1791 — England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied...
England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife's edge. Brittana rules the waves, yet as more and more ships mysteriously vanish, it is rightly thought an act of war. However, England needs more time, or all could be lost.
With war looming, Lieutenant Hayden Reginald Cooper, Royal Navy, awaits in Portsmouth braving a bitter cold winter with half pay, beached in a constant state of penury. With little prospects, little "interest" and no chance of promotion or advancement, he is the perfect choice for the Admiralty: unknown, unimportant and wholly dispensable.
As so it begins, a turbulent action-packed naval adventure within the murky waters preceding war, the French piracy soon to discover the grit of a lowly Lieutenant, one who has very little to lose…
Book Title: Ships of War — Murky Waters
Series: Ships of War
Author: Bradley John
Publication Date: 3rd September 2024
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 460 Pages
Genre: Naval Adventure Fiction
Excerpt
Captain Cooper, in the fashion of any seasoned naval officer, waited quietly and patiently, assessing the situation. His eyes drew down upon his target, a split second to weigh the most likely, indeed the most advantageous method of its destruction. The possibilities brewed within his mind's eye, infusing a furious broth of wild notions as he carefully played out the encounter. He raised his hand, the blade within professionally poised, glistening. His grip held firm, his aim true, the sharpened edge hovering for one last moment before down it came. This was likely the best acting rabbit he had seen for some time he thought. He was salivating to be sure. With the tip of his knife, he carefully flipped off the awning, or what some might call the clagger or the clakker, those being the curious names with which a seaman commonly accounted for the pastry top of a baked meat pie. The flakes melted in his mouth, forcing his eyes shut as he swilled the juices. It weighed as a rare moment, one a poor naval officer might eternally savour.
Cooper usually tended to judge eating and drinking as tantamount to some unnecessary distraction, even an annoyance. But not this time, for within all his planning had he foremost selected this particular inn for this very reason. And now he could afford it. Apart from a handsome meat pie, a delicious ale and a comfy berth, it was here he might furtively base his operations. The first order of business was to properly acquaint the situation with his particular friend. To that end had a vague note to Spencer been dispatched, encrypted in his own personal way, but nonetheless official. Forthwith was the Lieutenant required and directed to attend the Crispin & Crispianus, an inn on London Road, exactly at eight bells in the afternoon watch. For a seaman in the Royal Navy that would amount to the start of the first dogwatch which, for a landsman, would be exactly four o'clock in the afternoon.
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Bradley John
Bradley John Tatnell (aka "Bradley John") is an Australian novelist whose ancestry can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in England. His forbears lived mostly in Kent, Hertfordshire and the Isle of Thanet. Some were mariners and some were even of the aristocracy. His direct ancestors arrived in Australia soon after its colonisation in the late 1700's, most of which were proud country folk. James Squire, a notable character in history, who arrived on the first fleet in 1788, was his (sixth) great grandfather.
Bradley John graduated from the Church of England Grammar School at age 16 and the Queensland University of Technology at age 19. His early life was spent mainly in the arena of law.
Bradley John has a love of all things ancient and historical, including golf, to which he plays with ye old hickory shafted clubs including the original heads from pre-1935. He also studies the ancient art of Korean sword, having attained master level. His love of language, in all its forms, now extends to the pursuit of conquering Hangul, the language of the Korean people.
Bradley John has been privately writing novels since 2003. "Ships of War — Murky Waters", his first publication, births a series of naval adventure fiction intended to span the length of the French Revolutionary Wars. This of course is the much loved genre which includes the thundering Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian and the popular "Master and Commander" blockbuster by Peter Weir. Owing to Bradley John's English heritage, no guesses are needed to determine which side the book's heroes will sail upon…
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Thank you so much for hosting Bradley John today, with an intriguing extract from his new novel, Ships of War – Murky Waters.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club