The Royal Navy of the Napoleonic Era, based on the historical novels set in this period, seems to have been as full of infighting, nepotism, and promotion of sycophantic underlings as the average U.S. corporation in this era of M.B.A. proliferation. As noted in my synopsis of A King's Cutter, there always seem to be Bolithos, Lewries, Aubreys, and Drinkwaters who are deserving of promotion but have no "influence."Fortunately for our protagonists, the common sailors are more concerned with deeds rather than social status. And for Drinkwater in this novel, as in A King's Cutter, there are times that his captain's tropical illness requires him to command the ship. Indeed, things seem to be going well as Drinkwater actually ends up crossing paths with Nelson (sort of) after the Battle of Aboukir.Unfortunately, an old acquaintance from his midshipman days appears and begins to spread his poison (and ironically, that poison is a classic example of the psychological phenomena known as projection). But there's a twist (more than one) when the old nemesis gets the upper hand.The novel has a satisfying conclusion, but there are a couple of continuity problems. It appears that Woodman had intended for Drinkwater to become involved with a French noblewoman and spy as paramour in an earlier book. Unless I have accidentally read the books out of order, that never happened overtly. Yet, Drinkwater suffers plenty of guilt as a result of an action that was never spelled out. This continuity problem jerked me out of my suspension of disbelief and bothered me wherever it came up in the course of the book. Fortunately for my enjoyment, it wasn't often.
