Commander: The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain
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Beschreibung
Beiträge
Every now and then, the perfect storm comes along. One such storm is the Life & Biography of Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth written by Stephen Taylor. I don't normally read biographies because reality often lacks good narrative structure. The life of sir Edward Pellew is a rare exception; Beginning with lowly perantage and no patronage, his is an underdog story filled with all the best tropes; Thrilling combat, bitter betrayal, wrenching loss. The narrative is sharpened by Taylor who has a fantastic grasp of his craft - he seems to know exactly what events and aspects should be dwelled on and explored, and what should be moved past in haste. Taylor brings Pellew to life as a genuine character and tells his story with all the ups, downs, foreshadowing and closure of a good novel. As a result, Commander feels like it belongs in the Hornblower canon - There are lively characters whose personalities shine and interact, battles that as heart-racing as they are strategically engaged, and in the midst of it all a genuinely likeable, relatable, imperfect man working his way through shot, gale and betrayal. And that's what I mean by perfect storm: Pellew's life has all the hallmarks of a good narrative, and the man is a genuine character. Reading Commander, I felt and fought along with Pellew as much as i ever did for Hornblower or Aubrey. This is not a dispassionate historical account but a genuine story, and it's easy to become engaged - to feel a well of pride as see an awkward young man overcome it all to win his first victory, and to curse at each setback as much or more than pellew himself must have been. In Pellew. Stephen Taylor has found exceptional clay - and he is a potter to match. Despite evocative and descriptive storytelling, Commander never forgets that it is a history book; It is well sourced, makes extensive use of excepts from letters and first-hand accounts, and is never afraid to admit when the truth is simply unclear or unknowable. Although it's clear that Taylor admires his subject, the admiration never gets in the way displaying the full Pellew - A man who, while unsurpassed at frigate combat, still floundered in discomfort when in command of a fleet. A men who loved his family and is children to such an extreme that he ignored their flaws, pulling strings to put them in commands well above their capability. A man who, despite brilliance and achievement, was plagued by both jealousy and self-doubt. It is these characteristics that reign the larger-than-life hero in and remind us that he was a real man with many of the same vices of all of us. Honest appraisal of these character flaws combined with Pellews motivations make him a genuine protagonist - a better one than in many books i've read - that is likeable and relatable, drawing us further into immersion. Weaved within the life of such an sympathetic character are shadowy plots, interpersonal conflicts and rivalries, thrilling sea battles, loves and losses, all on the backdrop of a near globe-spanning war. At it's heart,Commander is an adventure story. And a damned good one, at that.
Beschreibung
Beiträge
Every now and then, the perfect storm comes along. One such storm is the Life & Biography of Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth written by Stephen Taylor. I don't normally read biographies because reality often lacks good narrative structure. The life of sir Edward Pellew is a rare exception; Beginning with lowly perantage and no patronage, his is an underdog story filled with all the best tropes; Thrilling combat, bitter betrayal, wrenching loss. The narrative is sharpened by Taylor who has a fantastic grasp of his craft - he seems to know exactly what events and aspects should be dwelled on and explored, and what should be moved past in haste. Taylor brings Pellew to life as a genuine character and tells his story with all the ups, downs, foreshadowing and closure of a good novel. As a result, Commander feels like it belongs in the Hornblower canon - There are lively characters whose personalities shine and interact, battles that as heart-racing as they are strategically engaged, and in the midst of it all a genuinely likeable, relatable, imperfect man working his way through shot, gale and betrayal. And that's what I mean by perfect storm: Pellew's life has all the hallmarks of a good narrative, and the man is a genuine character. Reading Commander, I felt and fought along with Pellew as much as i ever did for Hornblower or Aubrey. This is not a dispassionate historical account but a genuine story, and it's easy to become engaged - to feel a well of pride as see an awkward young man overcome it all to win his first victory, and to curse at each setback as much or more than pellew himself must have been. In Pellew. Stephen Taylor has found exceptional clay - and he is a potter to match. Despite evocative and descriptive storytelling, Commander never forgets that it is a history book; It is well sourced, makes extensive use of excepts from letters and first-hand accounts, and is never afraid to admit when the truth is simply unclear or unknowable. Although it's clear that Taylor admires his subject, the admiration never gets in the way displaying the full Pellew - A man who, while unsurpassed at frigate combat, still floundered in discomfort when in command of a fleet. A men who loved his family and is children to such an extreme that he ignored their flaws, pulling strings to put them in commands well above their capability. A man who, despite brilliance and achievement, was plagued by both jealousy and self-doubt. It is these characteristics that reign the larger-than-life hero in and remind us that he was a real man with many of the same vices of all of us. Honest appraisal of these character flaws combined with Pellews motivations make him a genuine protagonist - a better one than in many books i've read - that is likeable and relatable, drawing us further into immersion. Weaved within the life of such an sympathetic character are shadowy plots, interpersonal conflicts and rivalries, thrilling sea battles, loves and losses, all on the backdrop of a near globe-spanning war. At it's heart,Commander is an adventure story. And a damned good one, at that.