With a Favouring Wind

Undoubtedly most impressive and what a story!

The book is particularly well presented. The time line is a useful adjunct to the index - something other biographers might usefully adopt.

An interesting cruise through 18th and 19th century naval history.

It is so engaging for both its historical meaning and narrative quality; every time I have to stop reading it I find myself eager to know what happened to our heroes next.

I had been reading Patrick O'Brian's 'Mauritius Command' before I read 'With a Following Wind' and realised that PO'B had merely substituted Jack Aubrey for Josias Rowley!

On the train back last night I read the whole section on William Rowley. I wasn't sure what to expect as it isn't a topic I would ordinarily read about, but I found it to be very interesting and easy to read. The author has done a very good job in creating a sense of interest and telling the story and I found that I could almost picture the character in my head dashing around the Mediterranean on exciting adventures.

It is written in a way that is easy to read and I enjoyed it, as well as feeling much better informed about the realities of naval life at the time.