The Power and the Glory is the third novel in the historical, nautical fiction series from William C. Hammond. It follows in the wake of A Matter of Honor and For Love of Country, and features the adventures of the seafaring Cutler family of Hingham, Massachusetts and an ever expanding cast of characters. Set during the Quasi-War against the French Republic during the late 1790's, The Power and the Glory offers the reader a stirring and authentic look at the birth of the modern United States Navy during the Age of Fighting Sail. Whether confronting French pirates off the coast of Nantucket or heavily armed French frigates in the Caribbean, Capt. Thomas Truxtun, Capt. Silas Talbot, Lt. Richard Cutler and other early naval heroes --most real, some fictional -- personify the best of American honor and courage. Beyond electrifying sea battles and the challenge to French colonial rule in Haiti and in the French West Indies, The Power and the Glory provides intriguing glimpses into everyday life of the era, be they in the bedroom of the Cutler clapboard home in Hingham, on the island of Barbados where the Cutlers' own a sugar cane plantation and run a far-reaching commercial enterprise, or aboard Adm. Sir Hyde Parker's flagship in Port Royal, Jamaica. And at the center of all the excitement, passion and intrigue are two of the finest "super frigates" ever constructed: USS Constellation and her sister ship, USS Constitution. As with all books in the series, the author's careful research and attention to detail, coupled with his thorough knowledge of sailing and the ways of the sea, bring history alive in a refreshing and entertaining fashio
Show moreThe Power and the Glory is the third novel in the historical, nautical fiction series from William C. Hammond. It follows in the wake of A Matter of Honor and For Love of Country, and features the adventures of the seafaring Cutler family of Hingham, Massachusetts and an ever expanding cast of characters. Set during the Quasi-War against the French Republic during the late 1790's, The Power and the Glory offers the reader a stirring and authentic look at the birth of the modern United States Navy during the Age of Fighting Sail. Whether confronting French pirates off the coast of Nantucket or heavily armed French frigates in the Caribbean, Capt. Thomas Truxtun, Capt. Silas Talbot, Lt. Richard Cutler and other early naval heroes --most real, some fictional -- personify the best of American honor and courage. Beyond electrifying sea battles and the challenge to French colonial rule in Haiti and in the French West Indies, The Power and the Glory provides intriguing glimpses into everyday life of the era, be they in the bedroom of the Cutler clapboard home in Hingham, on the island of Barbados where the Cutlers' own a sugar cane plantation and run a far-reaching commercial enterprise, or aboard Adm. Sir Hyde Parker's flagship in Port Royal, Jamaica. And at the center of all the excitement, passion and intrigue are two of the finest "super frigates" ever constructed: USS Constellation and her sister ship, USS Constitution. As with all books in the series, the author's careful research and attention to detail, coupled with his thorough knowledge of sailing and the ways of the sea, bring history alive in a refreshing and entertaining fashio
Show moreWilliam C. Hammond was born in 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. An amateur historian and sailing enthusiast, he is the author of the Cutler Family Chronicles, which take place amid the rise of the American Navy. Hammond lives in New Zealand with his wife, Sheree.
. . . William Hammond sticks with his engaging and award-winning
formula of embedding his early 19th-century characters in the
culture, people and politics of the time.
A rollicking good read full of battles, glory, and high-seas
adventure, all firmly rooted in this nation's maritime history,
which the author knows and portrays well.
As always, the naval, family, and political threads are woven
together in an excellent, well-written, and believable narrative by
the author as [Hammond] explores the early history of the young
nation. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Recommended.
High drama on the high seas combined with political intrigue, ships
of two navies, pirates, and privateers draws the reader into this
compelling tale, well crafted by William Hammond. The growing
Cutler family's story brings history to life even as they appear on
opposite sides of an international conflict. Another well-told,
fast-paced story from the pen of Mr. Hammond that is sure to
further endear his readers to the well-portrayed and
three-dimensional cast of characters.
How Dark the Night, the fifth volume in the Cutler Chronicles, was
a joy to read! Strong enough to stand on its own sea legs, Hammond
has written a finely crafted tale of familial and maritime
adventure. Hammond's masterful scene-setting places you on the
wharves, on board ships, and in family settings so vividly that you
feel as if you're eavesdropping on life during the Age of Sail.
Best of all, How Dark the Night is a novel whose impact subtly
builds to a riveting and wrenchingly emotional climax.
Literary agent, amateur historian and sailing enthusiast Hammond
sets his sprawling debut novel, the first in a series, in the
crucible of the American Revolution. The maritime action follows
the adventures of Richard Cutler, a young rebel who signs on as a
midshipman aboard the Ranger, a sloop-of-war of the fledgling
Continental navy captained by John Paul Jones. Cutler's motives are
independence for his country and revenge for his older brother,
Will, who was seized from a merchantman and flogged to death by the
Royal Navy. Serving alongside Jones on the Ranger and later the
Bonhomme Richard, Cutler fights in dramatic sea battles and meets
many of the key characters in the Revolution, including Ben
Franklin, the Marquis de Lafayette and John Adams. He also shares
his romantic interest in British beauty Katherine Hardcastle with a
young British naval officer, but his capture off the British coast
could mean he misses out on the war and the woman. Drawing on five
years of historical research and a lifetime of sailing, Hammond
vividly recreates an early chapter in American history.
Two previous books covered the Cutlers' naval service during the
American Revolution, but The Power and the Glory is a fine
stand-alone read. Hammond offers a deft blend of fictional and real
characters that range the American coast from Massachusetts to
Barbados, as Lt. Richard Cutler rises in the new American Navy.
Hammond's meaty tale climaxes in 1800 with a splendid ship duel
between the newly built USS Constellation and La Vengeance. This
battle alone is so thrilling that I am now eager to look up
Hammond's previous works, and I heartily recommend The Power and
the Glory.
William Hammond is an impressive author able to breathe life into
his characters and envelop his reader's total attention from first
page to last. An outstanding continuation of a highly recommended
series, How Dark the Night is highly recommended for personal
reading lists and community library historical fiction collections.
These are the kind of books from which blockbuster movies and
award-winning television mini-series are made!
William Hammond spins a captivating tale set against the endeavors
of a young nation and a family seeking to find its way in a
politically and personally complicated world. How Dark the
Night--and the entire Cutler chronicle--shine a glorious light on
America's rich maritime history.
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