Richard Woodman Libri

Fact and fiction are combined to produce a fascinating recreation of a bygone world at war. * The third omnibus of a successful adventure series featuring Nathaniel Drinkwater. schovat popis

The Lighthouses of Trinity House - by Richard Woodman and Jane Wilson - is a wonderful celebration of the traditional lighthouses of England and Wales which are all administered by Trinity House. Fascinating personal reminiscences of some of Britain's last lighthouse keepers are included, together with individual portraits of all the Trinity House Lighthouses and light vessels in service today.

Set against the backdrop of naval warfare in the Baltic, a young captain faces the dual challenges of commanding the aging ship Virago and rescuing his brother from execution. As Drinkwater grapples with the ship's potential and his ambitions to restore it as a fighting vessel, he must navigate treacherous seas and fierce battles while balancing his personal stakes. The narrative intertwines themes of duty, family loyalty, and the harsh realities of maritime conflict.

Fact and fiction are combined to produce a fascinating recreation of a bygone world at war.*The second omnibus of a successful adventure series featuring Nathaniel Drinkwater. schovat popis

Set against the backdrop of the 1792 French Revolution, Nathaniel Drinkwater returns to the Royal Navy aboard the cutter Kestrel, under the enigmatic command of Madoc Griffiths. As tensions rise, Drinkwater engages in perilous missions along the French coast, including the rescue of émigrés and covert operations involving agents. The narrative explores themes of duty, bravery, and the complexities of loyalty during a time of upheaval.

Fact and fiction are combined to produce a fascinating recreation of a bygone world at war.* The fourth omnibus of a successful adventure series featuring Nathanial Drinkwater.

It is the summer of 1964 during the Far Eastern war euphemistically called ‘Confrontation.’ A British Royal Marine patrol has orders to penetrate Indonesian Borneo to locate a river thought by Allied intelligence to be in use by the Indonesians to build up supplies before launching a major attack on Sarawak. Charged with this mission, Lieutenant Charles Kirton makes a most extraordinary discovery amid the dense mangrove swamps bordering a river in Borneo. What he finds not only enables Kirton to fulfil his mission, but also turns out to be intensely personal and macabre as the truth behind the strange event is revealed. From this highly charged opening sequence, the story flashes back a century to 1867, when young Henry Kirton, second officer of the auxiliary steamship River Tay, is dumped ashore in Singapore, badly injured by a fall from the rigging of his ship. Woodman’s compelling tale has echoes of Joseph Conrad.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Arctic Ocean, the narrative immerses readers in the intense drama of a nineteenth-century whale hunt. It explores the challenges faced by the crew, the harsh realities of their environment, and the pursuit of survival in a world dominated by nature's frozen beauty. The story captures the tension and excitement of the hunt, highlighting both the perilous adventure and the stark realities of life at sea during this era.

Set during the summer of 1804, the narrative immerses readers in the historical backdrop of Napoleon's impending invasion of England and the looming Battle of Trafalgar. As the powerful Combined Fleet prepares to confront Admiral Nelson's forces, the story unfolds with themes of bravery, naval warfare, and the high stakes of this pivotal moment in history. The author, Richard Woodman, skillfully blends historical events with thrilling adventures, echoing the style of C.S. Forester.

Action in Admiral Rodney's dramatic Moonlight Battle of 1780, when Cyclops' capture of the Santa Teresa plays a decisive part, is the start of Nathaniel Drinkwater's life at sea. HMS Cyclops is involved in pursuing American privateers who are a danger to British trade and Drinkwater finds himself part of a prize crew when initiative and courage in a critical situation enable him to survive a dangerous encounter. When the frigate is detached on special service to the swamps of South Carolina, grim actions are fought at sea and by a detachment of the ship's company on land, resulting in violent deaths before CYCLOPS arrives in New York in 1781 and is sent back to Spithead with the news of Lord Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown. Through his experiences both in action and in the hard life on Cyclops, Drinkwater matures and gains the ability to stand up against the tyranny of the midshipmen's mess and the sinister and evil influence of the senior midshipman, Morris. In overcoming his difficulties he is sustained by his growing love for Elizabeth and the contrast of home life with the brutality of naval service. Richard Woodman was born in London in 1944. He became an indentured midshipman in cargo liners at 16 and has sailed in a variety of ships, serving from apprentice to captain. He remains a professional sailor and in 1978 won the Marine Society's Harmer Award.