Midshipman Bolitho

By: Alexander Kent

Narrated by: Michael Jayston

Richard Bolitho - Midshipman

October 1772, Portsmouth. Sixteen-year-old Richard Bolitho waits to join the Gorgon, ordered to sail to the west coast of Africa and to destroy those who challenge the King's Navy. For Bolitho, and for many of the crew, it is a severe and testing initiation into the game of seamanship.

Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger

December 1773, Falmouth. The young Bolitho looks forward to a family Christmas in Cornwall while the Gorgon is refitted. But Cornwall is the treacherous stamping ground of smugglers and wreckers. After the murder of a revenue officer, Bolitho is swept aboard his brother's cutter, Avenger, on a dangerous mission of hide-and-seek.

©1975 Alexander Kent (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of our foremost writers of naval fiction...authentic, inspiring, well-characterised and, finally, moving." ( Sunday Times)

Great story

Loved it. Great narrative. Keeps you wanting to listen to the whole thing at once

Excellent

I look forward to hearing the entire saga. The author and the narrator have done an excellent job of entertaining this reader.

Adventure!!!

The English navy in the late 18th century - this is the beginning of tge Bolitho adventures. Starting as a midshipman this audio book describes two of first adventures (there should have been three in book 1, but oddly the third tale is not here, nor in audio book 2). The tales are full of salt sea, tar and gunpowder, as they should be.

good beginning

i have read the entire botiho series and listend to it all as well. the way Michael jayston reads the books he brings it alive and makes you feel like your on the poop deck with Richard bolitho.

No High hopes. But boy! Wow good!!

the two sons of Captain James by lyto home for Christmas. Who'd have thought it would make such a great story!

very enjoyable

I enjoyed the locales that the story takes place in, Cornwall and Africas west coast. I feel that the proper amount of attention was paid to rope&rigging or sailing lingo. sometimes I get tied up by all the different terms. I thought the narrator could have used a bit more variation between the characters but it was a very strong performance overall.

I'm a sailor at heart. loved the adventure.

I can sit back and just let the adventure consume my attention. a great tale.

Midshipman Bolitho

This is a good story. There was only one problem, somewhere around chapter 12 the narration began to repeat and reread about 4 chapters. The writer did his research. He was very specific about the workings of a ship of the times. However, I found the names of the characters made it difficult to follow the story and thus interfered with the flow. There were new characters introduced later but there was not enough time spent on them and who they were for me to get invested in there purpose. All in all it was a nice short story.

Kent is a master writer

If you haven’t read Bolitho and the series. You’re missing out. You can get the books online under used books at Amazon quite affordable.

Good start

Missing band of brothers and does repeat two chapters. But good story.

The narration I think is good but a bit monotone. Doesn’t build up and carry excitement through action scenes as well as I’ve seen done with others.

But still good.