Dewey Lambdin is the reigning master of maritime fiction, celebrated as the heir to Patrick OBrian and C.S. Forester. For over twenty years, his devoted fans have followed the adventures of Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy, from his days as a midshipmen to captain of his own ship and, though on somewhat dubious grounds, a baronetcy. 1809 starts out badly for Captain Alan Lewrie, RN, and his ship, HMS Sapphire. Theyve extracted the sick, cold survivors of Sir John Moores army from disaster at Corunna, got hit by lightning while escorting the army to England, and suffered a shattered mainmast which may end Lewries active commission if a replacement cant be found or fashioned soon Admiralty needs troopships, not slow, old 4th Rate two-deckers, so Lewrie must beg, borrow, steal, and gild the facts most glibly if he wishes to keep her and her skilled crew together.
