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  • By the Mast Divided

  • John Pearce, Book 1
  • By: David Donachie
  • Narrated by: Peter Wickham
  • Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (120 ratings)

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By the Mast Divided

By: David Donachie
Narrated by: Peter Wickham
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Summary

London: 1793. Young firebrand John Pearce, on the run from the authorities, is illegally press-ganged from the Pelican tavern into brutal life aboard HMS Brilliant, a frigate on her way to war. In the first few days, Pearce discovers the Navy is a world in which he can prosper. And he is not alone; he is drawn to a group of men who eventually form an exclusive gun crew, the Pelicans, with Pearce their elected leader. During an action-packed two weeks, as HMS Brilliant chases a French privateer across the English Channel, these disparate men form friendships that will last a lifetime.
©2004 David Donachie (P)2007 Soundings
Fiction Historical Fiction Sea Adventures War & Military Adventure War
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What listeners say about By the Mast Divided

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Profile Image for KAH

Great story

Loved this reading from the first word. Scene is set. Heroes and Villains named. Looking forward to book 2

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for C.*.B

great first book

a good story. well read. characters well developed. looking forward to the next one. I didn't think it was overly detailed as some commented.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Richard K.

Great listen, gripping tale.

A good tale, accurate and interesting sailing. As an avid O’Brien fan I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Steen

Like Dudley Pope and Ellis K. Meacham

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If your like navy novels from the Naboleon time and if your liked Dudley Pope and Ellis K. Meacham you will like this serie.

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1 person found this helpful

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Profile Image for Joseph connolly

Good read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Don't worry we've saved the information from the last screen. If you decide to go back just click this button.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for robert

Author has passed away leaving story unfinished

Author has sadly passed away leaving the story unfinished. Have been listening for over a year. While this is sad, I would have not committed the time or money into this story

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Phil

Becalmed!

It's hard to assess this book. I knew it would be well read as I've previously bought a couple of Kate Ellis audiobooks and enjoyed Peter Wickham's narration. By The Mast Divided is clearly well researched with painstaking attention to detail. The problem I found is that the descriptions of activities and the development of the characters are done so thoroughly that it takes most of the pace out of the story. Almost all of part one - just over seven hours of listening - is over and all we've done is get the main characters pressed into naval service and leaving English shores. I feel a bit of a misery criticising the book because the quality of the writing is very good. However, I found myself 'tuning out' for a few minutes, then paying attention again and finding I hadn't missed much! On the basis of this, I much prefer Bernard Cornwell to David Donachie when we're fighting the French and the officer classes!

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4 people found this helpful