Live the Adventure!

sea of treason

Out Now!
cover for thomas kydd novels
The Thomas Kydd Novels – Click to download a complete listing


…more

508 Comments on “Live the Adventure!”

  1. Dear Mr Stockwin
    Having followed Bernard Cornwell’s “Sharpe” I thought it time to read about Capt Kydd; so I dived into “The Iberian Flame”.

    May I say how much I enjoyed the book and the Peninsular War from the aspect of the Royal Navy. I shall now follow Kydd with great interest.
    If I am allowed one comment, the first map at the front of the book seems to have the Med and the Atlantic mixed up?

    Sincerely
    Chris Crocker

    Reply

    • Delighted you enjoyed THE IBERIAN FLAME, Chris, and hope you find the rest of my Kydd tales a good read, too! Yes, I am aware of the unfortunate mix-up on the map, it is to be corrected on the next printing

      Reply

    • Hello, Chris,
      I have read through Sharpe at least twice. My advice: go backwards to “Kydd” and follow Tom from whig-maker to impressed landsman to seaman. That process, from “apprentice” seaman to competent officer is one of the best in historical fiction. Turn this way or that, and you’ll see a dashing RN captain swashbuckling his way to glory, which is thin and flat. Nothing to compare with how Tom Kydd slowly and painfully learns his trade. Julian takes us through every step, and we read into working aloft, training as a gun crew, learning the life “forward”, steering a ship, and navigation. My dad went through Typhoon Cobra, the worst natural disaster ever in the US Navy, and he was fascinated by a hurricane that Julian describes. “They were a wooden hulled sailing ship, driven by wind and wave, while we were an 8,000 ton, steel-hulled, steam-powered escort carrier, hit so hard we were being blown onto the island of Samar…same weather, waves looked like mountains from the flight deck…” Must be time for a third read through the series. Congratulations on finding Captain Sir Thomas Kydd, the hero of Curacao!

      Reply

  3. Thank you Julian, I started reading your books years ago while overseas with the British Army (not RN!) but as a seaside boy with lots of sailing experience your books grabbed my attention. After a few years (very busy!) recently I came back to Kydd and I literally can’t stop putting the books down. A true pleasure mate. Thanks.

    Reply

  4. Really enjoy yr books. Just finished Pasha. In yr notes though it says that Turkey was an ally of the West that denied the Russians access to the Med from the Black Sea. I travelled to Istanbul a lot during the 1980s when the USSR was still in existence and I saw the Russian fleet pass under the Istanbul bridge (only 1 bridge at that time) on more than one occasion.

    Reply

  5. Was there any particular topsail cutter upon which HMS Seaflower was based? Are there any parameters you had in mind that do not appear in the book? Did you discuss your ship with Geoff Hunt for his painting, or did he just present it to you? It looks right. That said, I know he used his knowledge to do a painting of Patrick O’Brian’s HMS Sophie, but the stern lacked the Spanish-style small quarter galleries of HMS Vensejo upon which, other than dimensions, HMS Sophie was based.

    Reply

  6. I’ve read most of your books and books by other sea adventure authors, and consider you as the best, keep up the fine work

    Reply

    • Please take this as it is offered as constructive criticism. I have read all your books and was currently reading a Sea of Gold. I have looked forward to each release but to be honest the books have lost something. I’ve noticed in in the last few. I’m at chapter 23 and have yet to read about a cutlass glancing off a rib cage or Kidd slipping on a pool of blood on an enemy ship. Battles are described at a distance with no personal involvement. The books have lost the adventure. I am putting Sea of Gold aside and hope that your next book brings back some action.

      Reply

      • I’ve noticed this trend with other sea adventure authors, but was hoping Julian Stockwin wouldn’t fall into that rut. I gave up on the Bolitho series by Alexander Kent for that very reason.

        I’m unsure if Mr. Stockwin has fallen into this rut because I haven’t been able to get his latest books yet, but if the adventure has been relegated to the back burner, that’s not good. We read these sea adventures for the adventure. The side stories are tedious and boring.

        Reply

      • Yes, l’ve noticed this, too. I would have expected it if and when Kydd rises to the giddy heights of flag rank but as a dashing post captain? Having said that, l doubt that even Cochrane was exactly up to his eyeballs in bodies ALL the time…

        Reply

  8. My dad had to work on the 3rd and missed you signing in Waterstones, Is there any way I can get his book signed by you as a surprise for Christmas please? any more events you are attending in the southwest?

    Reply

  9. Have read the rest – Hornblower, Jack Aubrey etc. but Kydd is something different. I do a bit of sailing so I would like to have reference to the jargon of the 18th century. So many new terms. Not so much the sailing terms but the equipment. The language is beautiful.

    Reply

  10. A sea of gold is yet another triumph.
    It is full of moments of apprehension and joy and may I say one or two points that made me gasp and worry about character’s and there well being. Yet again a thrilling read that I couldn’t put down.
    Well done
    (Now the wait for the next instalment )

    Reply

  11. Vous avez bien de la chance ,seuls 4 livres de Julian Stockwin sont parus en France , depuis plus rien après La grande mutinerie .

    Reply

  12. When are you going to give Rowley a good stuffing? I’m looking forward to it and trust that it will be truly humiliating.
    JackM

    Reply

  13. Hi,

    I have all the Kydd books up to “The Baltic Prize” on audio CD. I have tried to get “The Iberian Flame” as well but can’t find it on CD anywhere.

    The publishers that hold the rights say that one reseller (wf howes/whole story audiobooks) is allowed to, but they say they only have library sale rights.

    I want to avoid audible as I want the physical copy to have the whole series. I have listened to them all several times (when driving to go to and from sea myself) and would hate to have to go down the audio download route to finish the series!

    Do you know anywhere I can keep getting my Kydd fix?!

    Thank you so much for all your work, it truly is a wonder to read (listen to!)

    Reply

    • I regret what you have been told is correct – at the moment Howes are only offering the CDs to libraries. My agent is actively looking into making CDs available via retail channels but not sure when this will happen.

      Reply

  14. I came across the Kydd series a month ago, and all I have done since then is read the books with every minute of spare time. I am now on number 16, and I look ahead with despair when the series runs out. I have started talking like Kydd, urging my friends to steer small, spread more sail, and hold hard. Today, I called someone old trout. Please keep writing!

    Reply

    • Delighted you’re working some KyddSpeak into everyday conversation! And you still have a few titles to read – and book 21, A SEA OF GOLD is out November 1. After that I envision at least another six titles…

      Reply

      • It’s an amazing character in Sir Thomas Kydd . I’ve been reading his story from the first book and I am eagerly awaiting sea of gold .keep up the fantastic works

        Reply

    • Vous avez bien de la chance , en France seuls 4 livres de Kydd ont été publié puis plus rien . Je suis déçu . Bien cordialement ;

      Reply

    • Fascinating. I thought I was the only one. I love it when walking with friends to say something like “Clap on my canvas and let’s crack on,” “Belay that change in course,” “Avast!” and so on….

      Reply

      • Well, I’ve read all the books in the collection through The Baltic Prize.  As with other high points in this book, I really appreciate how you bring past forms of speech back to life (Old Trout, Cuffin’, etc).  Another highlight is the restoration of friendship between Bazely and Sir T.  But with The Iberian Flame yet to read, and the promise of another in November and perhaps six more in the series, I also look forward to your development of “Mr. Midshipman” Rowan’s continued role in the life of Captain Kydd – and the hinted relation Rowan may be to Persephone.  Snatching him from the school and his grounding in British Naval ways, he is a natural.  Great job, Admiral Stockwin, and much appreciated are your Author’s notes, where you connect your story in a discussion of historical facts that frame & support the book. Bill McBeeLoudon, TN

        Reply

    • I am hoping that further French translations will be undertaken but this is down to my French publisher. Feel free to make your wishes known to them!

      Reply

  16. Hi…..having been reading Napoleonic naval fiction all my life and must say that I enjoy the Kydd series. I found Inferno off the usual pace but Peresphone was an emotional roller coaster which I could not put down ( even though was holidaying in Thailand)…..just would like to ask what is your plans for the Kydd series?…..as much as I would like not to end, to you have plan series end or you will just keep going?…..Tony ( Australia)

    Reply

    • Hi, Tony – the historical record is proving such a rich source of inspiration that I think I have at least another 6 books in the series to come. Delighted you enjoyed PERSEPHONE!

      Reply

  17. I look forward to receiving the limited edition copy of ‘A Sea Of Gold’ to add to my full collection. I must however admit that, appart from looking at the maps, I no longer read them?! I have found the Audible editions, read by Christian Rodska, to be superb. His performance of your words are a winning combination. I have even purchased the audios of earlier books and found I got much more from them, compared to my original reading.
    Please keep up the partnership.

    Reply

  19. I always was a big fan of Douglas Reeman and his Bolitho series. By chance I came about your books and bought the first Kydd book. From the start I was hooked. Now just finished book 8 so I have enough left to enjoy. You really made a new big Kydd fan!

    Reply

  20. Just reading Iberian Flame. Thoroughly enjoying it, like all of the others. Just one small request: Please Julian stop referring to ‘English fleet’ or ‘English ships’ or ‘English sailors’. Britain was well-established then and the majority of the crews were made up of a hotch-potch of English, Irish, Scots and Welsh, plus many other nationalities. In fact I would not be surprised to find that English matelots formed the minority overall….

    Reply

  21. Just finished “The Iberian Flame”-what an excellent book! Couldnt wait for the next pages yet dreading the end!
    This surely must be one of your best( and thats saying something). I have read all your books and indeed still have them all. Congratulations Julian and your lovely wife! Looking forward to your next in November.

    Reply

  22. March 22 2018

    Hey Mister Stockwin,
    I’m a french reader for your third Kids adventures.
    Really, they are the better napoleonic sea novels I never red…
    At the same quality O Brian books…
    Why only the third Kids adventures in french translation?..
    It’s very difficult to obtain the overs in english…
    Thank’s for real pleasure reading your novels. I escape realy of my health problems…
    Lionel TREVISAN

    Reply

    • Delighted you’re enjoying my Kydd tales. Hopefully more will be translated into French in the future but that is down to a French publisher signing up for this

      Reply

  23. Hi,
    A few years ago I found the chronological sequence of T KYDD books on you website.
    I’ll admit to being a bit remiss and not kept right up to date with books since Tyger.
    It would be useful to see what has followed that novel so unless you can direct me to a complete list on your website can you send me one (a list) to me, please?

    Reply

  24. Just finished the Baltic Prize. Fantastic is all I can say. I can’t wait for the next Kydd book.

    Reply

  25. Greetings Julian, Finished The Baltic prize shortly after publication.
    As always a terrific read and not long until June. You are making us all wish our lives away, but do carry on !

    Are you working on anything that will fill the third spot in your “occasional”
    and splendid stand alones……just re read SilkTree

    Reply

Leave a reply to Bill McBee Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Categories for search
Latest BigJules Blog posts