The Darkening Sea

This is the 20th volume in the Richard Bolitho series and it has spanned some 30 years of warfare. This time we follow Sir Richard over the span of a bit less than a year and a half as several plot lines unfurl. What I found good and interesting about this book is that there were multiple plot lines that were all moved forward. Early on in the series, we follow Bolitho on a single ship and a single action and that is the focus of the whole book. That was appropriate and very well done as Bolitho moved from Midshipman to officer ranks. What I like in this book is that Sir Richard is now a Vice-Admiral and his concerns are much more global - so having several plot lines at once is highly appropriate and even entertaining. Secondly, Sir Richard has always been portrayed as human, but in this book the depictions of those situations is much more true to life. This is a testament to the author's growth in his trade! This also translates into Sir Richard's relationship with the love of his life - Lady Catherine. The scenes describing their life together - both on and off the water - ring true. Some of the other threads that are addressed here are that Sir Richard is dispatched to handle a vague threat to a maritime expedition in the Indian Ocean. He is sent with a flottila. Of course, it is only two or three frigates with a couple of brigs to help out, but at least it is not a single ship under a Vice Admiral as we've seen in other recent books. Of course, you could quibble that the size of the force was more appropriate for a Commodore - but never mind that. Other threads that carry forward are the relationship between Sir Richard and Thomas Herrick - this was getting very negative and dark in the last few books and is moved forward in this book; Also the history of Lady Catherine is brought to the foreground. There is a pretty remarkable set of chapters in which she reveals (through her actions) what her early life was like and we are also provided with the answer of why she cannot bear children. It is actually a sentimental and poignant scene! Lady Catherine also resolves her situation vis a vis the mysterious Sillitoe (where did he come up with THAT name?) On the negative side, this book is so packed with threads of plot that we see almost nothing of Adam Bolitho and his relationship with Zenoria is really suspended (oh, there are many words written about it but nothing is resolved or changed). Some major changes in characters occur with very little convincing explanations (the First Sea Lord is replaced between the last volume and this one) and Sir Richard has access to two new officers who are mere caricatures: The harsh Trevenen and the enigmatic Avery. Flag Lieutenant Avery becomes 'one of the gang' and Captain Trevenen? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out. The most major personal development is that Allday gets married. This was a thread that started in the last book and reaches a climax in this one. One wonders if he will now

The Richard Bolitho series now covers something like 23 books and (by my count) about forty years of story time. One of its chief attractions, especially in the last six or eight books, has been watching the characters grow and change and watching their lives criss-cross and intersect. The later books have (properly, since Kent is scrupulous about playing fair with Bolitho's age and medical problems) been less about swashbucking and more about relationships.All those trends are at work in this installment. If your principal interest to Kent's novels is the sea battles and swordfights, you may want to give up on the series--or at least this piece of it. If you've stuck with the series because because you care about Bolitho and the other continuing characters, though . . . settle back and enjoy a deftly written story about love, loss, and second chances (punctuated by some 1st-rate sea battles).

It' some time ago since I've last read one of his books, but I'm always happy do catch one. I'm only sad that it takes sooo long till there is an other Bolitho on the market. There is only one better in writing narval fiction who is C. S. Forester with Horatio Hornblower.