By the Mast Divided

A John Pearce Adventure

By: David Donachie

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Paperback | 1 September 2023

At a Glance

Paperback
512 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.05 x 12.7 x 3.18

Paperback

$55.75

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London, 1793: Young firebrand John Pearce, on the run from the authorities, is illegally press-ganged from the Pelican Tavern into brutal life aboard HMS Brilliant, a frigate on its way to war. Shipboard life is hard, brutal, and dangerous—that anyone chooses it suggests that life ashore is even worse. But Pearce is not alone; he is drawn to a disparate group of men pressed alongside him who eventually form an exclusive gun crew, the Pelicans, with Pearce their elected leader.

The Pelicans find solidarity in facing together the cruelty of their hard-nosed captain, Barclay, and the daily threat of bullying, flogging—even murder. The one light on the horizon is the captain''s wife, Emily, who is also aboard and new to life at sea. During an action-packed two weeks, as HMS Brilliant chases a French privateer across the English Channel, Pearce discovers the British Navy is a world in which he can prosper, and he and the Pelicans form friendships that will last a lifetime.

Industry Reviews

A literary burgoo with just the right mix of historical authenticity and storytelling, one that grips the reader and carries them along. Donachie knows his time period and his subject matter, he knows how to spin a yarn, and once again, it shows.

--James L. Nelson, author of the Isaac Biddlecomb Novels

A very enjoyable adventure. . . . John Pearce, the hero, is refreshingly different. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

--Historical Novels Review Online

Donachie assails your senses with the whiff of salt air and the heave and roll of a living ship beneath your feet. His characters are gritty and authentic, and he describes their world in all its high adventure and low brutality.

--Chris Durbin, author of The Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventures

Droits of the Crownexpertly captures the essence of the trials and triumphs of a life at sea while also giving a rare look behind the curtains at the corruption, power, and politics of the era. The characters and superb seamanship will stick with me for a long time. It's the most fun I've had with a historical nautical adventure since Patrick O'Brian, and my next stop is to pick up the very first John Pearce book to find out what else I've been missing!

--Stefan Read, former tall ship captain and member of Toronto's shantymen Pressgang Mutiny

Exciting and unpredictable.

-- "The Bookbag"

High adventure and detection; cunningly spliced battle scenes which reek of blood and brine; excitements on terra firma to match

-- "Literary Review"

High-speed epic from an ace storyteller.

-- "Daily Sport"

Outflanking and out-gunning C. S. Forester.

-- "Cambridge Evening News"

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