Seaflower

Thomas Kydd, Book 3

By: Julian Stockwin

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

It is two years since Thomas Paine Kydd was spirited away in the night to serve his country aboard the 'Duke William'. Now, with his friend Nicholas Renzi and crew members from the 'Artemis', Tom is a shipwrecked sailor back in the land of his birth.

©2003 Julian Stockwin (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Great Listen

I believe I'm starting to like these better then Hornblower. I like the stories about the Average Joes of the world.

EXCELLENT!

Fantastic book! This series is so entertaining! I can't wait for the next! highly recommended!

A book about the romantic age of sail

This is book three in the Thomas Kydd series of historical nautical fiction. Stockwin’s richly detailed portrait of life on ship and shore during the Napoleonic Wars is engrossing. He writes of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat and the terrifying approach of a hurricane at sea. Stockwin writes from the view point of a common sailor in the 18th century British Navy. It is all here the cramped conditions, the disgusting food, the underserved punishment and cruelty of some officers and the unremitting toil.

From the beginning of the book we are plunged into a fast paced series of actions. The manic plot encompasses four battles, three courts of naval inquiry, two hurricanes, two shark attacks, a shipwreck, yellow fever, and rescue of French Royalist and a few floggings and dinner parties.

Kydd goes from an ordinary sailor to a Master’s mate, picking up along the way the navigational skills and drawing room manners of an officer and a gentleman. The setting of the story is in the Caribbean as Britain and France fight over the West Indies in about 1795. Christian Rodska does his usual great job in narrating the story.

Continued Rise

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way Stockwin has his hero advancing, from the lowest of the low, to even more adventures. Although trials still abounded here, and wonderful cruise with old shipmates, was like a vacation cruise in the series.

Kydd climbs the ladder

(but you already knew that)
Saved again and again by a miracle. It is not so much that he survived - we expect that - it is the sheer number of coincidences strung together that enable him to survive, save those closest to him, and advance socially and in rank. I keep waiting for the alien time-travelling spaceship to suddenly appear and whisk Kydd off to a future where he is crowned King of England. Hey, that's no more improbable than some of the other miracles that have happened.

Moves right along....plenty of sea action!

Where does Seaflower rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Author comes very close to O'Brien's telling of the nature of Nineteenth Century life aboard a Royal Navy ship. Stockwin actually gives a more complete insight into ship board terms and the duties of ordinary seaman.

The story continues

Well written continuation of the story. Enjoyable if you enjoy sea stories. Excellent narration, with easy differentiation of characters.

Rollicking Good Tale

Lots of swashbuckling fun in the tradition of Patrick O’Brian. I look forward to the remainder of the series.

Not bad

Loved the first book, second book was pretty good, (ending left several issues unresolved). But some of the decisions made by the main protagonist in this book undermined the character developed in the first two books, **Spoiler Alert** especially serving in a press-gang.
Rodksa's performance could not be improved upon, he is the perfect narrator for this book, 5 stars!