James L. Nelson is an American author of historical nautical fiction. His works delve into the sweeping naval battles and seafaring life of pivotal eras in American history. Nelson's style is marked by meticulous research and vivid characterizations that draw readers into the harsh world of tall ships and maritime conflict. Through his narratives, he explores themes of courage, loyalty, and survival against the odds at sea.
Set over a century after Columbus's arrival in Hispaniola, the West Indies are firmly under Spanish control, with no dissent allowed. However, the wealth of the empire attracts the attention of French, English, and Dutch powers, all vying to challenge Spain's dominance. Amidst this struggle, a formidable new threat arises: the buccaneers, who become the most significant challenge to Spanish rule in the region.
It is 1777, and captain Isaac Biddlecomb, together with his wife and child, is bound for Philadelphia aboard the brig Charlemagne. His orders are to take command of the newly-built frigate Falmouth and take her out to sea before she is taken by General Richard Howe's invading army. Unknown to Biddlecomb, the entire British fleet stands between him and the new nation's capital. Forced to run his beloved brig aground, Biddlecomb comes face to face with his mortal enemy, Lieutenant John Smeaton. Biddlecomb and his crew battle to reach the prized Falmouth, only shipwright Malachi Foote and a ragtag band of deserters stand between the vessel and the seemingly unstoppable British army.
An enthralling naval adventure from bestselling author James Nelson, perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester. With "first-rate action writing" (Publishers Weekly) and "authenticity" that carries total conviction (Patrick O'Brian), this fast-paced tale is filled with twists that will keep readers engaged. In 1776, as tensions boil over, the rebel government of Philadelphia authorizes the creation of the United States Navy, a bold move against British tyranny. Captain Isaac Biddlecomb embarks on a daring mission aboard the Charlemagne to raid British arms on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. However, his greatest challenge lies in his undisciplined crew, teetering on the brink of mutiny. Faced with betrayal and treachery, Biddlecomb must unite his men to confront a common enemy as the British Navy prepares to unleash its firepower against them. This gripping narrative is the third installment in the Revolution at Sea series, with Biddlecomb's journey continuing in Lords of the Ocean. Readers are encouraged to explore the earlier adventures, By Force of Arms and The Maddest Idea, to fully appreciate the unfolding saga.
The fourth book in the enthralling Revolution at Sea series It is the summer of 1776 in the former Crown Colony of New York. A fleet of British transport ships are looming off Staten Island, while on Brooklyn Heights the remnants of General George Washington's army are huddled behind hastily constructed fortifications. There, Captain Isaac Biddlecomb seeks Washington's help - only to find that Washington is preparing for the final destruction of the Continental army. Biddlecomb, commanding the brig-of-war Charlemagne , receives a monumental order. He is to transport to France the most dangerous secret weapon in the country's arsenal: scientist and philosopher Benjamin Franklin. Leading a new crew through the wintry North Atlantic, braving the cordon of the Royal Navy, Biddlecomb's seemingly simple mission to deliver Franklin to the court of Louis XVI is just the first volley in a grand scheme. While Biddlecomb is boldly raiding the English coast and Franklin is discussing strategy at Versailles, they both conspire to blow French neutrality out of the water - and turn the colonial uprising into a full-scale war. A novel of epic scope and staggering adventure which is as commanding and as vivid as history itself.
Shortly after Thomas Marlowe's arrival in Williamsburg, Virginia, all in that newfound capital city are speaking his name. With the bounty from his years as a pirate--a life he intends to renounce and keep forever secret--he purchases a fine plantation from a striking young widow, and soon after kills the favorite son of one of Virginia's most powerful clans while defending her honor. But it is a daring feat of remarkable cunning that truly sets local tongues wagging: a stunning move that wins Marlowe command of Plymouth Prize, the colony's decrepit guardship.But even as the enigmatic Marlowe bravely leads the King's sailors in bloody pitched battle against the cutthroats who infest the waters off Virginia's shores, a threat from his illicit past looms on the horizon that could doom Marlowe and his plans. Jean-Pierre LeRois, captain of the Vengeance--a brigand notorious even among other brigands for his violence and debauchery--plots to seize the colony's wealth, forcing Marlowe to choose between losing all or facing the one man he fears. Only an explosive confrontation on the open sea can determine whether the Chesapeake will be ruled by the crown or the Brethren of the Coast.
In the late summer of 1775, General George Washington discovers that his cache of gunpowder has dwindled to a mere nine shots per man. A desperate plan is hatched--to send a ship under the command of Captain Isaac Biddlecomb to Bermuda to capture the British powder known to be there. But the plan is a trap, set by a traitor among the patriots, and one from which even Biddlecomb cannot escape. Washington dispatches his aide-de-camp, Major Edward Fitzgerald, to hunt the traitor down, while Biddlecomb must rely on cunning and seamanship to free his men and the ship, and to capture the gunpowder that is the lifeblood of the fight for liberty. Divided by an ocean but bound by the cause, as well as by their own private fears, Biddlecomb and Fitzgerald must take on a common enemy--the greatest military power on earth. This is a powerful saga of the American Revolution--a stirring maritime adventure in the epic, true-to-life tradition of Patrick O'Brian.
But when King James, the huge ex-slave who is in command of Marlowe's sloop, kills the crew of a slaveship - a blackbirder - and makes himself the most wanted man in Virginina, Marlowe is forced to go and hunt him down.
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The first in the enthralling Revolution at Sea series As the War of Independence begins in earnest, American merchant seamen prepare to strike the first blows. None strikes more deftly than Isaac Biddlecomb, captain of the Judea, whose smuggling activities are making a mockery of His Majesty's Royal Navy. Pursued by the HMS Rose , he sacrifices the ship he loved to the depths, together with the fortune he stood to gain, rather than surrender. On the run from the enraged forces of King George, Isaac disguises himself as a merchant seaman. He is reunited with Ezra Rumstick, a comrade and fierce rebel, as the revolution gathers momentum. On a brig bound for Jamaica, and now serving as a lowly mate, fate tests Isaac's mettle as he is captured by the enemy and faces a life of servitude under the deranged captain and sadistic crew of the HMS Icarus ...
Thomas Marlowe, a former pirate turned plantation owner in Virginia, faces declining tobacco prices due to the Anglo-Spanish war. He decides to travel to England to trade his goods, anticipating a confrontation with an old enemy from his past.
