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

by Dudley Pope (Author)
Key Phrases: signal book, bread barge, quarterdeck rail, Captain Ramage, Admiral Clinton, Royal Navy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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

Product Description
On holiday, ashore with his new wife at a chateau in France, Captain Lord Ramage finds the honeymoon interrupted by an end to the Peace of Amiens-and a return to war which will last over a decade. Finding themselves on unfriendly soil just hours before hostilities commence, Ramage and Sarah elude the grasp of Napoleon's secret police, seeking to close upon all the Brits and French Royalists they can find. Even as they escape, their host is captured and deported to the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Ultimately, back at the helm of the Calypso and among old friends, Ramage finds himself heading in the same direction. But given the Island's impregnable reputation, can he pull off a rescue?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: McBooks Press (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590130103
• ISBN-13: 978-1590130100
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,649 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More adventures of Lord Ramage, October 7, 2002

By	Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When the Ramage novels were reprinted, they were left in a mishmash. This one is listed as number 13, but chronologically it appears to be one of five Ramage novels that go after "Ramage & the Guillotine" which is listed as No. 6, and before "Ramage's Diamond," which is listed as No. 7 (see my Listmania listing). The readers are left a bit adrift trying to determine the correct chronological order (necessary to understand some of the plot). The Peace of Amiens lasted from March 1802 to May 1803. This novel starts at the end of the peace with Ramage and his bride caught in France. The author borrows material from C. S. Forester's Hornblower series to orchestrate Ramage's escape. There is then a sub-plot as Ramage regains command of a frigate (although the author seems to forget details like which year he had Ramage promoted to captain).

At his point, history goes off track. The author places the prison colony on Devil's Island considerably before its time (Victor Hugo had things right when he had Jean Valjean sentenced to a prison galley). It is an interesting plot as Ramage uses trickery to capture enemy ships. However the author fills up space with side degressions to describe flora & fauna, weights of ships' stores, etc., when you sometimes wish he would get on with the story (was the author getting old at this point or was the publisher, perhaps, paying him by the word?). As noted by a previous reviewer, the cover art is unrelated to this novel. There are some errors reflecting bad research, e.g., the Dutch still had a monopoly on nutmeg in 1803.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An anxious time, June 12, 2002

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

The cover picture of ships in battle is completely false. This is a novel of naval guile instead. Ramage is a master of ruses de guerre, of victories with a short butcher's bill featuring his regular cast of characters (cf. "Ramage's Signal"). Following the life-changing events of the previous book ("Renegades"), Ramage is on a peaceable sailor's honeymoon when he finds himself newly behind enemy lines. The story of his escape and pursuit of a devilish captain to Devil's island prison includes vignettes of the oft-blockaded port of Brest, the ifyness of planning an action, diagnosis of alcoholism, the formation of trade wind clouds, messing below decks, books of secret signals, and how to fire a cannon on a pitching deck, as well as various tactical decisions that Ramage discusses with his officers.

3.0 out of 5 stars OK book, May 31, 2008

By	Dr J (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Ramage has gotten married (rather quickly--did I miss something?) and is on his honeymmon in France during the Peace. War breaks out and he must escape with his party. Naturally, they make it, but on the way home, he is given command of a ship, sends his wife home to England on a different ship and heads to the Caribbean to rescue a French Royalist friend before the ship carrying him can arrive at the penal island. Well, naturally, all works out in typical Ramage fashion.
This book really wasn't a great read. It was a fine story, but nothing really captured my interest. Not enough fighting and the whole thing is just too unbelievable, as are all Ramage novels. It would be nice if Ramage could guess wrong or stub his toe once in a while. Also, the story really isn't that interesting to begin with.
This is an easy book to read, but it's also too long for it's story. Had Pope cut out a third of it and had the story move along, it would have been much better.