Sails on the Horizon
A Novel of the Napoleonic Wars
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
“Inspired by the salty tales of seasoned maritime novelists C. S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian, [Worrall] delicately balances action and adventure with introspection. . . . Fans of seafaring military sagas will welcome [Sails on the Horizon].”—Booklist
The year is 1797. Napoleon Buonaparte is racking up impressive wins in the field against the enemies of revolutionary France, while on the seas England is putting up a staunch resistance. Twenty-five-year-old Charles Edgemont is second lieutenant aboard the British ship Argonaut. When orders come for the Argonaut to engage in an all-but-suicidal maneuver to prevent the escape of Spanish ships off the coast of Portugal, he leads his gun crews bravely—until the deaths of the captain and first lieutenant elevate him to commander.
For refusing to yield to enemy fire, Charles is permanently promoted and generously rewarded by the Admiralty, becoming wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Yet upon his return home, his newfound riches prove no help when it comes to winning the heart of Penelope Brown, who regards war as sinful and soldiers as little better than murderers. Changing Penelope’s mind may just be the hardest battle Charles has ever fought—at least until fresh orders send him back to sea, where he faces a formidable adversary in a series of stirring battles of will and might.
“Well executed . . . demonstrating Worrall’s expertise in ship and sea warfare history . . . Readers will root for [Charles Edgemont]. . . . He handily defeats veteran seamen, takes enormous chances and is always rewarded.”—Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Intrepid hero Charles Edgemont does battle with the French and their allies during the Napoleonic Wars in Worrell's competent debut. A lowly lieutenant for a few pages, Charles is quickly elevated to master of the outdated Argonaut as she's ordered to sacrifice herself in an attempt to stall the Spanish fleet. Stall them he does, and the prize money he gets makes him wealthy just in time to help his destitute brother. Charles is promoted, buys land and is given his own ship, but not before he takes over temporary command of a brig, whips her slovenly crew into shape and captures more prizes while patrolling the Irish Sea. Meanwhile, a pretty Quaker neighbor is succumbing to Charles's charms as readily as enemy ships succumb to his strategies. Aboard his new frigate, Louisa, Charles has several bloody encounters with the larger Spanish vessel, Santa Brigida, each more harrowing than the last. Although well executed and demonstrating Worrall's expertise in ship and sea warfare history, the plot runs too smoothly to be satisfying. Charles never stumbles, never runs afoul of anyone or anything. Handsome, charming, self-confident beyond the telling of it, he handily defeats veteran seamen, takes enormous chances and is always rewarded for his audacity and impetuousness. Readers will root for him, but he's no Horatio Hornblower.
