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David Wesley Hill

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At Drake's Command: The Adventures of Peregrine James During the Second Circumnavigation of the World (The Drake Circumnavigation Book 1) Kindle Edition

by David Wesley Hill (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 123 ratings

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It was as fine a day to be whipped as any he'd ever seen but the good weather didn't make Peregrine James any happier with the situation he was in. Unfairly convicted of a crime he had not committed, the young cook was strung from the whipping post on the Plymouth quayside when he caught the eye of the charismatic sea captain Francis Drake, who agreed to accept Perry among his crew despite the stripes of a thief on his back.

Soon England was receding in their wake and Perry was serving an unsavory collection of sea dogs as the small fleet of fragile wood ships sailed across the deep brine. Their destination was secret, known to Drake alone. Few sailors believed the public avowal that the expedition was headed for Alexandria to trade in currants. Some men suspected Drake planned a raid across Panama to attack the Spanish in the Pacific. Others were sure the real plan was to round the Cape of Storms to break the Portuguese monopoly of the spice trade. The only thing Perry knew for certain was that they were bound for danger and that he must live by his wits if he were to survive serving at Drake's command.

Editorial Reviews

Review

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

Indie Book of the Day -- July 23, 2013

"Readers of nautical fiction shouldn't miss this book." -- Historical Novel Society

"Hill is in good company with C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian." --Los Angeles Maritime Museum Library

"At Drake's Command, by David Wesley Hill, is a godsend to readers ..." --Awesome Indies

"You'll be planning your day around the next opportunity to pick it up again and devour its 424 pages." --The Literate Man

"I highly recommend it." --Historic Naval Fiction

"The best nautical story I have read since I turned the last page of The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey by Patrick O'Brian near a decade ago." --A Fair Substitute for Heaven

About the Author

David Wesley Hill is an award-winning fiction writer with more than thirty stories published in the U.S. and internationally. In 1997 he was presented with the Golden Bridge award at the International Conference on Science Fiction in Beijing, and in 1999 he placed second in the Writers of the Future contest. Most recently, in 2011 Mr. Hill was invited to his third residency at the Blue Mountain Center, a writers and artists retreat in the Adirondacks. Mr. Hill studied under Joseph Heller and Jack Cady and received a Masters degree in creative writing from the City University of New York, as well as the school's highest literary honor, the De Jur Award. At various times he has been an executive chef for major hotels, a management consultant, and a website designer.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00C5PD8WK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Temurlone Press (November 16, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 883 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 426 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,592,489 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,570 in Sea Adventures Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #8,119 in Sea Stories
- #68,461 in Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 123 ratings

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David Wesley Hill

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David Wesley Hill is the author of around forty short stories and a couple novels, including the award-winning nautical adventure, At Drake's Command. Mr. Hill lives in rural North Carolina.

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4.2 out of 5

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Joseph A. Thomasino

Great Start to a Fresh New Series of Sea Stories

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2013

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At Drakes Command appears to be the start of a great new sea adventure series set in the age of fighting sail. What is unique about it in my experience is that it is set at the very beginning of this era whereas most such novels are set much later, usually in American Revolutionary, French Republican or Napoleonic times. Told as a picaresque novel through the eyes of young landsman Peregrine James, it captures Elizabethan England perfectly while giving an exciting and somewhat different view of the English Sea Hawks in general and Sir Francis Drake in well wrought and interesting detail. I found it to be very hard to put down and was most disappointed to learn the next entry in the series is not yet available for purchase. I eagerly await the second and subsequent novels in this fresh new series, and I think any fan of sea stories would as well. I heartily recommend this as a fantastic read, and feel it may become a series to rival all time favorites in this category including the Aubrey-Maturin, Hornblower, and Bolitho novels.

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Marsha Waldman

Seafaring adventure even a landlubber will enjoy

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2013

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Even a landlubber will heartily enjoy the sea-faring adventures of Peregrine James. We first meet Perry in Plymouth, England, about to be flogged for a crime he did not commit. The opening line, "It was as fine a morning to be whipped as any I have ever seen," is typical of the wry humor that threads its way throughout the novel. Young Perry, in search of a better life, begs Francis Drake for a position on board his ship, the Pelican. Thomas Doughty, an authentic historical character who sailed with Drake, recognizes Perry as the cook from a local pub with tasty fare, and encourages Drake to take him on. Perry is told they are in route to Alexandria for trade, but even at the beginning of the journey, there are rumors that their voyage will take them thousands of leagues away from the Old World.

Clearly, the author, David Wesley Hill, has thoroughly researched Drake's circumnavigation of the globe from every angle. The historic characters are painted in vivid detail, so that we encounter Drake as an inspiring leader of men and accomplished pirate, sometimes dressed in a sailor's simple garb, sometimes flourishing velvets and silks. As young Perry learns his way about the ship, training as sailor and soldier, Hill describes every aspect from the sleeping quarters to the cannons, to the rigging, so that even those completely unfamiliar with ships get to vicariously experience life at sea.

Peregrine James is a charming lad, whose earnestness and sincerity constantly lead him into adventure and misadventure. There are pirates and Spaniards, Moors and harems, magicians and hangings to keep you entertained through this fast-paced and often amusing voyage. Frequently, Perry uses his talents as a cook to survive potential disasters, such as "inventing" pepper spray when he is cornered in the ship's hold. Hill is as knowledgeable about cooking as he is about Drake's historic journey and, shall we say, uses this knowledge to add flavor to the story line and character development.

At Drake's Command is the first in a planned series and ends in as literal a cliffhanger as you can imagine. Readers will undoubtedly be clamoring for the sequel.

One person found this helpful

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nyranger

A MUST READ

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2013

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Finally, a novel that captures what it must have been like to be alive in the era of sailing the world in search of treasures of one sought or another. From the beginning, the world of the sailor is intertwined with intrigue and suspense as seen thru a novice sailor cook aboard the ship of Sir Francis Drake.
I was totally enthralled by the detailed description of the ship, crew and commander of the ship and the characters you meet along the way. Not a page goes by whereby you do not feel you are experiencing Peregrine James's adventure yourself. At one point I even felt myself get a little seasick! At Drake's Command: The adventures of Peregrine James during the second circumnavigation of the world (Volume 1)
Do not hesitate to purchase this book as you will not put it down until the last page and asking for more.

5 people found this helpful

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Daran C. Grissom

Excellent Historical Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2013

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I have to say this is one of the best pieces of nautical historical fiction I have read. I wish I could have read this before the C.S. Forester, or Patrick O'Brien novels, not least because the book takes place some three hundred years prior to the Napoleonic Wars. The way in which the technology and terminology are explained to the reader is the best I have ever seen, it would have saved me quite a bit of research regarding the parts of sailing ships, and their function. The research for this book must have taken a long while.

I enjoyed the way in which so many historical personages were represented, it often felt like watching history happen. The action was good, though I felt that much of it lacked immediacy. Also, the main character seemed to follow the same path with every interpersonal relationship.

While I can't say this is as good as a Bernard Cornwell (such high praise is rarely given), I will say that this book is worthy to sit on the shelf alongside the great modern works of historical fiction. I look forward to the next book, and really any book the author cares to write.

9 people found this helpful

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John Hopper

Excellent, humorous novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2014

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This delightful novel tells the story of young Peregrine James, a Plymouth lad who, fleeing from a whipping for a theft he did not commit, is taken on as ship's cook on Sir Francis Drake's ship The Pelican at the start of what later becomes its voyage round the world (though this is not known to anyone on board throughout the novel). He gets into all kinds of scrapes and trouble as they travel on past the Straits of Gibraltar (giving the lie to the voyage's stated purpose of trading in spices in Alexandria), and down along the coast of Africa to the Cape Verde islands, experiencing betrayals, captures and daring escapes, sword fights and doing plenty of cooking along the way, before The Pelican and the Spanish and Portuguese ships it has captured en route set off across the Atlantic at the end of the book. There is a twist in the end for our hero, paving the way for a sequel, which I look forward to reading when it comes out - Perry is a humorous and likeable character, and the rest of the crew and officers from Drake down are all well drawn characters. Excellent stuff.

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Rick K

Interesting and Enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2013

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I really like historical fiction and this book gave me an insight into Francis Drake and the way he ran his ships. This story gave me a very interesting insight into the way ship operated between decks and the men who worked there. The vocabulary is from that era and although it takes a little bit of getting used to it makes for an interesting change. I hate it when reviewers let slip with clues on how the book ends so I'll just say that I got to like young Perry and I'm looking forward to more books of the same genre by this author.

One person found this helpful

MR R G LOGAN

Fantastic. Adventure abounds under Drakes command

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2016

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Loved this book, it reads very easily and moves along at a great pace. Anyone looking for a fun adventure and some insight into the life's of Privateers, Pirates and the like should definitely enjoy this book. Good for teenagers and above

Amazon Customer

great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2013

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really well written, keeps you tied to the book. well worth it. realistic and action packed with historic accuracy and locations.

2 people found this helpful

D.Buttery

Highly readable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2023

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This book is very simply written but that helps make it highly readable along with its fine subject matter as Sir Francis Drake and the other 'Sea Dogs' are extremely interesting.

Wesley Hill has done his research and I often paused to look up certain terms or references to historical incidents, which he has portrayed accurately for the most part. However, the book does contain some anachronisms, such as the repeated use of pepper and herbs in cooking that I doubt Elizabethan seafarers would have due to their rarity and expense. The attitudes and outlook of many of the characters are also more nineteenth century than sixteenth century but that is forgivable as this is a novel rather than a history book.

While some of Peregrine James's adventures are implausible, they make this book a very entertaining read and I enjoyed this novel and recommend it for sheer fun.

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At Drake's Command: The Adventures of Peregrine James During the Second Circumnavigation of the World (The Drake Circumnavigation Book 1) Kindle Edition

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David Wesley Hill

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