Kydd (Thorndike Large Print Adventure Series) - Hardcover

Stockwin, Julian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786235640 ISBN 13: 9780786235643

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2001

Synopsis

Thomas Paine Kydd, a young wig-maker from Guildford, is seized by the press gang, to be a part of the crew of the 98-gun line-of-battle ship Royal William. The ship sails immediately and Kydd has to learn the harsh realities of shipboard life fast. Despite all that he goes through in danger of tempest and battle he comes to admire the skills and courage of the seamen - taking up the challenge himself to become a true sailor.

KYDD launches a masterly new writing talent and a thrilling new series. Based on dramatic real events, it is classic storytelling at its very best, rich with action with exceptional characters and a page-turning narrative.

About this title

Review:

From C.S. Forester onwards, the tale of high adventure on the sea has produced some splendidly vivid writing; in fact, as genres go, there have probably been more consistently impressive creations in this field than in all historical fiction. With such a legacy looming behind him, a new author has to be able to present something special in order to make any kind of mark. With Kydd, Julian Stockwin quickly signals that he is an innovative and accomplished fresh talent in the field, with a complex and richly drawn hero (always so necessary in the naval tale) at the centre of an intelligently structured narrative.

Thomas Paine Kydd is press-ganged in Guildford, and is wrenched from his safe profession of wig making to join the crew of the 98-gun line-of-battle ship Duke William. We have been treated to the horrors of the below-deck life of the common seaman before, but Stockwin renders these scenes as exuberantly as any of his predecessors. He is also particularly good at delineating the changing character of his hero, as Kydd comes to admire the skills of the seamen and (of course) becomes a true sailor himself. Although, at times, the book has the feel of the setting up of a new series, it's none the worse for that. Stockwin can command your attention with ease when his writing has such unyielding power as:

The boatswain's mate advanced, taking the cat-o-nine-tails from the bag. He took a position a full eight feet away to one side, and drew the long deadly lashes through his fingers, experimentally sweeping back to ensure that there was enough clear space to swing it. Kydd stared across the few yards of empty deck at the man's pale, helpless body. At the instant it flew downward the drumbeats stopped, so the sickening smack of the blow came loud and clear. Donelly did not cry out, but his gasp was high and choked. The nine tails not only left long bruised weals, but at every point where they landed, blood began to seep.

--Barry Forshaw

Review:

As an O'Brien groupie myself, I began to read suspiciously... I was soon turning over the pages almost indecently fast... Roll on, the promised adventures of Kydd and Renzi on "the legendary crack frigate Artemis".

Stockwin weaves a fast- paced tale that brings a whiff of the sea and gunpowder. Recommended.

gripping...Rich in action and full of interesting characters, this thrilling novel leaves you in awe of the 18th- century seaman.

'impressively full of life. I was soon turning over the pages indecently fast.' INDEPENDENT

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0786235640
• ISBN 13: 9780786235643
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 447