Midshipman Bolitho Audiobook By Alexander Kent cover art

Midshipman Bolitho

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Midshipman Bolitho

By: Alexander Kent
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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Richard Bolitho - Midshipman

October 1772, Portsmouth. Sixteen-year-old Richard Bolitho waits to join the Gorgon, ordered to sail to the west coast of Africa and to destroy those who challenge the King's Navy. For Bolitho, and for many of the crew, it is a severe and testing initiation into the game of seamanship.

Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger

December 1773, Falmouth. The young Bolitho looks forward to a family Christmas in Cornwall while the Gorgon is refitted. But Cornwall is the treacherous stamping ground of smugglers and wreckers. After the murder of a revenue officer, Bolitho is swept aboard his brother's cutter, Avenger, on a dangerous mission of hide-and-seek.

©1975 Alexander Kent (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Fiction Historical Fiction

Critic reviews

"One of our foremost writers of naval fiction...authentic, inspiring, well-characterised and, finally, moving." ( Sunday Times)
Engaging Adventure • Excellent Character Development • Great Performance • Authentic Historical Setting
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This was a little bit of a disappointment. I would have liked more of a deeper dive into the character development. And the older brother seems to be the best storyline to develop.

Not quite LUCKY JACK

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Loved it. Great narrative. Keeps you wanting to listen to the whole thing at once

Great story

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I look forward to hearing the entire saga. The author and the narrator have done an excellent job of entertaining this reader.

Excellent

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I enjoyed the locales that the story takes place in, Cornwall and Africas west coast. I feel that the proper amount of attention was paid to rope&rigging or sailing lingo. sometimes I get tied up by all the different terms. I thought the narrator could have used a bit more variation between the characters but it was a very strong performance overall.

very enjoyable

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I can sit back and just let the adventure consume my attention. a great tale.

I'm a sailor at heart. loved the adventure.

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The English navy in the late 18th century - this is the beginning of tge Bolitho adventures. Starting as a midshipman this audio book describes two of first adventures (there should have been three in book 1, but oddly the third tale is not here, nor in audio book 2). The tales are full of salt sea, tar and gunpowder, as they should be.

Adventure!!!

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i have read the entire botiho series and listend to it all as well. the way Michael jayston reads the books he brings it alive and makes you feel like your on the poop deck with Richard bolitho.

good beginning

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the two sons of Captain James by lyto home for Christmas. Who'd have thought it would make such a great story!

No High hopes. But boy! Wow good!!

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Alexander Kent writes an engaging tale here. I’m continuously amazed at how some of these authors can weave so much character development into such intimate knowledge of the time periods they write about. Literally like being transported back in time.

Gotta Love the Bolitho tales.

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This is a good story. There was only one problem, somewhere around chapter 12 the narration began to repeat and reread about 4 chapters. The writer did his research. He was very specific about the workings of a ship of the times. However, I found the names of the characters made it difficult to follow the story and thus interfered with the flow. There were new characters introduced later but there was not enough time spent on them and who they were for me to get invested in there purpose. All in all it was a nice short story.

Midshipman Bolitho

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