RUM, SODOMY AND THE LASH

A Devon Lad's Life in Nelson's Navy

by

Anthony Blackmore

COMMENTS, QUOTES AND REVIEWS

Other pages are:-

FOREWORD AND COVER NOTE

“In researching his subject and writing this book, which he has so obviously enjoyed doing, Anthony Blackmore has ferreted out a whole wealth of original sources to support his story.
...the tale that he tells will delight all devotees, like myself, of the era; and it is refreshing to get a 'lower deck' view of life on board a ship in Nelson's navy especially as Samuel was in the thick of the action - and was taken by the French along with his shipmates in HMS Berwick off Corsica. The author's description of the total dismasting of the Berwick and her subsequent jury-rigging is replete with technical detail, for which the author is to be congratulated.”
Victor Sharman, Chairman, The Nelson Society.

“It is vital, in any history of the period, to refer to the available primary sources, and not just repeat the previous book on the subject....the author has produced a fascinating and well researched book, quoting a wealth of interesting detail from ships' logs and contemporary letters.
This book will certainly appeal to all Nelson fans and students of naval history.”
Peter Goodwin, Keeper and Curator, HMS Victory, Portsmouth.

The interior of a French frigate, c1820.

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The Devon Family Historian (the journal of the Devon Family History Society) for August 2003

• “...It is a fascinating book in its context...For anyone who loves sea stories, this would make a wonderful birthday or Christmas gift. After all why read Hornblower when the real thing is available.”

Practical Family History, October 2003

• “Beautifully told by Anthony Blackmore, the story of this young seaman will captivate the legions of enthusiasts...because, remarkably, it portrays the life of the sailors serving below decks. The author's researches have resulted in a wealth of accurate detail about naval engagements and practices...Accounts of the engagements in which Samuel would have fought are exciting and instructive...This book, with its splendid illustrations, describes a rather warmer and rewarding life than the title suggests.
  Devotees of Nelson, family historians and students interested in naval history will enjoy immensely Anthony Blackmore's book on the enthralling life of his seafaring ancestor.”

William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan.

• "Your book will provide our readers with further insights into life at sea for sailors in the British Navy at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century. It fits in so very well with the other materials at the library on naval history and is greatly appreciated."
  Don Wilcox, Curator of Books.

LORD NELSON

A CRITICISM

I knew I was treading on dangerous ground, a mere amateur writing about a technical subject. But my face is still red from the very nicely-put reminder that sailors sail and serve IN a ship, not ON her! My apologies to all sailors who read my book, I'm told it grates terribly. I already have a file labelled, perhaps optimistically, “2nd Edition”, and a note to remedy the error has been included.

On the other hand, the Captain of one of Her Majesty's nuclear hunter-killer submarines, a Commander and therefore out-ranking my first correspondent, a mere Lieutenant Commander on the retired list, writes;

• “I recently gave an after dinner speech to my Senior Rates Mess, and used a couple of examples from “Rum, Sodomy & the Lash” to illustrate the points; it went down very well!”

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COMMENTS

I have had some extremely generous and encouraging comments from quite unexpected quarters; from ordinary people (not Nelson or naval history buffs) who say they just could not put the book down. Typical comments read;

• “Thank you for the two copies of your book. I have now read it from cover to cover and I found it fascinating. You did an immense amount of research. Some of the quotations are amazing to the modern mind. I enjoyed it very much and I'll certainly tell friends.”
• “I have had a good read of a book which I couldn't put down, so it must be good! Normally when I look at a book and see lots of references at the bottom of the page, it puts me off as it tends to interrupt the flow whilst one looks at them and I think it must be a stodgy academic book, but clearly this was not and I was rapt by the various battles and their outcome. I got a bit lost at the end as the sequel seemed to jump around in time and relevance to the main characters, but that was not so of the main story. I now know why I haven't seen much of you recently.”
• ”I am writing to you to express my great pleasure in reading your book 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', and to congratulate you most sincerely on its content and style. For the last four-or-so years I have been researching the lives and careers of two brothers....in the navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It has been a growing ambition to present their stories....and with your publication you have set me the standard....Once more, thanks for the inspiration. ”

Another comment comes from someone who, I suspect, knows what he is talking about, and I must treat it with respect:-

• “I thought it was a really excellent piece of work, interesting, well-written and informative. Anthony Blackmore has done his young ancestor proud. The three elements of his title make their appearance, but only in a way appropriate to the narrative. We all know they did figure in naval history, but the author has eschewed sensationalism. I have no quarrel at all with the content or style of his book, which is clearly underpinned by careful research and wide reading. The book deserves to reach a wider public once it had a less misleading title!
  If anything, the quality of the book makes me more unhappy with the catchpenny title, rather than the reverse. I wonder if perhaps [the author] is a bit of a tease, relishing the thought of a book entitled Rum, Sodomy and the Lash being displayed alongside a notice saying 'This book is sold to raise funds for Holy Trinity Church.' ”

Funily enough, I have done precisely that! At the village Open Day, it sold quite well and, with the Vicar's approval, inside the church.

A retired Captain RN, whose ancestor was in Berwick with Samuel, writes ". . . It is very well presented and you have covered the service and life of Samuel Blackmore in a masterly way. Congratulations!"
He also kindly sent me an extract from "South West Soundings", the newsletter of the South West Maritime History Society for October 2006 which summarises Samuel's naval service and says this:

• "This is a well-written volume . . . and deserves a place in the bookshelves of maritime historians of that period."

• . . . and at last had time to read Rum, Sodomy & the Lash which I hasten to tell you how much I enjoyed. You must have put endless hard work and energy into it and I found it gripping. You paint the scene so well and I had no idea of Cockburn's great exploits that to some extent Jack Aubrey's story must have been written around. I went on to read "The Mauritius Command" and much preferred Blackmore.

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