Synopses & Reviews
Master and Commander Charles Hayden returns in the riveting new seafaring adventure from the bestselling author. 1794, the height of the French Revolutionandmdash;Charles Hayden sets off aboard the ill-fated HMS Themis with orders to destroy a French frigate sailing from Le Havre and to gather intelligence from a royalist spy. On discovering French plans for an imminent invasion of England, Hayden must return to Portsmouth to give warning before itandrsquo;s too late.
But the enemy has been lying in wait for him, and so begins a dangerous chase out into the Atlantic and into the clutches of a powerful French squadron. After a thwarted attempt to masquerade as French sailors, Hayden and his officers are taken prisoner. A shipwreck following a storm and a case of mistaken identity befall Hayden and his men, as they try in desperation to escape in order to warn the Lords of the Admiralty. Failure will mean the invasion of Englandandmdash;and the guillotine for Hayden.
Review
Praise for TAKE, BURN OR DESTROY
and#8220;[Russell is] incredibly skilled at crafting these seafaring adventures. Hayden makes for a rich character whose internal turmoil lends credence to his role as master and commander, while his crew is as varied and interesting as any of Patrick Oand#8217;Brienand#8217;s lot.and#160; Another vivid adventure with a tumultuous historical backdropand#8212;not to be missed by fans of pirates and naval strategy or by history buffs.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus
Praise for the Charles Hayden novels by S. Thomas Russell:
"Russell's encyclopedic command of nautical lore, joined to his rare ability to spin a ripping yarn, places the reader right in the middle of the action, of which there is plenty.and#160; He loves this stuff, and he makes us love it, but does us the courtesy never to oversimplify, never to gloss over the flaws of the officers, the seamen, the politicians, and their navy.and#160; Out of that ruthlessly clear-eyed vision, he creates characters and situations that stay in the reader's memory even as memories of broadsides and cutlass duels fade."--Neal Stephenson, New York Times-bestselling author of Anathem and The Baroque Cycle
"Fans of Patrick O'Brian's works and other novels in the naval adventure genre will enjoy [Under Enemy Colors] . . .and#160;A fast-paced and eventful narrative . . . The novel benefits from thorough research and a mastery of the technical details of sailing in the 1790s."--Library Journal
"A colorful account of duty and honor, punctuated by the cannonade of naval warfare."--Kirkus
"Russell's first-rate debut features taut plotting, liberal action, and . . . a complex, sympathetic hero."--Publishers Weekly
"[Under Enemy Colors] grips the audience with its insightful look at war at sea.and#160; Charles is a fantastic protagonist who keeps the exciting story line together . . . Historical readers will cherish this strong naval saga with vivid sea battles, strong characterizations, and a deep sense of time and place."--Midwest Book Review
"Vivid and evocative, especially about what Mr. Russell knows best, the sea and sailing."--The Wall Street Journal
"Late 18th-century naval warfare and the threat of mutiny take center stage in this seagoing thriller reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian."--The Sacramento Bee
Review
Praise for A Battle Won
“[A] thrilling story of nautical warfare…A bracing tale that modernizes the seafaring classicism of Patrick OBrian for a new generation.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers who relish the sting of salt spray and the tang of gunpowder will enjoy every page.” —Publishers Weekly
Review
Praise for Until the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead
“S. Thomas Russell spins another swiftly paced and stirring naval adventure, chock full of rich characters and daring exploits set against the vast canvas that was Georgian England under sail.”—Quarterdeck Magazine
“An engrossing entertainment. The opening could be mistaken for a perfectly crafted romantic historical . . . Never fear, though, devotees of naval battles, there are also pages of tactics and age-of-sail strategizing, many hand-to-hand, black-powder-choked struggles and insanely dangerous harbor raids. [The novel] is superlatively easy to read, period correct in every detail and crafted by a skillful writer - whats not to like?”—Historical Novels Review
“Master and Commander Charles Hayden of the Royal British Navy is simply not a character meant for repose, but the challenges he faces in this fourth outing are as emotionally nerve-wracking as they are physically dangerous. . . . [a] marvelous series but also one that humanizes its bold, thoughtful and intrepid captain.”—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for the Charles Hayden series by S. Thomas Russell
“[Russell is] incredibly skilled at crafting these seafaring adventures. Hayden makes for a rich character whose internal turmoil lends credence to his role as master and commander, while his crew is as varied and interesting as any of Patrick OBrians lot. Another vivid adventure with a tumultuous historical backdrop—not to be missed by fans of pirates and naval strategy or by history buffs.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Historical readers will cherish this strong naval saga with vivid sea battles, strong characterizations, and a deep sense of time and place.” —Midwest Book Review
“Vivid and evocative, especially about what Mr. Russell knows best, the sea and sailing.” —The Wall Street Journal
Synopsis
Born to an English father and a French mother, lieutenant Charles Saunders Hayden?s career is damned by his ?mixed? heritage. Assigned to the HMS
Themis, an aging frigate under the command of a captain reviled by his crew for both his brutality towards his men and his cowardice in battle, Hayden is torn between honor and duty, as the British navy engages the French in a centuries-old struggle for power.
Synopsis
Master and Commander Charles Hayden returns in the sequel to the international bestseller Under Enemy Colors. Winter 1793-the Reign of Terror rips through revolutionary France. In Plymouth, England, Master and Commander Charles Hayden is given orders to return to the ill-fated HMS Themis as the British fight the French for control of the strategically located island of Corsica.
But within hours out of port, Hayden's uncanny knack for attracting the attention of the French navy sees Themis thrown back into action. When she lands in Corsica and her men join forces with native insurgents, Hayden finds himself at the vanguard of a brutal clash of empires.
Synopsis
"[A] thrilling story of nautical warfare" (Kirkus Reviews) from the author of Under Enemy Colors. Winter 1793. Master and Commander Charles Hayden is given orders to return to the ill-fated HMS Themis as the British fight the French for control of the strategically located island of Corsica, where his captaincy and military skill are stretched to their utmost as he finds himself at the vanguard of this brutal clash of empires.
Synopsis
Charles Hayden returns in the thrilling new naval adventure from bestselling author S. Thomas Russell, todays Patrick OBrian for a new generation” (Kirkus Reviews).
Master and Commander Charles Hayden has received fresh orders that take him and the HMS Themis to the Caribbean, with instructions to meddle with French shipping to the colonies. While en route, they rescue two Spanish castaways who beg for help fleeing from a vengeful family situationHayden agrees to do what he can, though its soon clear his two new guests arent exactly what they seem.
Arriving in the lawless Caribbean seas, Hayden and Themis find themselves torn between the forces of reckless English captains, conflicts between royalist and revolutionary Frenchmen, and Spanish ships that are enemies to both England and France. And when someone very dear to him is kidnapped, Hayden may sacrifice everything in a reckless pursuit to save her. . . .
About the Author
S. THOMAS RUSSELL is a lifelong sailor whose passion for the seaandmdash;and his love of Patrick Oandrsquo;Brianandrsquo;s seafaring novelsandmdash;inspired the Charles Hayden series. He lives on Vancouver Island in Canada.