to be a friend of two scottish kings and their High Admiral is not very as convincingly related as Tranter's previous books. The perspective does not seem to be that of fifteenth century England. Also, there is no 'nautical' feeling to the story. Acustomed as I am to previous books such as 'the isleman, The Bruce Trilogy, Sword of State...etc, this has been a letdown