A group reading assignment.

The clock is ticking down to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Douglas Edward Reeman, Lieutenant-Commander RNR, aka Alexander Kent.

I challenge everyone here who has enjoyed his work over the years to read at least two of his books. One of your favorites, and one that you've never read before if possible. If that's not possible then read one from the age of sail and one from the age of screw, steam, and diesel.

Then come back to this thread and tell us all about it.

I'll share a link to this thread with his widow, Kim.

Then on October 15th, 2024 we'll all raise a glass to the memory of that gallant gentleman.

I know that our ranks have been thinned over the years but I hope that all that remain will take up the challenge.

Well since no one has responded I guess there's no interest in this. For what it's worth I just finished re-reading "In Gallant Company", the first hardback book I ever bought, the second was "The Inshore Squadron", I mostly own paperbacks. Now on to "The Destroyers".

i have read the bolitho series a long time ago and enjoyed the books very much. but i have that many books to read now in my book stack i just have not got the time to re read them.

This day I raise my glass to honour a gallant gentleman on the 100th anniversary of his birth. To Douglas Edward Reeman, Lieutenant-Commander RNR. The world is a poorer place without you, but richer by far for having known you.

hip hip cheers to him.

Alexander Kent's 'Bolitho series' was one of the earliest ones that I read, and read, and read (they never seemed to keep coming !!). When 'the Admiral' died and Adam picked up the flag and 'carried on', my interest carried on with him. However, in my mind, the series began to 'drift and circle' after a few of Adam's exploits.
When Adam was married, and the French officer arrived at his wedding with the pronouncement "I am his friend"..............for me, the long and tumultuous series should have ended there. Thank you Commander Reeman for your good yarns and the multitude of hours they kept my attention.

80 Winters

I've come in to port a month late I see. Foul winds and running afoul of an unlit merchantman during a storm caused me to stop for repairs (Hell, Saint O'Brian had something similar happen to Aubrey twice in later books, so, plausible). Alas, I also lost my full sets of O'Brian and Forester in Hurricane Harvey flooding, along with a goodly number of Kent, Lewrie, Needle, Stockwin, Bond et al.

(My wife was delighted)

I can recall one of the titles: TO GLORY WE STEER, very bracing and exhortatory. I was delighted by the name of his ship, the Phalarope, which struck me as a very melodious and Jabberwocky name. I forgot the definition, but still remember the name - so I had to google it just now. Britannica says this about small shore birds called phalaropes:
"Females, larger and more brightly coloured than males, fight for nesting territories and do the courting; males undertake all nesting duties and lead the young southward in autumn after the females have departed."
What a let-down for derring-do masculinity! Still, it would be in the tradition of naming a fighting ship HARPY, ANDROMACHE, CIRCE and such.

A great idea Dr. Fred, signaled well in advance of the centennial. I have just raised my glass and have drunk to Cmdr Reeman and the pleasure he has given us all!