Ramage's Prize

This is the 5th book in Pope's Ramage series (see my reviews of "Ramage, Drumbeat, Triton Brig, Governor Ramage"). Ramage is given the impossible task of discovering my the mail packets are not reaching their destinations. My first thought was, "Who cares about mail packets?" Well, after reading for a while I DID. Pope turned this dull topic into a first class read. It turns out to be a mystery with a surprise. I also learned a fair amount about various aspects of British culture during this time (I can't say what that is, as it would give away the surprise!). Nevertheless, this a a very good book. Although there is the usual battle here and there, there's more intrigue than action.

Pope writes heroic stories of the British Navy in the age of sail, not as easy as Capt. Marryat nor as grimly vicious as Jan Needle's. The stories in this series are suitable for anyone from a youthful age. They build well to the moments of intense action and there's darn little vivid blood, "salty talk" or eloquent cursing even in situations that demand it; Ramage is one ferociously cool customer. These books have a generous look and feel, like a hardback without the boards (or price). This is the first Ramage novel based substantially on true (if minor) historical events. Maybe for that reason there are fewer daring action scenes here than in the previous four novels. Ramage is assigned another thankless and politically dangerous mystery to solve, loses his fourth ship in 5 books, faces his second mutiny and second privateer, upsets the Admiralty again, requires an Act of Parliament to be passed, and is still a Lieutenant. We learn such things as the British mail packet-boat system (when surface mail was faster to the Caribbean than it is today!). Also, how to fiddle insurers, the loading of guns, detecting wood rot, rules of neutrality, the giving of parole, and the origin of mahonnaise, among other bits of nautical lore. Pope seems to give Ramage expert knowledges that such a young man might not have known. Pope can write evocatively of the seas and seacapes when he turns his mind to it.

Review of the Lord Ramage series novels: Don't read this until you have read the first four books of the Lord Ramage Novels by Dudley Pope. For more historical information on history of ships of the Royal Navy, read SHIPS OF THE OLD NAVY by Michael Phillips. Lord Ramage Novels Book 1: Ramage Book 2: Ramage and the Drumbeat Book 3: Ramage and the Freebooters Book 4: Governor Ramage RN Book 5: Ramage's Prize * Book 6: Ramage and the Guillotine Book 7: Ramage's Diamonds Book 8: Ramage's Mutiny Order them all, because you won't want to stop. The action is fast and furious. This is fifth in a series of historical fiction by Dudley Pope. All of these are fictional novels based on British Admiralty records of the Napoleonic era. Written in the best tradition of Forester and O'Brien, these books will capture your imagination. And if you haven't read the Hornblower series by Forester, or the Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brien, be sure to try them also. All of these are excellent books that you will treasure and reread. I particularly like these books by Pope. I recommend that you buy them all at once and read them in order. That is what I am doing. If you enjoy reading accurate descriptions of naval maneuvers in the age of sail, or simply a good adventure yarn, Dudley Pope delivers. Pope conveys how the best of the best, handle emergency situations. He portrays these situations with realism and authenticity. Review of this book: Ramage, is given the task of determining why Post Office packets, delivering mail from England to the Caribbean and back are disappearing. This story was based on true events. Post office packet brigs were surrendered to French privateers in the manner described because of "ventures", insurance policies, carried by treacherous officers and crews, and a Post Office packet was ransomed at the neutral Portuguese port of Lisbon in the same circumstances and difficulties as the Lady Arabella of the story. In the age of Nelson it took 45 days for mail to be delivered from England to the Caribbean. Today, surface mail from England, takes 60 to 90 days to reach various islands in the Caribbean.

I have read the first five books in this series and I would say that this one and Ramage and the Drumbeat are the best of the five. This one has an interesting plot (involving captured post office packets) that is something a little different from the norm. Creating complex, realistic characters has never been Pope's strong suit, but I think he does a little better here than usual. The best thing about this book, however, is that there is some good action at sea and another situation that develops at the end that is very suspenseful. Another very good thing about this book is that there is not yet another new, bland romance for Ramage to get involved in. His first love, Gianna, returns and is as fiery and funny as ever. Pope's books are certainly not great literature, but they are fairly well written and make for good, light reading.

This novel, first published in 1974, is number 5 in the Lord Ramage series. The late Dudley Pope, a protege of C. S. Forester, had first-hand experience at sea, and lived for an extended period in the West Indies. His novels are well researched. The individual Ramage novels cover shorter periods of time than those of some authors writing about this era. While Pope did not provide specific dates, the action described (and the sequence from the first story) places the tale circa 1799.Ramage, having lost the Triton during a hurricane, finds himself on a special assignment investigating the loss of Post Office packets. The matter is serious enough to draw the attention of the British Cabinet. Events involve the private ventures of officers and crews of the packets, illegal but winked at (merchant ship officers of that time period expected some space for private cargo - see Charles Tyng's "Before the Wind" - successful officers could earn enough from private trading to purchase their own ships). Ramage turns up information that requires delicate handling, the type of information that could bring down the government. Having come to the personal attention of Cabinet Ministers, one will have to read the following books in the series to see how Lieutenant Lord Ramage's naval career proceeds.