<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> T H E B O S U N ' S C H R O N I C L E The official Ezine of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' Network <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> VOL. 7, ISSUE 9, October 2006 Special COMMAND launch issue Both author and cover artist talk about COMMAND, the seventh title in the Kydd chronicles; we have a great book giveaway from Conway Maritime, a free signed Kydd postcard set - and a double helping of "scran 'n prog", plus all the old favourites. Avast, Shipmates and anchors aweigh! 1 DISPATCHES 2 BOOKSHELF 3 FEATURE 4 SALTY SAYINGS 5 CONTESTS 6 SCRAN 'N PROG 7 ON COMMAND 8 ASK JULIAN ==================== 1 DISPATCHES + Collector's Edition of COMMAND shipping soon! We will be posting out our allocation of the Collector's Editions of COMMAND next week. Due to the very high level of demand for this edition, Julian's UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton has decided to slightly increase the print run to 1000 - so we have been able to secure just a few more copies for Shipmates to purchase direct from us. The book has special map endpapers, a ribbon marker and hand sewing - and is embossed and signed/numbered by Julian. The price is GBP 25.00 plus p&p. If you haven't already ordered your copy, and would like one, email Admin@JulianStockwin.com for further details. First come, first served! The standard hardback of COMMAND will be in UK bookshops around October 5, and available in Australia and Canada in early November. It will also be offered in trade paperback format in some areas. + "I now declare..." Julian will officially open the Plymouth Book Fair at Plymouth College, Ford Park, on October 14. He and Kathy will be on hand all day with Kydd books for sale/signing and a special display of Julian's 250-year-old sea artefacts. Further details from Paul Davies. 01548 561798. + 106 years young! Shipmate Austin Hawkins attended a luncheon at Kingsbridge in Devon to celebrate the birthday of William (Bill) Stone who was born on September 23rd 1900. Bill, known as "The Ancient Mariner" by his friends, proudly wore the string of medals he has earned in sea service covering two world wars. He received a splendid card from H.M. The Queen, which was read out at the party. Austin thanked Anne and Michael Davidson (Bill's daughter and son-in-law) on behalf of the guests for organising the event and, remarking on the fact that at 106, Bill is as articulate, cheerful and upbeat as ever, quoting some eighteenth-century verse which appeared in SEAFLOWER as best reflecting Bill's philosophy: "Oh! Life is the ocean, and man is the boat That over its surface is destin'd to float; And joy is the cargo so easily stor'd That he is a fool who takes sorrow on board!" A fascinating account of Mr Stone's life can be read on the HMS "Hood" official website. http://hmshood.com/crew/biography/wfstone_bio.htm + COMMAND print Art Marine is bringing out a limited edition print of COMMAND's cover painting by Geoff Hunt RSMA. Publication date will be announced soon! www.artmarine.co.uk + Novel model The latest issue of the prestigious US modelling magazine "Ships in Scale" carries a 6-page article by Shipmate Robert Squarebriggs on how he built a model of "Seaflower" after reading Julian's book of the same name. Wrote Bob: "Stockwin, who is an ex-Navy shipwright, has done me the honour of pronouncing her a handsome representation of Thomas Kydd's cutter 'Seaflower'. Looking at the model, I see some of my favourite images from the book: action off Barbados and battling a hurricane deep in the Caribbean. How men of that age went to sea and fought in such tiny vessel - and lived to tell the tale - is hard to comprehend today!" Bob, who is the maritime correspondent for Canada's "Miramichi Leader", has written a number of articles about his passion for ships in miniature and is always happy to share his experiences with other modellers. + One for the diary! This year's Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition runs from 18-29 October at the Mall Galleries, London SW1. Around 350 works will be on display covering every aspect of the maritime scene, including three pieces that appeared in the first show in 1946, and work done in the Devonport dockyard in June at the invitation of the Royal Navy. Contact: 020 7930 6844 + Trafalgar Day October 21 is the anniversary of Admiral Nelson's great sea victory, and his untimely death. Please join us in the toast: "To the Immortal Memory". Julian will be hosting a small private dinner that night, but he is on duty during the day, signing copies of COMMAND at Waterstones Plymouth from 12 noon - and would love to say hello to any Shipmates who stop by. + In the spotlight George Jepson's wide-ranging interview with Julian appears in the October issue of McBooks Press's newsletter "Quarterdeck". www.mcbooks.com + Senior Shipmate Last month Julian mentioned that readers of his books ranged in age from 13 to 80 - but he was wrong! We were delighted when Harold McCann emailed: "I am a retired chief engineer of 85 and Kydd is my favourite reading. A most appreciated gift from my wife Muriel is each new edition as it is published!" + Cutty Sark Countdown The two-year conservation project on the world's most famous tea clipper begins on November 5. From April 2007-September 2008 a special exhibition adjacent to the ship will enable visitors to learn about the regeneration work being undertaken. http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/ + Kydd Postcard offer We have a pack of the complete set of signed Kydd postcards for the first Shipmate drawn out of the hat on October 5, COMMAND launch day! Emails to the Bosun with your full postal address and "Postcards" in the subject line. ===================== 2 BOOKSHELF Two splendid Conway offerings this month:- www.conwaymaritime.co.uk Charts of War by John Blake. ISBN 1844860310 Another in the fascinating series of books about naval charts and maps from this former Royal Naval officer. This volume focuses on the role that charts have played in the planning, preventing, conducting and recording of war at sea. Covering the ancient and medieval world up to recent world wars, Blake uses examples from major cartographic collections in the US, the UK and Europe. A Seaman's Pocket Book, June 1943 ISBN 10: 184486037X Faithfully reproduced, and including an introduction by Brian Lavery, this is a unique evocation of the rules of life on the lower deck of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. But what is intriguing is how much of the little volume is relevant to the sailing navy of Kydd's day! For a chance to win Charts of War, see CONTESTS --- And, just out from Roy and Lesley Adkins - "The War for all the Oceans". A sweeping narrative history, it begins with the defeat of the French in Egypt at the Battle of the Nile and ends 17 years later on land at the Battle of Waterloo, when Britain had mastery of the oceans. Published by Little, Brown. ISBN 0316728373 ==================== 3 FEATURE COMMAND opens in early 1803. Thomas Kydd has come a long way from that cold winter night all those years ago, when he was snatched by the press gang and taken aboard the old line-o'-battle ship "Duke William". Newspapers are a fascinating window to the past. Just what were people reading on that fateful day? Julian undertakes meticulous research for his books and for this special COMMAND issue of the Chronicle, we've borrowed his copy of "The Times", Friday February 8, 1793. Price four pence, plus a halfpenny stamp duty. People were anxious about the bloodbath of the French Revolution at its height and the war which had just been declared - and it was this very issue that was being read by a roaring fire in the Angel Posting House when Kydd's familiar land world suddenly came to an end. The newspaper is unlike those of today - it had no pictures and the front page is all advertisements, the headlines are inside. The editorial mentions, in passing: "Besides, Proclamations of War have of late been out of fashion, and probably there never will be another." The advertisements are probably the most fascinating aspect of the newspaper. "The SOCIETY OF ANCIENT BRITONS The NOBILITY, CLERGY and GENTRY, is inclined to favour the Charity for educating, clothing, maintaining and putting forth Apprentices etc. ...prayers will be at 12 o' clock and in the Ancient British Language." And "Messrs. GALLEY and BEARDMORE most respectfully acquaint the Nobility, Gentry and Public, they are selling on the most reasonable terms, STATE LOTTERY TICKETS. Capital Prizes to the amount of [pounds] 600,000 have been sold..." In public notices we read, "Notice is hereby given that a SESSION of OYER and TERMINER and GAOL DELIVERY for the Trial of Offences Committed on the High Seas, within the Jurisdiction of the Admiralty in England, will be held at the Justice Hall of the Old Bailey, London." Entertainment choices in London included an Italian opera at the King's Theatre: tickets were five shillings in the gallery, ten shillings and six pence in the pit. At the Theatre Royal, "Mother Shipton Triumphant" was playing to packed houses. For those who could afford to buy magazines there was quite a large selection - here's just three mentioned in the paper: "The New London Magazine" (Every man's Complete Repository of Knowledge, Instruction or Entertainment), price sixpence; "The New Lady's Magazine (Polite, Entertaining, Fashionable and Complete Monthly Companion for the Fair Sex, a work entirely devoted to their use and amusement) and "The Matrimonial Magazine (Matrimonial Bon Mots, a Ludicrous representation of a Foreign Marriage Ceremony... calculated for the maid and widow... combined with decency and humour.) Obviously this is just a brief overview of the contents of one particular newspaper - now that many libraries hold them on microfiche it's a fascinating way to delve further into Kydd's world. ==================== 4 SALTY SAYINGS Under the weather Today if we say someone is under the weather, he or she is feeling ill, or perhaps a little worse the wear for drink... The origins of this phrase are definitely salty. On board ship in Kydd's day one of the least favourite lookout positions was on the bow on the windward or weather side. During storms this position was pretty miserable, and the lookout was continually soaked with cold, harsh spray, often causing him to become ill. ==================== 5 CONTESTS For a chance to win a copy of "Charts of War" email the Bosun with the name of one of Blake's other books published by Conway Maritime. Deadline: October 25 === Our major COMMAND launch prize goes to Henry Spong whose entry was first out of the hat with the correct answers to the six questions: >In what town was the house of Madame Dahouet? (St Pontrieux) >In ARTEMIS Kydd tastes "bibingka" - name two ingredients (gelatinous rice and salted eggs) >In SEAFLOWER who is mastheaded for "rank boneheadedness"? (Midshipman Parkin) > In MUTINY of what material was the decking of "Trinity Yacht" made? (Danzig deal) > In QUARTERDECK what sum did the second lieutenant nominate for the officer's mess subscription per head? (5 guineas) > In TENACIOUS who sang "Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill" in the ward room? (Lt. Adams) --- Congratulations to the other winners of last month's contests: Donald Graham and David James both will receive a pair of tickets to Mystic Seaport; the set of Seafarer books was won by Mike Embleton. ==================== 6 SCRAN 'N PROG Here's an early taster of some of the dishes from Kydd's table in COMMAND:- Ragoo of kidney Although the Roast Beef of Old England is thought of as a staple of the Englishman's diet in Kydd's day, British food was changing under the influence of French cuisine. Fricassees and Rogoo (ragout) began to appear on the table. A ragoo is basically a stew with a very rich sauce; flavourings could include anchovies, shallots, mustard, nutmeg and salt. Buttered Meringue Pompadour This is a poached meringue, topped with an orange butter sauce. A contemporary recipe book calls it: "A pretty corner dish for a second course at dinner." ==================== 7 JULIAN & GEOFF - on COMMAND Author and cover artist share their thoughts on the latest book in the Thomas Kydd series. Julian: One of the questions I'm often asked is now that I've written quite a number of books in the series does it become easier or harder each time I sit down to start on a new title. There's no straight-forward answer! COMMAND presented its own challenges - and rewards - as I was writing it. I suppose the hardest challenge I faced was that I had to really get inside a new commander's head - and then convey to my readers just what it feels like to assume that role. During my time in the Navy I was not captain of a ship, but I have read widely on the topic of command and talked to naval officers who have gone on have their own ship. I think also, having been a psychologist did help me define the intellectual and emotional aspects of command. It was very gratifying when one of the advance reviewers of COMMAND, Keith Kilbane, himself a sea captain, told me that he thought I had got things pretty right! And Commander Tyrone Martin, former captain of the beloved 'Old Ironsides' herself, in the USA, echoed this: "The description of Kydd's assumption of command in 'Teazer' took me back more than forty years, to the day I took command (my first) of a destroyer in the South China Sea. The captain had fallen seriously ill, and I, as Exec, reluctantly made the decision to relieve him. Sitting in the Captain's chair on the bridge that first time changed forever my perception of being a naval officer." With every book, too, I am conscious that I am writing a series and I do not want it to seem formulaic. Each book should be as fresh and different as possible, taking the reader through another aspect of Tom Kydd's journey from pressed man to admiral. There is always a period of nervousness after I send the manuscript into my editor - is it as good as the last one? Should I have written it differently? It's a bit of a nail-biting time when you have been working on the manuscript for a year... In COMMAND I was so thrilled for Kydd when he got his first ship, and a tad jealous, too! And I really felt for him when the fates contrived to steal away his jubilation. But I don't want to give away too much of the plot..." --- We caught up with Geoff Hunt and asked him about the cover. "Teazer is a small, handy, fast vessel, almost yacht-like, very much a young man's command. I wanted to get over this feeling of excitement, brio, high performance, reflecting Kydd's own delight in his first real command." Geoff went on: "However I couldn't believe that a small brig of that period really did carry all her boats on the quarters and on stern davits as Julian describes in the book - for a start how could the baulk-type quarter davits get any support from the main mast, as they do from the mizzen on larger vessels - they are too far aft? I thought Julian was in the world of pure fiction - until I found a photograph of a model of the 'Cruizer' brig, date 1805, set up exactly in that way!" --- "The Marine Art of Geoff Hunt" is in now in its fourth reprint. Julian wrote the foreword for this book, which includes detail on the covers of the first three books in the Kydd series. =================== 8 ASK JULIAN Shipmate Ron Morris wanted to know: "What is the derivation of the term 'heads', for lavatories aboard ship?" Julian explains: "The term dates from the early days of sailing ship of war, and refers to a section forward of the forecastle, the beakhead, that was provided with gratings and served as the sailor's privy. Over time this became known simply as heads. Heads is always in the plural to indicate both sides, as seamen were expected to use the lee side (down weather) so that waste would fall direct into the sea. There were different arrangements for sailors and officers, depending on the size of the ship. Aboard HMS Victory, for example, over 650 seamen had to make do with two benches, each with two holes, placed on either side of the bowsprit. The deck here was open, in the form of a grating to allow the free sluicing of waves across the area. Petty officers had a seat on either side of the bow. Two small enclosed spaces gave some privacy for officers. The admiral, captain and senior officers had their own heads aft, in the outer part of the great stern galleries. The term persists at sea to this day. Do you have a question you would like Julian to answer? Send it to Julian@JulianStockwin.com - please put "Ask Julian" in the subject line. =================== NEW ON THE WEB www.JulianStockwin.com Click on the NEW button on the home page to see recent additions to the website. -- And of you'd like to help "spread the word" about the Kydd series, email the Bosun for a free Shipmate Ambassador Pack. The Pack contains information about Julian and the books, bookmarks and postcards. (There is a small charge to cover postage for Shipmates living outside the UK). Yours aye, THE BOSUN ++ Download back issues from the WebSite ++