Ramage's Prize (The Lord Ramage Novels) (Paperback)

by Dudley Pope (Author)
Key Phrases: dozen seamen, Sir Pilcher, Post Office, Lady Arabella (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"An author who really knows Nelson's navy." -- Observer

"Not even C. S. Forester knows more about the routine and battle procedures of the British Navy in the days of Nelson." -- The New York Times

"The first and still favourite rival to Hornblower." -- Daily Mirror

Product Description
The West Indian bases are desperate: Post vessels-a vital communications link between England and the West Indies in the war against France-are mysteriously disappearing and no packets have arrived with orders in months. Were the privateers out in full force again? Had Napoleon's navy a secret new weapon? Lieutenant Lord Nicholas Ramage sets out from Jamaica to discover what treachery is threatening to throw the British navy into chaos. But what he finds is totally unexpected . . .

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: McBooks Press (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935526803
• ISBN-13: 978-0935526806
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #339,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another outstanding Ramage Novel, May 23, 2001

By	Conrad B. Senior (Easton, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Review of the Lord Ramage series novels:

Don't read this until you have read the first four books of the Lord Ramage Novels by Dudley Pope.

For more historical information on history of ships of the Royal Navy, read SHIPS OF THE OLD NAVY by Michael Phillips.

Lord Ramage Novels

Book 1: Ramage

Book 2: Ramage and the Drumbeat

Book 3: Ramage and the Freebooters

Book 4: Governor Ramage RN

Book 5: Ramage's Prize *

Book 6: Ramage and the Guillotine

Book 7: Ramage's Diamonds

Book 8: Ramage's Mutiny

Order them all, because you won't want to stop. The action is fast and furious.

This is fifth in a series of historical fiction by Dudley Pope. All of these are fictional novels based on British Admiralty records of the Napoleonic era. Written in the best tradition of Forester and O'Brien, these books will capture your imagination. And if you haven't read the Hornblower series by Forester, or the Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brien, be sure to try them also. All of these are excellent books that you will treasure and reread. I particularly like these books by Pope. I recommend that you buy them all at once and read them in order. That is what I am doing.

If you enjoy reading accurate descriptions of naval maneuvers in the age of sail, or simply a good adventure yarn, Dudley Pope delivers. Pope conveys how the best of the best, handle emergency situations. He portrays these situations with realism and authenticity.

Review of this book:

Ramage, is given the task of determining why Post Office packets, delivering mail from England to the Caribbean and back are disappearing. This story was based on true events. Post office packet brigs were surrendered to French privateers in the manner described because of "ventures", insurance policies, carried by treacherous officers and crews, and a Post Office packet was ransomed at the neutral Portuguese port of Lisbon in the same circumstances and difficulties as the Lady Arabella of the story.

In the age of Nelson it took 45 days for mail to be delivered from England to the Caribbean. Today, surface mail from England, takes 60 to 90 days to reach various islands in the Caribbean.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real story, July 1, 2001

By	tertius3 (MI United States) - See all my reviews

Pope writes heroic stories of the British Navy in the age of sail, not as easy as Capt. Marryat nor as grimly vicious as Jan Needle's. The stories in this series are suitable for anyone from a youthful age. They build well to the moments of intense action and there's darn little vivid blood, "salty talk" or eloquent cursing even in situations that demand it; Ramage is one ferociously cool customer. These books have a generous look and feel, like a hardback without the boards (or price).

This is the first Ramage novel based substantially on true (if minor) historical events. Maybe for that reason there are fewer daring action scenes here than in the previous four novels. Ramage is assigned another thankless and politically dangerous mystery to solve, loses his fourth ship in 5 books, faces his second mutiny and second privateer, upsets the Admiralty again, requires an Act of Parliament to be passed, and is still a Lieutenant. We learn such things as the British mail packet-boat system (when surface mail was faster to the Caribbean than it is today!). Also, how to fiddle insurers, the loading of guns, detecting wood rot, rules of neutrality, the giving of parole, and the origin of mahonnaise, among other bits of nautical lore. Pope seems to give Ramage expert knowledges that such a young man might not have known. Pope can write evocatively of the seas and seacapes when he turns his mind to it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best in this series so far, May 9, 2001

By	Roger Lee (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

I have read the first five books in this series and I would say that this one and Ramage and the Drumbeat are the best of the five. This one has an interesting plot (involving captured post office packets) that is something a little different from the norm. Creating complex, realistic characters has never been Pope's strong suit, but I think he does a little better here than usual. The best thing about this book, however, is that there is some good action at sea and another situation that develops at the end that is very suspenseful. Another very good thing about this book is that there is not yet another new, bland romance for Ramage to get involved in. His first love, Gianna, returns and is as fiery and funny as ever. Pope's books are certainly not great literature, but they are fairly well written and make for good, light reading.