A Hard, Cruel Shore: An Alan Lewrie Naval Adventure (Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures, 22) Hardcover – February 2, 2016

It’s winter of 1809 and Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, Baronet (of the accidental variety), and his HMS Sapphire are leading a small squadron escorting loaded troopships from the coast of Spain back to home waters when God has a word with him. Fifty-odd-thousand volts of electricity leave Sapphire without a mainmast and Lewrie with some serious qualms about recent decisions he has made in his life. And so begins “A Hard, Cruel Shore”, the twenty-second installment in Dewey Lambdin’s series of naval adventures featuring that inveterate rakehell (reformed?!?), Alan Lewrie.Safely back in England- and much relieved- Lewrie sets about getting his ancient fifty-gunner in shape to return to sea, praying that Admiralty will see fit to expend resources on such an obsolete vessel as his Sapphire. A series of fresh encounters befall, and reconnections with some familiar faces, before Lewrie is finally able to wheedle sailing orders from Admiralty, pry a new mainmast from His Majesty’s dockyard, restore (more-or-less) Sapphire to serviceable condition, and Lewrie is able to escape back to sea.Lewrie is appointed Commodore (inferior class, of course) over a small squadron with orders to harass French shipping along the north coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Naturally, Lewrie being Lewrie, mayhem of both the naval and social variety ensues. It’s going to take more than one teeny, tiny lighting strike to reform our hero for more than a few weeks!Lewrie and Sapphire have a number of interesting adventures, both aboard ship and on land. But this installment, the fourth involving Sapphire, appears to be winding down that arc in preparation for a new series of adventures. A few familiar faces disappear forever along the way. A romantic relationship appears to be ending. Another may be developing. And when Lewrie sails south in the final chapter of this story, it may be in preparation for one final adventure aboard Sapphire, or it may be in anticipation of a new ship and new adventures. Only time will tell.“A Hard, Cruel Shore”, like most of the recent Lewrie adventures, features a more respectable and mature hero; one you might even consider bringing home to meet your parents, provided that they were wolves. But past his mid-fourties now, with the added responsibility of high command, and Lewrie is a bit more responsible and dedicated to his profession. After all, at his age he is expected to set a better example for the younger animals, don’t you know. But there are still moments of exuberance and even devilment.Lewrie is still a wonderful protagonist, viewing his world (and himself) through a cynical prism. He behaves as most of us wish we could, while not prone to such excess that we’d lose all respect for ourselves in the process if we did. He’s a man determined to suck the most he can out of life, and he has a sound ship, with a crew of hundreds, and God’s own amount of heavy artillery to help him do so. It’s a wonderful combination of man and circumstances that makes for some very enjoyable and entertaining reading.

I don't synopsize the book in my reviews. All the more reason for you to read it! This book gets off to a slow start and there seems to be a significant effort at resolving some of the series' dangling plot lines. Additionally, I could see Lambdin's efforts at growing and developing the cast of characters on other ships and in other areas of Lewrie's life in a single book. I get the impression from Lewrie's growth, his most recent assignment, the state of his ship and his seniority that he is in for bigger and better things in the next book. Commanding a larger squadron? Perhaps a more permanent broad pennant? Who knows! This book is a good read and while it starts off slowly you get more of an intimate look at Lewrie's human side. That's different for Lewrie. We're acquainted with his base desires and his thoughts of fulfilling his immediate psychological needs, the ones fairly low on Maslow's Hierarchy but he's moving to a higher point on Maslow's chart, nearer to self-actualization. Much more human. Lambdin has steadily grown Lewrie over the entire series and it is wearing well on him. Lambdin's characters and the series comprise one of my two favorite nautical series. I highly recommend the book and suggest to you that it is hours of entertainment for a paltry sum. If you're one of the people who just found the series I recommend you start at the beginning and read them all. You won't be disappointed.

The latest episode in the Alan Lewrie series opens with the Captain convincing the Admiralty to keep his ship HMS Sapphire commissioned for another year--old and slow, the warship will eventually be sent to some much less glorious duty. But for now, Lewrie and the Sapphire are headed back to the northern Spanish coast to block supplies from getting to the French armies fighting Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington).While most of the action in the Peninsular War will be on land, Lewrie is destined to get involved in some fierce battles--one humdinger in this book. The action is skillfully described and will get the blood coursing for any fan of this genre.Half of the novel is handed over to the details of the protagonist's life: his family--one son in particular; his paramour and her complicated situation; relations with professional rivals; food and, of course, drink; and, last but not least, Lenrie's pets--the ever-present Chalky the cat and Bisquit the ship's dog. These are all the necessary "potatoes" that go with the "meat" that is comprised of the action sequences. All of it adds up to a fascinating life and its times. Let's hope the series continues into the Victorian Age, at least.

This third volume in which Alan Lewrie commands HMS Sapphire takes the rake-hell, neck-or-nothing character to a new level of maturity. He seems to have grown into his skin, is more comfortable with both his strengths and weaknesses, and leads (when required) with the confidence suitable to his age and experience. While the details of the land war so prevalent in the previous volume are missing, the text is richer, and the story takes some characters with whom we have shared these tales for many years to new challenges. Unfortunately, as authors do, for some characters their tales come to an end. Always hate when that happens. I always look forward to the next installment, but the anticipation this time is heightened as the author, too, seems to have come to a new level of story-telling, even more intoxicating than that to which we are accustomed. And what is going on with Sewallis?

I am just coming to the end of reading all the Alan Lewrie novels. I started in March lockdown with the first and have now nearly finished. These novels are easy to read and to enjoy. There are errors: Lambdin confuses the hierarchy of 18th century vicars and rectors, for example, and gets them the wrong way round. He is also wrong about the order of precedence for boarding boats from a ship; is is junior first in and last out and senior last in and first out, and he gets this the wrong way round on several occasions (I'm ex-Royal Navy and know about these things!). But his nautical terminology is pretty well faultless, especially over navigation, ship and sail handling and the way rigging was set up at the time. It is worth spending some time learning what these nautical terms mean so you can better understand what Lambden is describing. The built in Kindle dictionary is useless, by the way, for finding the meaning of esoteric naval terminology. I particularly enjoy the details of 18th and early 19th century social life, from dining menus to courtship and family life to conditions on board when the ship is 'out of discipline'. Lewrie's sexual adventures are probably typical of the time, but are far more explicit than what you will read in Stockwin or Forester.This genre is heavily over subscribed with novels of mixed quality from many different authors, but Lambdin is up there with the best in my opinion. Always remember, though, that he is writing about British themes from an American perspective.

I have read all of the "Lewry" books and up until now I have thoroughly enjoyed them. Lambden is obviously no stranger to the realities of sail , and that enhances, particularly, the battle and inshore-landing tales.However there was too much lengthy detail of what readers such as myself would have previously read in earlier books - and it does "go on a bit too-much"- and not as well-written as usual.Consequently, I found myself skimming paragraphs and pages in order to get to what was actually quite a credible plot. The interactions with the Italian fighters and population were very well crafted. And the action, including the preparation for it, were the most interesting paragraphs of the book.And then, unfortunately it all tailed off, as if the author ran out of steam (or interest?) And finished on a very gloomy note.

These are great yarns with heroics and daring do. I feel a little less about meals and there constituent parts; a little less cat wubbies would save the rapid page turns looking for next phase.

Familiarity with the surroundings and the adventures of the characters combined with the well researched fighting history and customs of the navy at the time make all of these books an exceptional read.

I have read all 22 so far, and have enjoyed everyone. Shame only a few left read.