Books for Santa’s Sack 2020
Posted on December 8, 2020 4 Comments
I’m a bit of a bah humbug creature when it comes to the commercialisation of Christmas – but there’s one thing that I fervently believe: a book is a present that, if well chosen for the recipient, will give hours of entertainment and enlightenment – and be a lasting reminder in itself of someone putting thought, not just money, into a Yuletide gift. So do consider adding one or more of these fine books – all with a maritime or military connection – to your gift-buying list. Hopefully, there’s something for everyone in this somewhat eclectic selection.
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Arthur Mack Old Man of the Sea by by Brent Piniuta and John Broomhead
Lifelong Portsmouth resident Arthur Mack was born into a world of poverty and hardship at the time of the Great Depression. By the age of seven he was scavenging the mud of Portsmouth Harbour to help support his family. He became a fisherman and his affinity with the sea, uncanny luck and curiosity resulted in Arthur finding antiquities and artefacts from thousands of years of human activity in coastal Hampshire. He was responsible for the discovery and exploration of the wreck of HMS Invincible, a pivotal influence on 18th-century warship design and a technological bridge between Mary Rose and Victory.
The Greenhill Dictionary of Military Quotations by Peter Tsouras
The author brings 4,000 years of military history to life through the words of more than 800 soldiers, commanders, military theorists and commentators on war. Quotes by diverse personalities – Napoleon, Machiavelli, Ataturk, Rommel, Julius Caesar, Xenophon, T.E. Lawrence, Saladin and many more – these sit side by side to build a comprehensive picture of war across the ages. Easy reference is enabled by more than 480 categories, covering such topics as courage, danger, failure, leadership, tactics, guerrilla warfare and victory. A compilation to dip into time and time again, offering insights into the history of warfare and the lives and deeds of great warriors.
Napoleon in 100 Objects by Gareth Glover
For almost two decades, Napoleon Bonaparte was the most feared, and revered, man in Europe. At the height of his power, the land under his control stretched from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and encompassed most of Western Europe. The many fascinating objects brought together in this lavishly illustrated book detail not only Napoleon’s meteoric rise to power, but also his art of war and the role of the Imperial Guard, which grew from a small personal bodyguard to the size of a small army.
Mastering Navigation at Sea by Paul Boissier
Boissier’s latest book is superbly illustrated, informative – and offers prime snippets of the author’s triumphs and disasters over a lifetime’s navigating. He has a unique perspective having navigated in many parts of the world from high up on the bridge of a warship, close to the water in a cruising yacht and at depth in a nuclear submarine. After his navy career, retiring as a senior admiral, he was Chief Executive of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), often dealing with the consequences of poor navigation. A writer who shares rather than dictates a lesson. Highly recommended.
Captain James Cook and the Search for Antarctica by James C Hamilton
Two hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook, during his extraordinary voyages of navigation and maritime exploration, searched for Antarctica – the Unknown Southern Continent. During parts of his three voyages in the southern Pacific and Southern Oceans, Cook narrowed the options for the location of Antarctica. Over three summers, he completed a circumnavigation of portions of the Southern Continent, encountering impenetrable barriers of ice, suggesting that in fact the continent existed, a frozen land not populated by a living soul. His Antarctic voyages are perhaps the least celebrated of all his remarkable travels: this book goes quite some way to remedying that.
Weather at Sea by Simon Rowell
Written by a round-the-world skipper and weather forecaster, this little book explains the basic physics principles that govern the weather from a practical, on the water, sailor’s point of view. As we can expect from Fernhurst, the author presents in readily understandable graphic form the global, regional and then local weather patterns to explain what is happening on the spot and how situations might change. Numerous illustrations complement the text. An ideal stocking filler for the cruising sailor. A professional weather-forecaster and sailor – you can’t get much better than that!
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year
Enjoy!
BookPick: Autumn Selection
Posted on October 11, 2019 2 Comments
With the warmer months well behind us now it’s always a pleasure to curl up with a good book indoors. I have to say that much of my reading time is taken up with specific research for the current Kydd manuscript I’m working on but during breaks from that I find myself delving into an eclectic variety of titles over a broad range of historical periods. This BookPick highlights four very different tomes I’ve enjoyed recently.
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Great Escapes of the First World War Edited by Rachel Burton
These first-hand accounts of daring war-time escapes were written when the experiences were still fresh in the soldiers’ minds. On reading these remarkable stories you cannot help but wonder just how far you yourself would go to escape. Bury yourself under a floor? Board a boar with a rotten bottom? Would you tunnel underground? Included in the book are various rarely seen images, maps and plans, along with biographical information on each soldier. A moving tribute to extraordinary courage and tenacity rarely seen today.
1545 : Who Sank the Mary Rose? by Peter Marsden
This book by one of the country’s leading experts on Mary Rose contains a full account of the battle in which Henry VIII’s warship was sunk. It examines the design and construction of the ship and in detail how she was used. Marsden also shows conclusively that the French fleet arrived unexpectedly to seize the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth a day later than was once believed, that the many bodies found in the wreck reflect her at action stations, and that the ship had had an extra deck added and was therefore more unstable than was previously thought. The author’s recontruction of what happened onboard, deck by deck, in her last moments afloat made compelling reading for me. A fascinating account of the career and demise of this most famous of ships.
Madame Tussaud: Her Life and Legacy by Geri Walton
It’s one of London’s top tourist attractions, and boasts over 20 other popular wax museums worldwide. Indeed it was one of the first places Kathy and I visited when we arrived in Britain in the 1980s. This book chronicles how the traumatic and cataclysmic experiences of Madame Tussaud’s early life influenced her legacy. Her original wax models were often of the famous and infamous people she personally knew during and after the French Revolution &nash; Voltaire, Robespierre and Napoleon to name just a few. A remarkable biography of a feisty woman and the turbulent times she lived in.
Passage Planning Companion by Alastair Buchan
The regulations of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea make it mandatory that “Prior to proceeding to sea, the master shall ensure that the intended voyage has been planned using the appropriate nautical charts & nautical publications for the area concerned”, a stricture applying to any sea-going craft, including yachts of all description. Common prudence would add to this statutory requirement all of the multitude of preparations ranging from familiarising the crew with man overboard drill to verifying battery charge. Better to discover discrepancies while still alongside than helplessly in the remote wastes of the ocean. And I’ve not come across a better aid to the entire process than this neat spiral-bound, splash proof planning companion. Very reasonably priced it provides what amounts to a comprehensive check-list against which a first class passage plan can be generated. Much recommended.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
BookPick: A Summer Selection
Posted on June 18, 2019 1 Comment
With the warmer months well underway in the Northern Hemisphere one of the great pleasures for me at this time of year is relaxing outdoors with a good book – and perhaps a chilled beverage. I have to say that much of my reading time is taken up with specific research for the current Kydd manuscript I’m working on but during breaks from that I enjoy an eclectic variety of titles over a broad range of historical periods. This BookPick is a selection of six titles I’ve enjoyed recently including a hunt for lost booty, an account of the now-vanished world of the lighthouse keeper, a war correspondent’s memoir, and a recreation of the last moments of the ill-fated Lusitania.
The Hunt for Moore’s Gold by John Grehan
History abounds with unresolved puzzles; one particularly intriguing one is the loss of the British Army’s military chest during Sir John Moore’s desperate retreat to Corunna in 1809 which I actually depict in
The Iberian Flame. In sub-zero temperatures, his troops traversed the snow-clad Galician mountains at a punishing pace. As they trudged on in deteriorating conditions, the bullocks pulling the army’s military chest could no longer keep up. In order to prevent the money from falling into enemy hands, the chest was thrown down a deep ravine. What happened to all those dollars and doubloons? A number were pocketed by the pursuing French cavalry. Some were retrieved by British soldiers who intentionally lagged behind, though their greed cost them their lives on the end of a French bayonet. But what of the rest of the booty? This question prompted the author to set off to search the archives and the mountains of Galicia in a bid to find Moore’s gold.
The Lusitania Sinking by Anthony Richards
The sinking of Lusitania is an event that has been predominantly discussed from a political or maritime perspective. This book tells the story in the emotive framework of a family looking for information on their son’s death. On 1 May 1915, 29-year-old student Preston Prichard embarked as a second class passenger aboard Lusitania, bound from New York for Liverpool. By 2pm on the afternoon of 7 May, the liner was approaching the coast of Ireland when she was sighted by the German submarine U-20. A single torpedo caused a massive explosion in Lusitania‘s hold, and the ship began to sink rapidly. Within 20 minutes she disappeared and 1,198 men, women and children, including Preston, died. On hearing of the tragedy Preston’s family wanted answers. Preston’s mother wrote hundreds of letters to survivors to try to piece together her son’s last moments. Anthony Richards based his moving book on their replies.
A History of the Royal Hospital Chelsea by Stephen Wynn and Tanya Wynn
The Chelsea Pensioners are always a distinctive sight in their red uniforms representing a much-venerated institution where they find a haven in the autumn of their days. The Royal Hospital was created at a time when few cared about veterans. It was a ground-breaking attempt to provide a system to repay the sacrifice of military personnel when their service was over and it was their turn to be cared for by society. The authors look at the hospital’s beginnings, with its Royal patronage and heritage which dates back to King Charles ll – and some of the colourful characters who have lived there over the centuries. This little volume is a fitting tribute to a warriors’ repose.
Walking Waterloo by Charles J Esdaile
This month, 204 years ago, the Battle of Waterloo, one of the decisive battles in European history, was fought. This compact guide to the battle illuminates the experience of the soldiers who took part in the battle through their own words. In a series of walks the author describes what happened in each location on 18 June 1815. Each phase of the action during that momentous day is covered, from the initial French attacks and the intense fighting at Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte to the charges of the French cavalry against the British squares and the final, doomed attack of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard. The book is illustrated with a selection of archive images from the War Heritage Institute in Brussels, modern colour photographs of the battlefield as it appears today and specially commissioned maps. A particularly informative guide to this historic site.
Archie’s Lights by Archie MacEachern and Anne MacEachern
Born at a clifftop lighthouse in 1910, Archie MacEachern was a remarkable individual, one of the third generation of his family in the service of the Northern Lighthouse Board. Written using Archie’s words, this account by his widow Anne, vividly portrays a unique way of life by focusing on one man. From peacetime through war, the story brings to life the challenges of living and working at a lighthouse, including raising a young family at such an isolated and potentially dangerous place. Lighthouse men had to be resourceful and courageous; the sea ruled their lives. Archie’s service as a full-time keeper continued in part-time capacities, extended over a period of 67 years. A revealing window into a close-knit world, now gone.
Deadlines on the Front Line by Paul Moorcraft
When Kathy and I lived in Hong Kong we often had the pleasure of meeting and partying with reporters from various war zones at the Foreign Correspondents Club. I was therefore very interested to read Paul Moorcraft’s biography on assignments for wars in over thirty combat zones in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. As a war correspondent and paramilitary policeman, he was somewhat of a magnet for drama and action. His descriptions of sometimes tragic and often hilarious escapades in war-torn countries are written in a self-effacing but gritty style chronicling hazardous travels to strange, often little-known places where he met people who were often all too keen to lock him up or try and kill him. As well as being an entertaining read the book offers an insight into the turbulent world of the late 20th and early 21st century.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
Spring Selection
Posted on March 28, 2019 1 Comment
I make no apologies for choosing the same subject matter, the Royal Navy, for all the titles in this Selection. As a former officer and before that, artificer, much of my value system and sense of duty has been shaped by my time in the Service and I have an abiding interest in both the Old and the New Navy. These three books deal with different aspects, from the memoirs of a vice admiral who joined when Britain really did rule the waves to an overview of the period of the war against revolutionary France 1793-1800 to the role of the Navy in the Scandinavian trade in the First World War. I commend them to all those interested in our naval history.
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The Royal Navy 1793-1800 by Mark Jessop
When France declared war on Britain in 1793 the Royal Navy barely had enough ships to cope. But eight years later she could claim to be a naval superpower. Author Mark Jessop, who himself served in the Royal Navy, seeks to show how this transformation actually occurred. Using primary sources of the era and secondary sources from the nineteenth century he gives a flavour of the language and opinions of politicians, naval officers and ordinary people swept up in the tumultuous storm of the last years of the the eighteenth century.
With the Royal Navy in War and Peace by Vice Admiral B B Schofield
Brian Betham Schofield served in the Royal Navy for forty-two years, joining in 1908 as a midshipman and retiring in 1950 with the rank of Vice Admiral. His long and varied career included diplomatic and well as command roles, with action in several theatres of war. In retirement he wrote numerous articles and books on naval history. This memoir, written in a graphic yet modest style, is a fascinating insight into a bygone era. The book is fittingly edited by his daughter Victoria, an historian and commentator.
Southern Thunder by Steve R Dunn
A detailed and compelling account of the Royal Navy’s hard-fought campaign in the North Sea to protect Britain’s vital Scandinavian supply lines and deny Germany the food and raw materials that she so badly needed. It is the story of destroyers and U-boats, critical merchant ship losses, the commencement of convoy, and the acute consequences for Germany of the Royal Navy’s ultimate success. First-hand accounts of the fighting from those who took part help create a vivid narrative of this little-known and often ignored aspect of our naval history.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
Bookpick: Seven Selections for Santa’s Sack
Posted on December 4, 2018 5 Comments
I’m a bit of a bah humbug creature when it comes to the commercialisation of Christmas – but there’s one thing that I fervently believe: a book is a present that, if well chosen for the recipient, will give hours of pleasure and be a lasting reminder in itself of someone putting thought, not just money, into a Yuletide gift. So do consider adding some of these fine books – all with a maritime theme – to your gift-buying list. Hopefully, there’s something for everyone in this somewhat eclectic selection.
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The Two Battles of Copenhagen by Gareth Powers
The Danish capital of Copenhagen was the site of two major battles during the Napoleonic Wars – the first Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, one of Nelson’s great victories – and the second, the British army’s assault on the city in 1807 (which I feature in Inferno). Interestingly, Powers describes these two major events from both the British and Danish perspectives, showing well how they fitted into the politics of this region during this turbulent phase of European history.
The History of Navigation by Dag Pike
The author first went to sea aged 16 on tramp ships and experienced his first shipwreck two years later. Thereafter he had a long and varied marine career and is a regular contributor to maritime magazines worldwide. Charting both successes and failures, this is a fascinating account of mankind’s quest to explore his world from the earliest time, five millennia ago, to the present day.
Raiders From the Sea by John Lodwick
The Special Boat Service was a small force during World War II, never more than about 300 men. Strong, determined individuals, together the men of this elite commando unit formed a deadly, cohesive fighting force which contributed much to the war in the Mediterranean. This reprint edition is a vivid account of one man’s experiences of war – and a fitting tribute to the colleagues he fought alongside in the SBS.
A Marine Artist’s Portfolio by Susanne Fournaise Grube
The author, a Dane by birth, has long held a love and fascination for the sea. She paints in Acrylics, not only ships and small craft, but also the architecture of marine buildings and light houses. This volume gathers together a varied selection of her work, presented in six sections – liberty ships; tug boats, ferries & pilots; ocean liners; super tankers; lighthouses; and wooden boats & yachts. A visual delight.
The Trafalgar Chronicle by Peter Hore
The Trafalgar Chronicle has established itself as a prime source of information about the Georgian navy. This year’s edition spotlights women at sea and reveals many fascinating stories in another absorbing journal from the 1805 Club. A selection of well-chosen colour plates and black and white photographs, together with comprehensive notes on each of the contributor’s papers, enhance the value to the reader. An important contribution to scholarship of the period – and a damn good read!
World Naval Review 2019 Edited by Conrad Waters
Now in its tenth year, the Review is rightly recognised as an authoritative summary of global naval developments over the past 12 months. As well as regional surveys, important articles from various experts are offered, such as an assessment in this latest volume (which I found of particular interest) of modern naval communications by Norman Friedman. Essential reading for anyone – enthusiast or professional – interested in contemporary maritime affairs.
Submarines of World War II by Erminio Bagnasco
Submarines came into their own, playing a significant strategic role in the war at sea in the years 1939-45, and this major reference book describes all the classes of vessel that were deployed by the eighteen combatant nations during those years. First published in English in 1977, this classic work has been redesigned and updated to include more of the author’s superb collection of photographs. Sadly out of print for a number of years, this new edition will appeal to a wide new audience.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
BookPick: Salty Memoirs
Posted on October 12, 2018 1 Comment
This Autumn Selection brings together a collection of true life nautical adventures, both above and below the waves. There’s a diving trilogy, one woman’s 18,000 mile epic journey of self discovery across the Atlantic and back – and a poignant portrayal of life at sea and ashore in the 1900s. Delightful reads for both arm-chair sailors and those at sea on their own salty adventures. And, highly recommended for anyone venturing into Neptune’s Kingdom, another excellent guide from Paul Boissier, this time on the nautical rules of the road.
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Recollections of an Unsuccessful Seaman by Leonard Noake
Noake joined the nautical training establishment, H.M.S. Conway, in 1903 and served an apprenticeship at sea until 1908 when his detailed memoirs commence with him signing on as a second officer in the European/West African trade. During the First World War he sailed in a number of ships carrying horses, grain and coal. He survived not only being torpedoed in the English Channel, but also making 112 trips between England and Europe on a ship transporting war materials. Noake went on to a number of other adventures but sadly his seagoing career ended when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Penned with warmth and humour, this is an engaging tale of one of the genuine war heroes of the age – one of those unknown seamen who signed on for voyage after voyage into war-torn seas to quite literally save Britain.
Into the Abyss by Rod Macdonald
Re-issued as the first volume in ‘The Diving Trilogy‘, this book chronicles diving adventures from the author’s long and varied career. It follows his progression from novice diver in the 1980s through the dangers of the deep air diving era and on to trimix diving in the 1990s where divers began to use commercial mixed breathing gases as the sport of technical diving was born. This opened up vast, previously inaccessible, swathes of the seabed, ushering in a great era of discovery of virgin shipwrecks. ‘The Darkness Below‘ and ‘Deeper into Darkness‘ complete the trilogy and together take the reader on a spell-binding journey beneath the waves.
In Bed with the Atlantic by Kitiara Pascoe
Although never having stepped on a yacht, the author, with her partner, embarks on an epic sail of over 18,000 miles across the Atlantic, around the Caribbean, and then back. At first, she was dogged by doubt and throughout the voyage must overcome challenges and hardship. But sailing back to the UK after three years she realises the difference sailing has made to her life and understanding of the world: how easy it is not to do something, to protect ourselves from risks and ridicule and everything that makes us uncomfortable – but only when we take chances do we get reward and connect not just with the world at large, but with ourselves.
Learn the Nautical Rules of the Road by Paul Boissier
You’re inward bound to a snug harbour from a boisterous sea in filthy weather; you’re delayed and night has fallen. Just as you’re over the bar into calmer waters, from out of a rain squall you see looming two white lights, one above the other and a confusing three reds around the higher and it’s coming up fast. You’re going to have to put about to get around the point – you decide to cross astern of the vessel after it passes. Too late you remember that what you’ve just seen are the lights of a ship Restricted in her Ability to Manoeuvre – and the heavy line of her tow brings your voyage to an unhappy end.
Learning, understanding and remembering the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) is essential for anyone venturing onto the water. This book is aimed at both yachtsmen and professional mariners. Author Paul Boissier has spent much of his professional life at sea in the Royal Navy in a wide variety of vessels – and is also a very experienced yachtsman. Anecdotes and detailed explanations throughout this book make the nautical rules of the road very clear, as do the well conceived diagrams. A timely, readable and absolutely essential guide.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
Cover Story: A Sea of Gold
Posted on September 13, 2018 13 Comments
A book’s cover is basically the face of the work, reflecting its genre and what a reader might likely expect inside. These days it’s also important for a cover to look good as a thumbnail so that ebook browsers can readily spot what they’re interested in. I’ve been very fortunate in the covers of the Kydd Series – initially painted by the renowned marine artist Geoff Hunt, and now created by the very talented digital artist Larry Rostant, who’s been behind the book jackets of Clive Cussler, Simon Scarrow, Con Iggulden and many other famous authors.
So just how was the stunning ‘face’ of A Sea of Gold created? A big thank-you to Assistant Editor Thorne Ryan for taking us behind the scenes of my latest Kydd tale.
Over to Thorne. . .
‘Julian is a wonderful author to work with in all regards, but especially concerning cover briefs. He always sends over clear instructions for what he wants on the cover of his books, from the positioning of the ships to the flags that should be used at the top. I put these instructions into a briefing form and email it to the art department. It then goes into the monthly briefing meeting that is attended by various people including our MD, Sales Director, Head of Sales and Art Director. They discuss the brief and, if approved, the cover is signed off.
Sarah Christie, the designer who always handles Julian’s titles, works with Larry Rostant to put the cover together, and then sends it over to Julian’s editor, Oliver Johnson, for approval. He passes this on to Julian for his comments. Once everyone has approved, the full cover layout is circulated three times, at which point any corrections to blurb, author biography etc. are made. When the cover has been signed off as final, a ‘wet proof’ (a mock-up of the final cover, including final finishes such as foil, embossing, spot UV etc.) is produced to make absolutely sure the cover looks as wonderful as it should – and it always does! Finally, the cover goes to press.’
Larry Rostant elaborates on his role. . .
‘My work is created from photographic images that are combined and manipulated to create the final image.
The process starts with a very precise brief from Hodder’s design manager, and a lot of technical input from the author, then it’s a question of finding imagery that works, either from my own library or from online photo libraries. Searching – or indeed shooting – the source images takes as long as combining them, especially as there are limited images available of appropriate ships; I often have to combine several ships to create the final one in order to get round this. Once I have all the images that I need, I can begin the process. This can take a day or two but when I finally have all of the elements roughly in place, I can send the image over to the publisher and the author for approval. As the image and reference are so well briefed, there are often very few alterations needed . . . happily! I then make any changes required and finesse the art for the final cover.
The series changes gradually as we continue in order to keep it looking fresh. Note that we no longer use two weapons crossed over the flag and I’ve started adding sparks and smoke to give more of a sense of atmosphere.’
Avril McCready, who deals with the production side of the Kydd books, explains this process. . .
‘Our cases (hardback covers), covers (paperback covers) and jackets are printed at the same supplier as the interiors. In some cases, and depending on the complexities in the finishes, some of the finishes may have to go out to another specialised supplier.
The printer works from files which are digitally produced to suit the presses that we will be using and the materials that we will be printing on. The covers or jackets are mainly printed in four colours: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black – or CMYK. So, every colourful image is broken down into four different combinations of dots or pixels to create a printed reproduction of the original. For some of the covers, we may print with an additional fifth colour if we cannot reproduce a colour using the CMYK colours. This colour is selected from the Pantone swatch catalogue. This is very rare, and we get a very good representation from printing in four colours due the advancement in inks, colour-matching profiles and printing technology these days.
When the covers or jackets are printed, they go through the press and all four inks hit the paper at once. The ink is dried instantly as the paper passes through the machine. The sheets are automatically collated and then rested to allow the paper to settle before they go the finishing stages. The finishing stages can consist of foil stamping, UV varnishing or embossing etc.
For the Kydd covers, we apply a foil to the dried printed sheet. The foil is a very thin layer of metallic pigment sheeting and very similar to the foil used in gilt edging. It is an expensive process and used only on a handful of our titles. The foil is heat-transferred by stamping the foil with a brass block which shows the text in reverse, so that the words appear on the cover in the right reading order. This is then allowed to cool before a clear film lamination is added. The lamination is either matt or gloss, and is applied over the foil to protect it from damage or scuffing. If we add a spot-gloss varnish, the cover or jacket is put through the press again to have this added, so we have to re-register the position of fine or small type on a laminated sheet post-printing and post-lamination, which can be very challenging.
For the hardback edition, we select an imitation cloth and a foil for stamping from an approved range to create our cases. These are made to our specification for each title. While we’re doing this, the interiors are printed, folded, sewn and then trimmed for the hardback or left untrimmed for the paperback. The hardback case is then added to the case board on the binding line and then moved onto another machine to have the jacket applied. For the paperback edition, the interior sheets and printed, laminated covers are put on the binding line together and then the pages are trimmed flush in one hit.’
And, fittingly, my editor Oliver Johnson has the last word. . .
‘Accuracy is a key factor in briefing Julian’s jackets — historical fiction devotees, and particularly fans of novels set in the Age of Fighting Sail, are sticklers for detail and any error will be swiftly pointed out. When I took over Julian’s books I was excited to learn that Larry Rostant was the cover artist as he was someone whose work I knew well and admired tremendously. We deliberately established the briefing process set out above. I cannot think of any other author where the detail is so fine and the process so streamlined. And, of course, where the end result (Larry’s work) is so widely admired!’
Do you have a favourite Kydd cover? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A Sea of Gold is published in the UK on November 1 in hardback, ebook and audiobook (read by the inimitable Christian Rodska). It will be simultaneously available in ebook and audio-download in Australia, Canada, the States – and elsewhere around with world – with the hardback available in those countries a month or two later.
Readers outside the UK might like to know that the title can be pre-ordered at the Book Depository https://www.bookdepository.com/Sea-Gold-Julian-Stockwin/9781473641075 and will be shipped out on the UK publication date, with free postage worldwide!
BookPick
Posted on August 11, 2018 1 Comment
In this trio of recommendations each book focuses on an aspect of defence at sea – and they range in time from the Victorian era through the Second World War to the Cold War. The authors all have a different writing style but bring to their chosen subject much illuminating insight. Regular readers of my blog will know I have much respect for the integrity of American naval historian Norman Friedman. Richard Woodman, a fellow naval fiction author, brings great scholarship and his own sea experiences to his work. And Eric Thompson is to be commended for his remarkable revelations about the secret world of nuclear submarines.
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British Battleships of the Victorian Era by British Battleships of the Victorian Era
A companion volume to ‘British Battleship 1906-1946’ this book completes Friedman’s study of the Royal Navy’s capital ships. Beginning with the earliest installation of steam machinery in ships-of-the-line, Friedman traces the technological revolution that saw the introduction of iron hulls, armour plate, shell-firing guns and the eventual abandonment of sail as auxiliary propulsion. Friedman explains why as well as how and when these advances were made, and locates British ship design firmly within the larger context of international rivalries, domestic politics and economic constraints. A comprehensive gallery of photographs with in-depth captions is accompanied by specially commissioned plans and a colour section featuring the original Admiralty draughts. A must-read for all serious students of the Royal Navy.
On Her Majesty’s Nuclear Service by Eric Thompson
I’ve always had a fascination for submarines and at one stage in my naval career seriously considered joining the Submarine Service.
During the Cold War, nuclear submarines performed the greatest public service of all: prevention of a third world war. History shows that they succeeded; the Cold War ended peacefully, but for security reasons, only now can the compelling story behind it be told. Thompson provides a fascinating insight into what is was like to have your finger on the nuclear trigger button!
Arctic Convoys by Richard Woodman
For the later four years of the Second World War, the Western Allies secured Russian defences against Germany by supplying vital food and arms. The plight of those in Murmansk and Archangel who benefited is well known, but few are aware in full detail of the courage, determination and sacrifice of the men of the Allied merchant ships, which withstood unremitting U-boat attacks and aerial bombardment in desperately cruel conditions to maintain the lifeline to Russia. In the storms, fog and numbing cold of the Arctic, the sinking of a 10,000 ton freighter was equal to a land battle in terms of destruction and continuing without pause to the last day of the war the losses sustained were the greatest pro-rata of any wartime service. The author deploys vivid description and first-hand anecdote to bring rarely achieved atmospherics to this work and re-released this year, it is a moving tribute to the vital role of the Merchant Navy in wartime.
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
A Sea of Gold Collectors Set
Posted on July 26, 2018 15 Comments
This year there will be two Kydd titles are being released; the first, The Iberian Flame, was out in June. The second, A Sea of Gold, will be launched in November. As usual, I will be offering Collectors Sets. These signed, numbered and embossed First Edition Sets are strictly limited in number to 500 only. I’m happy to write a short dedication on request. The Subscription List for The Iberian Flame filled rapidly and is now closed but there are still some unreserved Sets for A Sea of Gold.
Here’s what two of my editors have said of the manuscript of A Sea of Gold:
‘First, many congratulations – this is a simply terrific addition to the Kydd oeuvre. I could hardly bear the suspense that evolved around Kydd foray into Lloyd’s. Those passages are brilliantly written (as is the rest) – I really felt for him. And I was so relieved when everything turned out fine for him in the end – one of the most satisfying endings ever, I think! There are, of course, some magnificent passages at sea, and the fire-ships episode: will Kydd get off the burning ship in time? He did, of course, but his precarious emotional state is so well portrayed that it began to seem doubtful. I enjoyed the historical politics too, in which you bring well-known figures from the past so vividly to life, and, of course, Renzi’s continuing career in the shadows of government. Another fabulous yarn.’
‘Many congratulations once more on a fine book. It was great to have Cochrane appear ‘on screen’ as it were… The Basque Roads was in my view the finest battle scene I have read of yours (real seat-of-the pants tension and incredibly complex tactical decisions); I thoroughly enjoyed the excursions into the early nineteenth century stock market and Lloyds (very illuminating) and of course the double blow and resolution to Kydd’s fortunes was masterfully done: bravo!’
And here’s a taster of the story:
1809. After his heroic actions during the retreat to Corunna, Captain Sir Thomas Kydd is the toast of London society. Here he falls in with the legendary frigate captain, Lord Thomas Cochrane.
So begins a relationship, professional and personal, that will be unlike any that Kydd has known: a relationship that will lead him, almost simultaneously, to first glory, then ruin.
The French fleet is massing in the Basque Roads in a near impregnable position. The Admiralty orders Cochrane to command an attack, to the chagrin of more senior officers who object to being overlooked by Cochrane’s reputation for daring. Cochrane insists that his new friend, Kydd, is in the forefront of the assault armada, a motley collection of rocket, bomb and fire-ships that will set the anchorage ablaze – this despite Kydd’s almost pathological fear of fire.
The fallout from what follows will see Kydd financially ruined, with only his former shipmates, his oldest friend of all, Nicholas Renzi, and the whisper of hidden Spanish treasure promising the sea of gold that he needs to save himself.
Summer Selections
Posted on May 24, 2018 2 Comments
With summer well underway in the Northern Hemisphere one of the great pleasures of this time of year is relaxing outdoors with a good book – and a chilled beverage. This BookPick features three engrossing reads for the beach or patio plus two additional offerings, one on knots, splices and whippings; the other providing the means to construct a complete paper fleet of the Battle of Trafalgar. And last but not least, my favourite recipe for rum punch is thrown in!
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The Battle of Trafalgar by Florian Richter and Peter Dennis
With just a craft knife and glue you can form line of battle once again for the iconic engagement that saw both victory for England and the tragic death of Admiral Lord Nelson. This book will appeal particularly to wargamers but also to all those looking to more fully appreciate the genius of Nelson. Several companion books are recommended by the authors including the excellent ‘The Trafalgar Companion’ by Mark Adkin, which was one of the many references I consulted when writing my Kydd title, Victory.
Knot Know-How by Steve Judkins and Tim Davison
This compact little volume begins with the ten knots everyone should know then describes over 40 other knots. You will learn how to seize (sew or bind two ropes together); whip (stop the end of a rope unstranding); and splice (join ropes permanently together). Knots are often difficult to follow in pictures but these are exceptionally clear and easy to follow in their multi-colour detail. With very clear step-by-step diagrams, modern-day sailors will find much of interest, and students of the age of sail can practice some of the knots that every ordinary seaman in Kydd’s day had to learn.
Seafurrers by Philippa Sandall
Sailors often have a soft spot for felines and through much of history cats have been found aboard both naval and merchant ships, not just to keep the rodent population in check, but as much-loved companions. This delightful little book presents thirty-eight true tales of furry shipmates, including Trim (who circumnavigated Australia); Tom (the sole feline survivor of the sinking of USS ‘Maine’) and Simon (a veteran of the Yangtze Incident). Charmingly illustrated with the most original and entrancing of creations I’ve seen, the book is also chock full of maritime trivia. It will be right there by me for my next sea trip.
Purrfectly heartwarming…
The Grey Wolves of Eriboll by David M Hird
The surrender on Loch Eriboll of the German U-boat fleet at the end of World War II was perhaps the principal event in the war’s endgame which signified to the British people that peace really had arrived. This revised, updated and expanded new edition gives career details of not only the 33 commanders who accompanied their boats to Loch Eriboll but also of a further 23 previous commanders of those U-boats. It also provides a wealth of historical insights and personal memories of those who witnessed the events and is a remarkably interesting read. A definitive account of a secret mass surrender of interest to all students of naval history.
And now for the rum recipe:
Stockwin’s Rum Punch
One part sour (lemon or lime juice)
Two parts sweet (sugar or syrup)
Three parts strong (dark rum)
Four parts weak (water)
Grated nutmeg to taste
Serve well chilled with ice
Be warned; they’re addictive!
Still looking for bookish inspiration?
You might also like to take a peek at my other BookPicks this year this year
And I have a very limited number of Signed First Editions, which I’m happy to inscribe with a personal message
Enjoy!
Julian Stockwin 