Dudley Pope etstert in het creëren van meeslepende verhalen over maritieme avonturen, waarbij hij de lezer onderdompelt in werelden waar moed en veerkracht op de proef worden gesteld tegen de meedogenloze zee. Zijn schrijfstijl, diepgaand beïnvloed door zijn persoonlijke ervaring in de marine, beeldt levendig spannende gevechten uit en verkent de psychologische diepten van personages die buitengewone omstandigheden trotseren. Pope blinkt uit in het vastleggen van niet alleen de harde realiteiten van het leven op zee, maar ook de innerlijke strijd van zijn protagonisten terwijl ze angst en morele dilemma's aangaan. Zijn verhalen bieden boeiende lectuur, die actie met hoge inzetten combineert met diepgaande reflecties op de menselijke geest onder druk.
The story of the greatest British naval battle of the Age of Nelson.Renowned historian and novelist Dudley Pope explores the defining moment of the Age of Nelson. His compelling descriptions of the battle itself are backed by a wealth of historical detail, including a chronicle of the preceding year, revealing both the British and the French political motives, and explaining Nelson's strategy and Napoleon's response. Pope creates an intimate portrait of the life in the Royal Navy at its finest hour.
Dudley Pope meticulously researches the story of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy - the butchering of the officers aboard His Majesty's Frigate HERMIONE 32 guns, in the West Indies in 1797. The captain of the frigate, Hugh Pigot, was a brutal and sadistic commander who flogged his men mercilessly and drove them beyond the limits of endurance. However, nothing could excuse the slaughter of guilty and innocent officers alike as the mutineers went wild and committed crimes beyond anything Pigot could have dreamt up. Not content with that, they then took the ship into an enemy port and gave her up to the Spanish who, unaware of the true facts for some time, nevertheless greeted them with the contempt they deserved. The Spanish took the ship into their service but due to an amazing episode of red tape and internal wrangling, never actually got the frigate to sea. Meanwhile the Royal Navy relentlessly hunted down the mutineers over the next ten years and of the 33 either caught or who gave themselves up, 24 were either hanged and hung in chains upon gibbets, or transported for life. A number managed to escape justice. The author describes these events which end with the daring recapture of the HERMIONE under the guns of Spanish forts, with Captain Edward Hamilton leading 100 English sailors in six open boats in one of the most brilliant cutting-out expeditions in naval history.
