The Iberian Flame

Thomas Kydd 20

By: Julian Stockwin

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

'In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world' - Guardian

1808. With the Peninsula in turmoil, Napoleon Bonaparte signs a treaty to dismember Portugal and put his brother, Joseph, on the throne of Spain.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Renzi, the Lord Farndon, undertakes a deadly mission to stir up partisan unrest to disrupt this Napoleonic alliance with Spain.

Thrust into the crucible of the uprising, Captain Sir Thomas Kydd is dismayed to come up against an old foe from his past - now his superior and commander - who is determined to break him. Kydd will soon face the greatest decision of his professional career.

Bonaparte, incensed by the reverses suffered to his honour, gathers together a crushing force and marches at speed into Spain. After several bloody encounters the greatly outnumbered British expedition have no option other than make a fighting retreat to the coast. Only the Navy can save them.

But the flame of insurrection has been lit - and the Peninsular War has begun.

(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Critic reviews

A stirring tale that grips the reader from the opening pages, holding the attention to the end

The novel's prose is fast paced and engaging . . . Stockwin's considerable experience of the Navy shines through to provide informative and shrewd observations throughout. There is so much here for those who are fans of seafaring adventures, but also an excellently sustained sense of the history, politically and socially, of the period. A highly recommended swashbuckler of a novel

Another great book . By one of the best authors this genera.

This is another gripping tale of the napoleonic wars as experienced by Thomas kydd . Narrated by the master of the spoken book C Rodska.

Great story and book

Very well put together yarn of the French resurgence in Spain. Avoids the “Nelsonesque” intrigues with the opposite sex and does not over tell the story.

Magnificent

Magnificent and glory - filled to the last line. Not to be missed! Relished it!

So frustrated with this author

Almost ready to quit the story of Thomas Kydd. there were chapters I skipped, there were passages I just fast forwarded through.

I'm a devotee of this type of naval fiction, and there are some traits of this author I can't stand. I loved Kydd to start with, but he's become an idiot.

SPOILER: When he burned the mercury ship, I was yelling for his superiors to relive him of duty for being an idiot.

At times the story was so slow, I skipped chapters just to relieve myself of the tedium of Stockwin's style. I'm looking for a new story to follow if this next book is as bad as this one.

Mediocre Story, Mediocre Story Telling

I have been a fan of the Thomas Kydd but this book just seemed very shoddily put together. And after listening to narrators like Nick Podehl, Tim Gerard Reynolds, John Lee and William Dufris - Christian Rodska just sounds below average.