Enemy in Sight (Richard Bolitho, #12)

Title: Enemy in Sight (Richard Bolitho, #12)

Author: Alexander Kent

Published in: 1969

Date read: 1st February 2017

Score: 4/5

Genre: Historical fiction, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Enemy in Sight!" by Alexander Kent (the pen name of Douglas Reeman) is a naval historical fiction novel set during the Napoleonic Wars. It is one of the early books in the highly popular Richard Bolitho series.

The story follows Captain Richard Bolitho, a young but experienced and respected officer in the Royal Navy, commanding the seventy-four-gun ship-of-the-line, HMS Hyperion. The year is 1793, and Britain is once again at war with revolutionary France.

Bolitho and the Hyperion are part of a fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Francis Steer, tasked with blockading the French port of Brest and engaging the enemy wherever they are found. The early days of the war are characterized by fierce encounters, challenging weather, and the ever-present dangers of naval combat in the age of sail.

As the novel progresses, Bolitho faces numerous trials. He must contend with the rigid hierarchy of the Royal Navy, the sometimes-incompetent or overly cautious decisions of his superiors, and the inherent stresses of commanding a large warship and its crew. His officers, some green and others seasoned, look to him for leadership, while his crew faces the hardships of life at sea, including disease, harsh discipline, and the constant threat of battle.

The Hyperion is involved in several engagements, from skirmishes with French privateers to larger fleet actions. Bolitho demonstrates his tactical brilliance and courage under fire, earning the respect of his men and proving his worth as a commander. The narrative vividly portrays the technical details of naval warfare, the sounds and smells of cannon fire, and the brutal realities of close-quarters combat at sea.

"Enemy in Sight!" culminates in a major confrontation with a formidable French squadron. Bolitho and the Hyperion play a crucial role in this decisive battle, where courage, seamanship, and strategic thinking are put to the ultimate test. The novel showcases Bolitho's growth as a leader and his unwavering dedication to duty amidst the chaos and violence of the Napoleonic Wars.

Comments:
This was a "one-off" read by an unknown author and I found it very entertaining and thoroughly interesting. I was going through my Sharpe era and was interested in war stories of the time. Sadly, this book will always be the one that showed my childish side as I had to stop reading after a character saw "smoke rising from her poop".

Books that we've read by Alexander Kent (1):
Enemy in Sight (Richard Bolitho, #12) (1969)