Heart of Oak

After the war with France has ended in 1818, Captain Adam Bolitho is given command of the newly commissioned frigate Onward and sent to North Africa on a diplomatic mission to accompany the French frigate Nautilus in a show of solidarity. He knows he is lucky—the voyage should be easy; but Adam longs for a chance to marry the beautiful Lowenna and settle down on the Bolitho estate in Cornwall. Instead he must deal with the envy and ambition of his officers, hidden agendas among his men, and the former enemy’s proximity. Then the Nautilus becomes a sacrificial offering on the altar of Empire, and the hunt is on for a treacherous foe. Suddenly every man must discover for himself whether the brotherhood of the sea can transcend old hatreds and an ocean of blood.

“"The storytelling has an easy mastery; the prose is lean and muscular, without a word wasted. How well Kent knows his stuff! Not just the jargon of the high seas -- the pawls and maintops and the quarter-boats and the catheads -- but the psychology of naval men in uniform." --"Sunday Telegraph"”

"A rousing adventure to keep us turning the pages, all flavoured with a nautical tang." --"Historical Novels Review"

Alexander Kent is the pen name of Douglas Edward Reeman, who joined the British Navy at 16 and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. He has taught navigation to yachtsmen and has served as a script adviser for television and films. He is the author of The Bolitho Novels series.

The war with France ended in 1818 and Captain Adam Bolitho is given command of the newly commissioned frigate "Onward," He is sent to North Africa on a diplomatic mission to accompany the French frigate "Nautilus" in a show of solidarity. He knows he is lucky--the voyage should be easy--but Adam longs for a chance to marry the beautiful Lowenna and settle down on the Bolitho estate in Cornwall. Instead he must deal with the envy and ambition of his officers, hidden agendas among his men, and the former enemy's proximity. Then the "Nautilus" becomes a sacrificial offering, and the hunt is on for a treacherous foe. Suddenly every man must discover for himself whether the brotherhood of the sea can transcend old hatreds and an ocean of blood.

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