Dudley Pope Books

False Colours Alone in the French-infested Mediterranean, a thousand miles from the nearest English ship, Nicholas Ramage stumbles on a French invasion fleet. With only the Calypso and two unwieldy prize bomb ketches under his command, he must stop them--and only the most desperate ruse will work.

The West Indian bases are desperate: post vessels—a vital communications link between England and the West Indies in the war against France—are mysteriously disappearing and no packets have arrived with orders in months. Were the privateers out in full force again? Had Napoleon's navy a secret new weapon? Lieutenant Lord Nicholas Ramage sets out from Jamaica to discover what treachery is threatening to throw the British navy into chaos.

Nelson's crews are standing down and Ramage is on leave when he receives secret Admiralty orders to inspect the small island of Trinidade off the coast of Brazil. Reaching the island, Ramage and the crew of the Calypso fetch up in a battle to free several captive merchant ships - and a beautiful woman passenger - as they cross swords with bloodthirsty priates.

In recognition of his great achievements at sea, their Lordships of the Admiralty have made Lord Nicholas Ramage captain of a ship of the line—the youngest man to be so honored since Nelson himself. And so Ramage sets sail on the Dido , a formidable fighting weapon and the most prized war machine of the British Navy. But sooner than expected, Ramage is called upon to test the Dido to the full as his path to the Caribbean is beset with troubles. Thrilling and exhilarating, Ramage and the Dido is a fitting conclusion to Lord Ramage's adventures at sea.

Captain Ramage sails to Naples in the frigate Calypso , expecting to be given the rather tedious task of escorting merchantmen across the Mediterranean. It is not long after Trafalgar, and the last thing he expects is an encounter with two French ships of the line. Adventure follows, as it does when he finally arrives in Naples and is given details of his mission. He is to sail to Sicily where the Saraceni—Barbary Coast pirates—have been attacking the local fishing ports.

Dudley Pope meticulously researches the story of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy - the butchering of the officers aboard His Majesty's Frigate HERMIONE 32 guns, in the West Indies in 1797. The captain of the frigate, Hugh Pigot, was a brutal and sadistic commander who flogged his men mercilessly and drove them beyond the limits of endurance. However, nothing could excuse the slaughter of guilty and innocent officers alike as the mutineers went wild and committed crimes beyond anything Pigot could have dreamt up. Not content with that, they then took the ship into an enemy port and gave her up to the Spanish who, unaware of the true facts for some time, nevertheless greeted them with the contempt they deserved. The Spanish took the ship into their service but due to an amazing episode of red tape and internal wrangling, never actually got the frigate to sea. Meanwhile the Royal Navy relentlessly hunted down the mutineers over the next ten years and of the 33 either caught or who gave themselves up, 24 were either hanged and hung in chains upon gibbets, or transported for life. A number managed to escape justice. The author describes these events which end with the daring recapture of the HERMIONE under the guns of Spanish forts, with Captain Edward Hamilton leading 100 English sailors in six open boats in one of the most brilliant cutting-out expeditions in naval history.

Pope presents this true, enthralling account of the men, ships, and tactics which culminated in this naval action that so brilliantly began Britain's war at sea.

Mutiny and rebellion are rife on board a British ship in the Caribbean. A young British naval officer is chosen to rescue the ship from its Spanish captors, yet this means almost certain death. Lord Ramage soon learns that for his mission to succeed—and for him to stay alive—he must resort to almost any means. Will his skill prove a match for the strength of the Spanish attack?

A large format book with interesting gun history and guns depicted in full color and b/w. The jacket is protected in mylar. The jacket has been taped neatly onto book - all else is very good plus or better.

It is 1796. Sea battles rage and an attack from the French has left third-lieutenant Ramage the sole officer in charge of his frigate. With orders from Nelson to be obeyed and a daring mission to be completed, young Nicholas Ramage must rise to the challenge. Despite the grave adversity of his situation, Ramage embarks upon an intrepid rescue with quite unforeseen consequences. This thrilling adventure is the first in Dudley Pope's popular and much-loved Ramage series.