4 stars

It is 1782 and Horatio Nelson is home on leave and is very ill. The combination of diseases and insects that he encountered in the West Indies have laid him low. Anxious to get a new ship, he pleads with his superior.

His friend Tim Hastie is concerned about Nelson’s health – both physical and emotional. He leaves his new and pregnant wife to join Nelson on a new ship, the Albemarle.

In August, the ship is in dry dock to get re-outfitted. She has no mast or rigging. By the end of October, they were ready to put to sea. Nelson is still not well though, Tim has seen him coughing blood. They set sail north.

They finally sail to port and the Danish are not excited to see them. From there, they are bound for Newfoundland and Canada with 100,000 pounds in gold bullion to pay the British Army. Thence on to other waters. During an extended stay in the West Indies, Nelson gets in trouble with the locals and even gets married!

This book is a sea adventure of the greatest magnitude with the great Horatio Nelson at the helm of a stubborn, recalcitrant and top heavy ship.

I want to thank Netgalley, Jan Needle and Endeavour Press for forwarding to me a copy of this adventurous book.