Home - Historic Naval Fiction

Hello and welcome to Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction.

This site is dedicated to the Age of Sail and the transition to steam, and in particular the time of "Nelson's Navy" when sailing ships roamed and fought throughout the oceans of the world. Probably most people have heard of Horatio Hornblower the hero created by C S Forester but over the years many more authors and their heroes have appeared and these pages will summarise them under the Authors A-Z. You can also find them via the Book Title Index. If you want to chat about them or read additional reviews and comments not on this site why not join my Historic Naval Fiction forum.

I aim to provide details of all the naval fiction novels from the age of sail that have been written, not just the Royal Navy but the US Navy, the Bombay Marine and others. Many of these books are now out of print so I have also brought links to purchase them together in the online store. Please browse the various sections for further information. Let me know if you find my pages interesting, or if you know of another author that should be included, by using the contact form available in Contact Me. If you would like to receive a monthly email notification of what's new please subscribe to my newsletter.

Betrayal (HC)

Details: Naval Fiction Releases; Created on Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:00; By Julian Stockwin

Author Julian Stockwin has a new novel which is now available for pre-order in hardcover, Betrayal. It is due for release worldwide on 11 October 2012.

Cape Colony is proving a tiresome assignment for Captain Kydd's daring commander-in-chief Commodore Popham. Rumours that South America's Spanish colonies are in a ferment of popular unrest and of a treasure hoard of silver spur him to assemble a makeshift invasion fleet and launch a bold attack on the capital of the Viceroyalty of the River Plate, Buenos Aires.

Navigating the treacherous bars and mud flats of the river, the British invasion force lands and wins a battle against improbable odds, taking the capital and the silver. But nothing is as simple as it seems in this region of the world: the uprising that will see the end of Spanish rule never arrives and the locals begin to see dark conspiracies behind the invader's actions. Soon the tiny British force finds itself surrounded by an ever more hostile population. The city begins to revolt against its liberators.

'Conquest' Paperback now available for order

Details: Astrodene's HNF Blog; Created on Saturday, 19 May 2012 00:10; By David Hayes

The Paperback version of Conquest by Julian Stockwin is now available.

It was released in the UK on 10 May 2012 and will be published in the US on 1 October 2012.

Review: A Matter of Honor by William C. Hammond

Details: Book Reviews; Created on Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00; By David Hayes

A Matter of Honor If you want to write a novel about an American officer in the Continental Navy based around the facts of the War of Independence you probably have to place him with John Paul Jones on Ranger and Bonhomme Richard. However the major sea battle which decided the war at the Virginia Capes only involved the French Navy. The skill therefore is to bring these two elements together in a believable narrative. Hammond does at excellent job of this whilst at the same time exploring the difficulties of personal relationships when close friends and family, as well as the public at large, find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict with divided loyalties.

The principal character is Richard Cutler whose branch of the family live near Boston and handle the shipping side of the family business whilst other relations are based in England and the Caribbean. When his brother Will is pressed into the Royal Navy and flogged to death the War takes on a new dimension for the young Richard and he joins Ranger as a Midshipman with the aim of avenging his brother's death.

Castaway Dreams (PB)

Details: Other Releases; Created on Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:40; By Darlene Marshall

Darlene Marshall has a new book which was recently released worldwide, Castaway Dreams. It is available in Paperback and ebook formats.

After a lifetime in the Royal Navy, surgeon Alexander Murray knows one cannot exist without a brain, yet Daphne Farnham may be the exception. Her head contains nothing but rainbows, shoes, bonnets, pink frills and butterflies. Even her fluffy dog is useless. But the war with Napoleon is finally over and Alexander is sure he can put up with the cloth-headed Miss Farnham only for a couple of months until they reach England.

Did that naval officer have his sense of humor surgically removed? It is bad enough Alexander has no fashion sensibilities, never smiles at Daphne like other men do and doesn't adore her darling pup Pompom. He had the gall to proclaim her "useless" when everyone knows it's Daphne who's the best at picking out just the right ensemble for any social occasion. Fortunately, she has to put up with the sour Scotsman only for a couple of months until they reach England.

'Enemies at Every Turn' Paperback now available for order

Details: Astrodene's HNF Blog; Created on Thursday, 17 May 2012 00:10; By David Hayes

The Paperback version of Enemies at Every Turn by David Donachie is now available for pre-order worldwide. It is due to be published in 15 November 2012.

Silver: Return to Treasure Island (HC)

Details: Other Releases; Created on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 00:00; By Andrew Motion

Sir Andrew Motion (Poet Laureate 1999-2009) has a new book which was recently released in the UK, Silver: Return to Treasure Island. It is available in Hardcover and other formats and will be released in the US on 7 August 2012.

July, 1802. In the marshy eastern reaches of the Thames lies the Hispaniola, an inn kept by Jim Hawkins and his son. Young Jim spends his days roaming the mist-shrouded estuaries, running errands for his father and listening to his stories in the taproom; tales of adventures on the high seas, of curses, murder and revenge, black spots and buried treasure - and of a man with a wooden leg.

Late one night, a mysterious girl named Natty arrives on the river with a request for Jim from her father - Long John Silver. Aged and weak, but still possessing a strange power, the pirate proposes that Jim and Natty sail to Treasure Island in search of Captain Flint's hidden bounty, the 'beautiful bar silver' left behind many years before. Silver has chartered a ship and a hardy crew for this purpose, whose captain is waiting only for the map, now locked away at the Hispaniola.

Making haste from London, Jim and Natty set off in the footsteps of their fathers, their tentative friendship growing stronger day by day. But the thrill of the ocean odyssey gives way to terror as the Nightingale reaches its destination, for it seems that Treasure Island is not as uninhabited as it once was...

"...our flag was still there" (PB)

Details: Non-Fiction Releases; Created on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 00:00; By William H. White

Covering the land as well as the sea campaigns, William H. White has a new book recently released in paperback, "...our flag was still there": The Sea History Press Guide to the War of 1812 - Its History and Bicentennial Commemorations. It is currently only available in the US.

As we approach the bicentennial of the War of 1812, "...our flag was still there" will explore the issues that led up to the declaration of war, political tensions, events and the key players. Maritime historian and award-winning author William H. White will guide readers through the highlights of both the land campaigns and the sea battles and answer the questions: "What really happened?" and "Why does it matter?" "...our flag was still there" also serves as a guidebook to the upcoming bicentennial celebrations across the country.