men aboard, was dispatched ro the Pacific ro apprehend the mutineers and return them ro Britain for courts-m artial and likely hangings. Iron ically, Edwards, arguably even more brutal ro his men than Bligh, had suffered a near-mutiny nine years earlier. When Fortune Frowns is the episodic srory of Edwards's mission: from the preparation and voyage ro the mutineers' arrests, from their subsequent cruel treatment as prisoners ro yet another smallboat voyage fo ll owing the shipwreck of the ill-fated Pandora. This little-known story abo ut the final chapter of the most famous of mutinies is rold using salty and authentic 18th-century language that adds color to the bravado, bravery, and banality of the times. H ere is a naval adventure, but one without a naval battle. A carefully constructed pi ece of fact-based fi ction, White's work is scholarly, thoroughly researched, and masterfully written. Breathing life inro maritime hisro ry, the author's style is reminiscent of Patrick O 'Brian's novels, ye t nearly all of his characters are pulled straight from history, and their interactions are based upon the historical records of the Pandora's voyage. When Fortune Frowns is a captivating book, a pleasurable read from the hand of a highly skilled au thor. Lours ARTHUR NORTON Wes t Simsbury, Connecticut
Red Tobruk: Memoirs ofa World Wflr II Destroyer Commander by Captain Frank Grego ry-Smith RN D SO DSC and edited by Dominic Symons (Pen & Sword Books, Ltd., South Yorkshire, UK, 2008 , viii + 200pp, notes, glossary, and index, ISBN 978-1-84415-862-1; $3 0hc) In the 1980s, William Frank Niemann G rego ry-S mith published for his fam ily a three-volume memoir of his Royal Navy experiences. Dominic Symons, w h o grew up with those volumes, skillfully extracted the heart of his grandfa ther's narrative abo ut his service in Wo rld War II and edited it for publi cation as Red Tobruk (the term refers to the Tobruk radar stations' warning that enemy planes were in the vicinity). The book fo llows Gregory-Smi th's naval career, from his enrollment at D artmouth Naval College in 1922 at age twelve SEA HISTORY 127, SUMMER 2009
New from NMHS and the University Press of Florida! Voyages, Documents in American Maritime History "The most comprehensive collection of maritime history documents ever published."- James C. Bradford, TexasA&MUniversity Voyages, the Age of Sail : Vo lume I, 1492-1865
the Age of £ngines
416 pages, pape rback, $34.95
Voyages , the Age of Engines: Volume II , 1865-Present 448 pages, paperback, $34.95
By JoshuaM. Smith, Ph.D ., and the National Maritime Historical Society To order, call 800-221-664 7, x 0, or visit www.seahistory.org
The Great Ocean Liners of New York City Com mitted to the Preservat ion of Our M aritime History Ocean liner Memorabilia - Decor-Posters - Canvas Art
V INEYA RD
(508) 693-5871
* WWW.JPUWOODCARVER.COM
*
~
Ian Robertson www.oceanlinerrow.com 917-416-7653 - PO Box 20586, New York, NY 10025
1~4f"'#l'-H-l.H""-t'l;"$';:;._'>T.f' ....
..l""'
..,-\"'
J'~'f:;.4':A'
,,,.
Historic , antique U.S. , · Coast Survey maps . from the 1800s o Orig inal lithographs , most Am erica n sea ports and shores. Reprints, t oo. Unique framed ,
great gifts. Ca ta log , $ 1.00. Specify area .
MILITARY ORAL HISTORY BOOKS by LCDR L. Peter Wren, USNR (Ret) " We Were There" Read firsthand the untold stories of the USS Indianapolis tragedy by " resc uers, survivors and others" who speak on these pages. " World War II - Rev isited" A collection of firsthand reports from POW and Gl s. Within these pages the patriots speak on " freedom" won. " Battle Born" The unsinkable USS Nevada escaped fro m the Pearl Harbor anack to fire the opening shots on D-Day and we nt on to batt le in the Pacific. Ora l hi stori es arc co-aut hored by a crew member. Soft Covcr-$ 18.95 • Hard Cover-$25.95 Add $2 for S& H For a111ographed copies, make checks payable 10
W R EN ENTE RPRI ZES
~
~·-
MARITIM E
BOOKS 1806 Laurel Crest Madison, Wi sconsin 53 705- 1065 (608) 238 -SAIL FAX (608) 238-7249 Email: tuttlemaritime@charter. net http ://tuttlemaritime.com
Books about the Sea, Ship & Sailor Catalogue Upon Request
IO 11 Ridgetop Road, R ichm ond , VA 23 229
For non-signed copies. orderfrom www.xlibris.com
53