Man of War (Kent, Alexander. Richard Bolitho Novels, No. 26.)

Rating:
Summary: it's Time To Retire The Bolitho Legend
Review: I've read all 26 books in the Bolitho series and thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority. Alas, "Man of War" stands alone as the weakest offering in the series. Foremost among the literary casulaties is the carefully perpetuated overarching series theme "We happy few". Sadly, it is overwhelmed in a pea soup fog of never-ending, tedious-beyond-words introspections by a proliferating cast of characters. Absent too are a compelling, coherent plot and the expected ration of expertly described naval engagements. Indeed, for those readers who "live" for the battles, be forewarned: you'll have to endure almost 300 pages of (pardon the pun) navel gazing to reach the only engagement in this 318 page book; and even then the reward is slight when compared to other books in the Bolitho series.To be fair to Reeman/Kent, the Bolitho series has arrived at a point in the history of the British Empire and the Royal Navy where there's not all that much exciting to write about. Still, he presses on; and it would seem there are enough loose ends in "Man of War" to suggest at least one more book is in the offing. If "Man of War" is a window on what the future holds for this mostly enjoyable series, it's time for Reeman to bring it to a merciflul end and let the Bolitho legend enjoy fair winds and following seas into a well deserved retirement.

Rating:
Summary: it's Time To Retire The Bolitho Legend
Review: I've read all 26 books in the Bolitho series and thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority. Alas, "Man of War" stands alone as the weakest offering in the series. Foremost among the literary casulaties is the carefully perpetuated overarching series theme "We happy few". Sadly, it is overwhelmed in a pea soup fog of never-ending, tedious-beyond-words introspections by a proliferating cast of characters. Absent too are a compelling, coherent plot and the expected ration of expertly described naval engagements. Indeed, for those readers who "live" for the battles, be forewarned: you'll have to endure almost 300 pages of (pardon the pun) navel gazing to reach the only engagement in this 318 page book; and even then the reward is slight when compared to other books in the Bolitho series.To be fair to Reeman/Kent, the Bolitho series has arrived at a point in the history of the British Empire and the Royal Navy where there's not all that much exciting to write about. Still, he presses on; and it would seem there are enough loose ends in "Man of War" to suggest at least one more book is in the offing. If "Man of War" is a window on what the future holds for this mostly enjoyable series, it's time for Reeman to bring it to a merciflul end and let the Bolitho legend enjoy fair winds and following seas into a well deserved retirement.

Rating:
Summary: What the...?
Review: Kent started out ok, but the last 15 or so books of his are just aweful. Yes I did read them religiously, but it is getting harder. Kent is turning into some sort of "like, gag me with a spoon" vomit-fed Danielle Steel. These novels are becoming unbearable. The pity is that he's becoming just as prolific as Steel. Someone save us!
Granted they aren't having earth-shattering sex while ship-wrecked on some deserted island, but his characters are so overly-burdened with emotion it is amazing that we the reader can even see the ship through all this emotional fog.
And can he please, please, please stop ending every other paragraph with "It was enough." And is Bolitho alone? Or is he not alone? That seems to change every other page.
Save your money. Sorry Mr. Kent, but please spare us. Bolitho needs to stop sailing and see a shrink. Or perhaps you do?

Rating:
Summary: Not CS Forester but certainly more prolific.
Review: Kent's series is topnotch all the way. After reading Hornblower series as a young girl (yes...girl!!!) in the late 50's, I started reading Kent and began a lifelong quest to read 'em all. Fifty years later, I still am.

Rating:
Summary: The Bolitho emotions
Review: This volume in the Bolitho series does not need, or deserve, a long review. If you like the series about "we happy few," then you may want to read this, too. This is certainly not the place to start, as many references to earlier characters and situations of "the Bolitho legend" are oblique in the extreme: suitable for constant readers but hardly explaining the rushes of sentimental emotion among them that Kent offers here. Although this Capt. Bolitho, son of the revered admiral of earlier books, is young, he is not involved in much action because Napoleon has been finished off. Instead, the British are now pursuing American slave traders in a rather secretive fashion, and Bolitho has found a girl, another lost soul, to agonize upon. So, this is far from a sea-going swashbuckler of the sort found in the first ten or so books of this now-26 volume series. However, with its greater emphasis on manly sentiments among aging and retired sailors and their women on shore, this story is likely to appeal to a broader spectrum of readers of historical romance fiction than naval fiction is wont. This book is in a way of a love story between Adam and the lovely Lowenna, and also between Kent and his characters.

Many of the scenes are interior, either in offices, homes, or inside the characters feelings. Kent makes it easy to tell good officers from bad: if the lieutenant knows his men's names he's good, if he don't he ain't. In fact, however, there's very little of the conflict between ranks that is a staple of nautical fiction (and powering whole books earlier in this series). This, despite the fact Adam Bolitho is now a flag captain and under the potentially oppressive thumb of his admiral. But Admiral Bethune has too much respect for the revered Bolitho name! In fact, this book lacks tension or much suspense due to its pervasive sense of nostalgia and a scarcity of open conflict, either at sea or in the halls of Admiralty.

In the few scenes of life at sea, Kent is usually more careful than here to give wind and sailing directions so you can imaginatively follow the maneuvering. I think his mind was on other matters, a different kind of sea tale. As always, McBooks Press does a nice job of the somewhat antique typefaces, while avoiding the crowded little text of yore.