A River in Borneo

It is the summer of 1964 during the Far Eastern war euphemistically called 'Confrontation.' A British Royal Marine patrol has orders to penetrate Indonesian Borneo to locate a river thought by Allied intelligence to be in use by the Indonesians to build up supplies before launching a major attack on Sarawak. Charged with this mission, Lieutenant Charles Kirton makes a most extraordinary discovery amid the dense mangrove swamps bordering a river in Borneo. What he finds not only enables Kirton to fulfil his mission, but also turns out to be intensely personal and macabre as the truth behind the strange event is revealed. From this highly charged opening sequence, the story flashes back a century to 1867, when young Henry Kirton, second officer of the auxiliary steamship River Tay, is dumped ashore in Singapore, badly injured by a fall from the rigging of his ship. Woodman's compelling tale has echoes of Joseph Conrad.

NetGalley Review: 5 stars

Last updated on 17 Oct 2021

"This was a unique read in historical fiction, it was a unique time period used and the characters were really well done. I liked that the author worked with ships; it added to the book." --Kay McLeer, consumer reviewer

-- "NetGalley review"

A Wonderful Novel: 5 Stars

A River in Borneo is a magnificent achievement from a consistently superb author. I have to admit that I've been a proselytizing Richard Woodman fan for at least 22 years, particularly in regard to his "Nathaniel Drinkwater" series set in the Wars of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Now I'm happy to report that with this latest, superb work the master shows he's still the master of historical fiction, intriguing plotting, smooth storytelling, nautical detail, and strong characterization.

His Singapore (circa 1870) and its associated territories, waterways, and general environs of Maritime Southeast Asia and the East Indies are painted with great depth and vibrant color. Captain Woodman's main characters live and appeal to (at times even repel) the reader as real people struggling in challenging and harsh times.

While reading I couldn't help comparing the issues and textures of the characters' lives to those of the dry American West (where I currently live) of the same time period. In particular I marveled in regard to the great opportunities as well as the great perils constantly at hand. Woodman's central character, Henry Kirton, wonderfully embodies this issue--in addition to being both a complex, charismatic and contradictory figure. I also enjoyed the movement between the three distinct time periods Captain Woodman weaves into his story: the main part in the East Indies around 1870; a prologue and epilogue taking place in the same area but in 1964; and an afterword in 2018.

Another thing that I particularly admire in this novel, as well as all of Woodman's historical fiction, is the way (unlike a goodly number of other authors) he inserts his fabulous fictional stories and characters into real historical settings without making them intrusive.

A River in Borneo is a brilliant and wonderful novel. I give it the highest recommendation possible and I hope that it receives the wide readership it deserves."

-- Dr. Maturin

-- "NetGalley review"

Brilliantly told, the story catches every nuance. . . . A convincing and compulsive seafaring story.

-- "Oxford Times"

It is vivid stuff, written by a man who knows his seamanship and who has used the records as a dramatic backcloth to his imagination.

-- "Navy News"

Richard Woodman's brilliant maritime ­action places him among the genre's master storytellers.

-- "Quarterdeck"

The blend of real history and fictional adornments does no violence to the historical record [but] brings it to life.

-- "Lloyd's List"

This author has quietly stolen the weather gauge from most of his rivals . . .

-- "The Observer, London"

Woodman at his best. . . . The sailing scenes are pure delight.

-- "Yachting Monthly"

Woodman knows his ships and the sea and is a craftsman of great ability.

-- "Guernsey Evening Press"

Captain Richard Martin Woodman retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career. His Nathaniel Drinkwater series is often compared to the work of the late Patrick O'Brian. Woodman lives in Harwich, England, and is the author of some two dozen nautical novels, as well as several nonfiction books. Unlike many other modern naval historical novelists, such as C.S. Forester or O'Brian, he has served afloat. He went to sea at the age of sixteen as an indentured midshipman and spent eleven years in command. His experience ranges from cargo-liners to ocean weather ships and specialist support vessels to yachts, square-riggers, and trawlers. Said Lloyd's List of his work: "As always, Richard Woodman's story is closely based on actual historical events. All this we have come to expect--and he adds that special ambience of colourful credibility which makes his nautical novels such rattling good reads."

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