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Rating: 
Summary: Keelhaul the nautical proof reader!!!!!
Review: I have read this book with a mixture of interest and annoyance. I was interested in a part of Irish history that I had not read about previously. The author has managed to compile a quantity of factual documentation on this subject.My annoyance arises from two main areas; 1. His �factional� way of writing. Interspersing historical documents with the attributed thoughts and actions of his subjects. While I agree that it is the authors choice how he tells the story, his stereotypical approach of �Cruel Britannia� versus the �Noble Irish� gets a little tiresome after a while. Irish history (like most history) varies considerably depending on who does the telling. The �Irish Question� is seldom black or white, a fact that has been discovered by several generations of US presidents. (I say this as an Irishman and a Nationalist). 2. An area where I am more qualified to comment is in his writing about the seagoing element of the story. If Mr. Stevens has a nautical proof reader he/she should be keelhauled. Some of the howlers are as follows; Sailors raced up the ratlines to sheaf the ship�s sails (p. 52) �Sailors reef sails. From the quarterdeck, a sailor called out �twelve bells� (p.71). � No, NO, NOOO, bells are rung (on a bell � duh), and the highest number is EIGHT. 12 midnight is 8 BELLS. � asked if he might see the ship�s chronometer and learn how one used its winding key to arrive at the ships position. (p. 199)
AND , took out his new chronometer, wound the key, and read --- ninety miles away (p. 232). � �Mother of the Devine!!!!!!!!!�� Mr. Stevens is mixing a Sextant with a Chronometer � A chronometer is a CLOCK. A sextant is used to measure angles � e.g. stars, sun, mountains etc. By combining an accurate CLOCK and a sextant angle of a heavenly body, using tables you can plot a ships position. The first cry of �Ah!Blows!� rang out (p.220) � If a whaler cried out this he would be harpooned. The cry is �Thar she blows� "greasy luck" was the standard whalers cry, not �greasy voyage� This is only a small sample of the errors in the nautical side of this book. I can only assume similar carelessness in other areas. As a result Mr. Stevens gets a 2 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Keelhaul the nautical proof reader!!!!!
Review: I have read this book with a mixture of interest and annoyance. I was interested in a part of Irish history that I had not read about previously. The author has managed to compile a quantity of factual documentation on this subject. My annoyance arises from two main areas; 1. His 'factional' way of writing. Interspersing historical documents with the attributed thoughts and actions of his subjects. While I agree that it is the authors choice how he tells the story, his stereotypical approach of 'Cruel Britannia' versus the 'Noble Irish' gets a little tiresome after a while. Irish history (like most history) varies considerably depending on who does the telling. The 'Irish Question' is seldom black or white, a fact that has been discovered by several generations of US presidents. (I say this as an Irishman and a Nationalist). 2. An area where I am more qualified to comment is in his writing about the seagoing element of the story. If Mr. Stevens has a nautical proof reader he/she should be keelhauled. Some of the howlers are as follows; Sailors raced up the ratlines to sheaf the ship's sails (p. 52) 'Sailors reef sails. From the quarterdeck, a sailor called out 'twelve bells' (p.71). ' No, NO, NOOO, bells are rung (on a bell ' duh), and the highest number is EIGHT. 12 midnight is 8 BELLS. ' asked if he might see the ship's chronometer and learn how one used its winding key to arrive at the ships position. (p. 199)
AND , took out his new chronometer, wound the key, and read --- ninety miles away (p. 232). ' 'Mother of the Devine!!!!!!!!!'' Mr. Stevens is mixing a Sextant with a Chronometer ' A chronometer is a CLOCK. A sextant is used to measure angles ' e.g. stars, sun, mountains etc. By combining an accurate CLOCK and a sextant angle of a heavenly body, using tables you can plot a ships position. The first cry of 'Ah!Blows!' rang out (p.220) ' If a whaler cried out this he would be harpooned. The cry is 'Thar she blows' "greasy luck" was the standard whalers cry, not 'greasy voyage' This is only a small sample of the errors in the nautical side of this book. I can only assume similar carelessness in other areas. As a result Mr. Stevens gets a 2 star rating.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent piece of history
Review: This unknown history at it's finest. The reseach was outstanding done by Stevens. It's the perfect match adventure and history this did really occur as hard as it is to believe. If your interested in Irish/Australian/American History it is a must read.
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