A Call to Arms
A Novel
Published on 15. November 2012
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-61251-144-3 (ISBN)
Description
A Call To Arms is the fourth novel in the award-winning historical / nautical fiction series from William C. Hammond. Along with the other novels in the Cutler Family Chronicles - most recently For Love of Country and The Power and the Glory - it features the epic saga of the seafaring Cutler family of Hingham, Massachusetts and an ever expanding cast of characters. Among these characters are real historical figures including Capt. Edward Preble, Lt. Stephen Decatur, Lt. Richard Somers, Samuel Coleridge, Bashaw Yusuf Qaramanli, and Adm. Horatio Lord Nelson. Interwoven with these historical characters is a fast-paced and gripping plot that takes the reader from Java in the Dutch East Indies to New England at the start of the nineteenth century, and on to Gibraltar, Tripoli, Malta, Sicily, Alexandria and Cairo. Historic events depicted in the novel have been subjected to intense research and have been vetted by historians.
Set primarily in the Mediterranean Sea during the First Barbary War (1801-1805), A Call To Arms offers the reader intriguing and often startling insights into a young republic's struggle to promote its principles of liberty, equality and free trade in a world ravaged by the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and ruthless piracy in both the Mediterranean and Far Eastern waters. The U.S. Navy answers the call of an aroused nation, and the fate of the young republic turns on the actions of a few heroic officers, sailors and Marines.
Highlighted in the novel are such historical events as the naval bombardment of Tripoli, the burning of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor, the last fateful voyage of USS Intrepid, and a Lawrence of Arabia-style overland assault on the Tripolitan city of Derne, an action supported by the U.S. Navy and immortalised in the second line of the Marines' Hymn. At the centre of all the passion and excitement are the magnificent super frigates of the fledgling U.S. Navy. Also at its centre is a new generation of Cutler sons and daughters eager to follow in the footsteps of Richard Cutler and his beloved English-born wife, Katherine. Theirs is a love story for the ages, but one whose future is threatened in a way that Capt. Cutler could not possibly have foreseen as he takes command of USS Portsmouth and sets sail to join the Mediterranean Squadron and his son James, serving as midshipman in USS Constitution.
Set primarily in the Mediterranean Sea during the First Barbary War (1801-1805), A Call To Arms offers the reader intriguing and often startling insights into a young republic's struggle to promote its principles of liberty, equality and free trade in a world ravaged by the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and ruthless piracy in both the Mediterranean and Far Eastern waters. The U.S. Navy answers the call of an aroused nation, and the fate of the young republic turns on the actions of a few heroic officers, sailors and Marines.
Highlighted in the novel are such historical events as the naval bombardment of Tripoli, the burning of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor, the last fateful voyage of USS Intrepid, and a Lawrence of Arabia-style overland assault on the Tripolitan city of Derne, an action supported by the U.S. Navy and immortalised in the second line of the Marines' Hymn. At the centre of all the passion and excitement are the magnificent super frigates of the fledgling U.S. Navy. Also at its centre is a new generation of Cutler sons and daughters eager to follow in the footsteps of Richard Cutler and his beloved English-born wife, Katherine. Theirs is a love story for the ages, but one whose future is threatened in a way that Capt. Cutler could not possibly have foreseen as he takes command of USS Portsmouth and sets sail to join the Mediterranean Squadron and his son James, serving as midshipman in USS Constitution.
Reviews / Votes
A Call to Arms tells a grand and very interesting tale of heroism, foolishness, political maneuverings and perhaps even megalomania in one of the first major engagements of the US Navy outside the Americas. It seems to be quite open and honest. This early period of the US Navy, so far mostly neglected, seems to be much more interesting than I thought. It is an intriguing tale, taller-than-life and very well told by William C. Hammond who, in my opinion, is improving noticeably from book to book. This is a series to follow for lovers of navy fiction!"-- NavyFiction.com "Readers who have read the previous volumes in the series will enjoy being reunited with characters who feel like family, while newcomers will find themselves cast into a maelstrom of events that are spiced with tears, heartache, joy, and pride." -- Pirates and Privateers "Hammond deftly weaves impeccably researched history with the day-to-day lives of the Cutlers. Readers are in the room as Jamie announces his interest in obtaining an appointment as a midshipman under Captain Edward Preble and are on the quarterdeck with Richard as Portsmouth sails into the Med and is attacked by Barbary corsairs.Hammond's intriguing plot and page-turning prose is a delight for anyone who enjoys a view of history as it happened through the eyes of well-drawn characters. This epic series fills a void in nautical fiction, offering a fresh look the Age of Sail from the American perspective." -- Quarterdeck "As a work of fiction the book is a captivating narrative, but it is also a fascinating look back at an important chapter in our naval history by a gifted writer and historian." -- Ocean Navigator "This book is highly recommended to those interested in naval history." -- Historical Novel Society "A riveting novel that educates as it entertains, very much recommended reading."
-- The Midwest Book Review
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Annopolis
United States
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
320 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61251-144-3 (9781612511443)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
William C. Hammond is a novelist, literary agent, and business consultant. A lifelong student of history and sailing enthusiast, he lives in Minneapolis, MN, and frequently sails on Lake Superior and off the coast of New England. His first novel in the Cutler chronicles, A Matter of Honor, was published in 2007, followed by For Love of Country, in 2010, and The Power and the Glory in 2011.