THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE CLASSIC SERIES OF ALAN LEWRIE NAVAL ADVENTURES 1780: Seventeen-year-old Alan Lewrie is a brash, rebellious young libertine. So much so that his callous father believes a bit of navy discipline will turn the boy around. Fresh aboard the tall-masted Ariadne, Midshipman Lewrie heads for the war-torn Americas, finding–rather unexpectedly–that he is a born sailor, equally at … sailor, equally at home with the randy pleasures of the port and the raging battles on the high seas. But in a hail of cannonballs comes a bawdy surprise…
The King’s Coat introduces us to Alan Lewrie, hero of Dewey Lambdin’s acclaimed series of naval adventures, which have often been compared to those by C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian.
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I learned of this book from Quarterdeck magazine. It was rough around the edges, but I found myself drawn in to the story. This guy isn’t Horatio Hornblower, he’s more like the protagonist in the Master Mariner books by Nicholas Montserrat, and like that character is saved by his surroundings. However, Lewrie’s time period is static, albeit fascinating, but even his surroundings pall eventually. I got tired of the character’s antihero qualities. I probably will not continue with the series.
Definitely a page-turner, especially if you’re at all interested in history or the nautical. High adventure on the high seas. Very entertaining. Already bought Book 2.
This was a very interesting book. It was heavy into all things regarding old time seamanship however, the trials and tribulations of the main character just made you want to turn the page and keep going to find out what was next. I loved it.
Like the entire series.
Outstanding! A sail navy adventure series with a hero for this millennium was long past fue.
King’s Coat is the first of the series and the first Alan Lewrie/Dewey Lambdin book I read and I’m now going thru them again. Worth the experience!
A good Sailing story
It’s not Patrick O’Brien, but it’s good.
Mr. Midshipman Easy grown up (a little bit, anyway); Alan Lewrie is a very amusing young man, more of a scapegrace than a gentleman, and a good deal more interesting. Not a profound or literary novel; a good romping sea story.
Good nautical yarn
A great read! A wonderful historical fictional tale of life & death on the high seas.
I really enjoyed this read. Very informative about the British navy of the time. Got a little wordy concerning the ships sailing techniques but the story was very good.
Great beginning to Alan Lewrie series.
This is the first book of a great series. Action, humor, and the main character is one of the most entertaining I have run across.
The King’s Coat, the uniform worn by the British Navy was something new to me.. I volunteer with a wooden boat building nonprofit and as such I have been learning some of the sailing terms.. Those in the book were easy to comprehend without my actually knowing the terms.. But enough of that.. The hero is so appealing. One is already on his side after the first few pages.. “Watching” him learn the skills needed to advance in the Navy are fascinating. The battle scene made the life on ships during the American revolution was a great insight into what it was like to be a seaman. I look forward to reading more of the books.. I can’t believe there are 25.. but I’m game to start reading the next few.. Thank you for a great page turner.. and with the benefit of expanding my understanding of this wonderful and complex world… dfk
Outstanding series. Similar to Hornblower series
My email is [email protected], amazon seems unable to correct it.
Similar to “Longarm” books.
First of a series about a British Midshipman in the Royal Navy of the 1780’s. His character is interesting and captivating. I will read the next in the series. A quick read, hard to put down. The author pays great attention to detail to portray the dangers and brutality of life aboard a ship at that time.
Excellent historical read. The protagonist is an endearing rascal leading to great action and amusement as he develops into an expert navy officer.
Hornblower’s little brother? Good sailing read, “full and by”.