by Julian Stockwin (Author)
It is 1793. Europe is ablaze with war. The British prime minister is under pressure to intimidate the French and dispatches a Navy squadron to the French coast. To man the ships, ordinary citizens must be press-ganged; Thomas Paine Kydd, a young wig-maker from Guildford, is seized and taken across the country to be part of the crew of the 98-gun line-of-battle ship Duke William. The ship sails immediately and Kydd has to learn the harsh realities of shipboard life fast. Despite all he goes through, amid the dangers of tempest and battle, he comes to admire the skills and courage of his fellow seamen, taking up the challenge himself to become a true sailor and defender of Britain at war.
Author Biography
At the age of fourteen, Julian Stockwin went to TS Indefatigable, a tough sea-training school. He joined the British Royal Navy at fifteen before transferring to the Royal Australian Navy, where he served for eight years in the Far East, the Antarctic, and the South Seas. Retired as a lieutenant commander, he lives in Devon, England, with his wife and literary partner, Kathy.
Number of Pages: 298
Dimensions: 0.67 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: September 01, 2022
