This middle volume of the William Kite series is actually the first of the trilogy that I have read, but I am compelled to read the rest. This narrative is quite different than your run-of-the-mill sea fiction in that it treats a civilian's perspective of the war at sea and charts the development of the protagonist from isolated merchant skipper to a driven privateersman. It is particularly noteworthy in two respects--Kite is very much a real person and does not suffer from an incredible/implausible list of infallibly heroic traits--Kite sees the American "patriots" in a strikingly de-mystifying way.The book's style is influenced by Victorian writers in general. I sniffed a particularly strong dose of Dickens, which is, of course, a good thing. Highly recommended for those interested in a meaty read before the fireplace.