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jof
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
30 Posts |
 Posted - 18 June 2006 : 7:49:01 PM
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Bolitho by Alexander Kent is an excellent series for any fans of Sharpe as this is basically a naval version of Sharpe and Hornblower as it runs along the same lines. The series is a heck off a long read being something like 20 books (off the top of my head) and follows not just Bolitho but his nephew too (i think)
Has anybody read these? And if so what are your opinions?
"Go ahead, shoot, your only going to kill a man"-Che Guevara to his assassin
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Edited by - jof on 26 June 2006 5:38:58 PM |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8415 Posts |
Posted - 19 June 2006 : 11:22:25 AM
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The Bolitho books are good, a very human hero but I wish he'd been allowed to retire in peace with his lady. Personally I prefer Dudley Pope's Ramage series, unfortunately cut short when Pope died. They're a bit more action-oriented and many of the characters stay with Ramage through the whole series.
My favourite bit is where an Admiral complains that Ramage has only captured one very small ship - needed to escape from an island where he'd been shipwrecked. Then Ramage tells him what the ballast consists of, and it isn't either stone or lead but many chests of treasure found in a lost pirate hoard. There's quite a lot of understated humour in the series, as well as high tension and some good sea battles.
Cheers
John |
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Stomachus Grossus
Homosapien
United Kingdom
1860 Posts |
Posted - 26 June 2006 : 11:25:34 AM
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Love them both and the hornblower books as well
Urino -are!!!!
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MartynK
Invertebrate
South Africa
116 Posts |
Posted - 27 June 2006 : 07:44:53 AM
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I enjoyed all thse books years ago, but I still prefer Hornblower - the clergyman's son without the benefit of family influence and wealth - and his insecurities. Bolitho and Ramage were good, but I can't stand the superhero/heroine types typified by Wilbur Smith. I prefer flawed characters, like John Rebus in Ian Rankin's Scottish crime stories, and Colin Dexter's "Morse". That probably says something about my own character!
For me, Patrick O'Brian's "Jack Aubrey" is the heir to Hornblower. |
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jof
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
30 Posts |
Posted - 29 June 2006 : 7:54:52 PM
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Really? i have 3 of the Aubrey books upstairs but ive never managed to get past master and commander...I think its very 'nice' like swiss family robinson. I cant say ive ever got into it but theyre supposed to be really good.
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"Go ahead, shoot, your only going to kill a man"-Che Guevara to his assassin |
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MartynK
Invertebrate
South Africa
116 Posts |
Posted - 30 June 2006 : 05:58:26 AM
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| As I said, jof, for me. It's all pretty subjective. I like the way Patrick O'Brian constructs his stories and the eighteenth century naval research. I'm not very interested in the battle scenes. Alexander Kent and Dudley Pope probably make a better job of these anyway. |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8415 Posts |
Posted - 30 June 2006 : 7:54:58 PM
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Actually they're both very good on Napoleonic sea warfare - Pope was a respected Naval historian and Kent studied it for years as well. Don't ingore them just because they're better at battles, though I must admit that Pope's characters have a tendency to show 20th century attitudes.
Cheers
John |
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Carus Andiae
Small mammal
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 09 July 2006 : 4:44:06 PM
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I like Kent and Forrester's books. I couldn't get on with O'Brien's books at all. One of the reasons was that there was too much detail about shipboard life etc - Kent, for example, has enough to bring the age to life, but O'Brien's books seemed to get bogged down in the detail. If I wanted that much information I'd read a history book.
"Licat volare si super tergum aquila volat" - Any man can fly when he rides on the back of an eagle |
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MartynK
Invertebrate
South Africa
116 Posts |
Posted - 10 July 2006 : 4:33:27 PM
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| Well, the detail is what makes O'Brian work for me, but I enjoy reading history and prefer it to fiction in many ways. Doesn't really matter at all. This is why there's such a range of books available - something for everyone. |
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Nocoolname
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 10 July 2006 : 10:54:13 PM
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I've give O'Brian's books a try three times now and find them a rather difficult read.
Cornwell's used to be among my favourites but the last few I've read (Excalibur, Heretic, Vagabond) were a bit dissapointing. I was also dissapointed that he dropped the Starbuck Chronicles, which showed real promise.
My favourite reads are probably Simon's and Alex's books. They read well, have the right level of detail and have enough twists and suprises to keep me interested right to the last. The downside of this is I don't get any sleep because I can't put them down.
Cheers for now
NCN |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8415 Posts |
Posted - 11 July 2006 : 1:26:07 PM
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Oh good - I'm not the only one who thinks Cornwell's attempts at medieval books are pathetic. Maybe I know too much about the period so I pick up all his mistakes of "atmosphere". I agree with you on the Starbuck stories too, Nocoolname - as well as on Simon's and Alex's of course.
Cheers
John |
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MartynK
Invertebrate
South Africa
116 Posts |
Posted - 11 July 2006 : 7:15:41 PM
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| Hmm, I didn't really care for the Starbuck books and gave up on them. Just finished the first of the Arthur and Uhtred trilogies - can't remember what they're called - and I think it's time for a break from Cornwell. I'll probably come back to him later. |
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Nocoolname
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 11 July 2006 : 10:47:28 PM
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I'm reading Atilla while waiting for Eagle in the Sand.
I thought the first two of Cornwall's Arthur books were great but thought the last "Excalibur" was a bit pants.
One read I did quite enjoy recently was Valerio Massimo Manfredi's "Empire of Dragons". A novel idea (no pun intended  ) in which Valerian's ill fated encounter with the Persians results in a group of Roman captives finding their way to China. Some interesting situations develop including Ninja's vs a Roman Testudo!
Cheers for now
NCN |
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Bolitho series
