MASH
N/A
Quite simply the best sea-book I have ever read.
The subject, Matthew Lawe is Drake's trusted man but screws up destroying the Armada at anchor through cowardice when he abandons his fire-ship too early. Cursed to "live forever" the book takes Matthew through the ages as a basically decent man vainly struggling to make a success of his endless life but constantly succumbing to his human frailties - and as a sailor there was plenty of scope there.
This curious vehicle allows Monserrat to write a series of short stories depicting Matthew is a variety of historical maritime situations and is stunningly well written and researched historically. He goes through the Armada and it's aftermath as a Spanish prisoner wrecked on the W coast of Scotland, a trusted advisor of Sam Pepys, a deserter from Blackbeard's crew, with Frobisher in the frozen North, the master navigator who got Wolfe's transports up the St Lawrence to Quebec, a trusted confidante of Nelson...
It works beautifully and I doubt there has ever been a book written that brings those events to life more vividly. Tragically Monserrat died before completing the sequel - so poor Matthew never reached his intended redemption and so must be hopelessly tramping the oceans to this day trying vainly to escape his fate.
Perhaps you know him?
Scores fourteen out of ten.
The subject, Matthew Lawe is Drake's trusted man but screws up destroying the Armada at anchor through cowardice when he abandons his fire-ship too early. Cursed to "live forever" the book takes Matthew through the ages as a basically decent man vainly struggling to make a success of his endless life but constantly succumbing to his human frailties - and as a sailor there was plenty of scope there.
This curious vehicle allows Monserrat to write a series of short stories depicting Matthew is a variety of historical maritime situations and is stunningly well written and researched historically. He goes through the Armada and it's aftermath as a Spanish prisoner wrecked on the W coast of Scotland, a trusted advisor of Sam Pepys, a deserter from Blackbeard's crew, with Frobisher in the frozen North, the master navigator who got Wolfe's transports up the St Lawrence to Quebec, a trusted confidante of Nelson...
It works beautifully and I doubt there has ever been a book written that brings those events to life more vividly. Tragically Monserrat died before completing the sequel - so poor Matthew never reached his intended redemption and so must be hopelessly tramping the oceans to this day trying vainly to escape his fate.
Perhaps you know him?
Scores fourteen out of ten.
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