shyboy85

Hope our beloved author finds time to finish this tale.... your missed, Graeme!

Knowing Mark, and trusting you to know the history of "turning a blind eye", I'm very surprised as well!

As much as I would have liked to see George in the thick of things in the Battle of Copenhagen, you gave us an expert view of his political and naval astuteness. Thanks!

He needs to get moving, lol. Just days until The Battle of Copenhagen!🤪 Joking aside: love your writing!

I especially love that, even if we KNOW Granger will be at the Battle of Copenhagen, you write about his predicament so realistically, we're all wondering whether he won't spend his remaining days languishing in a Russian Gulag.

"He was already in Spencer’s good graces, and in any event, he wasn’t even sure if Spencer was still the First Lord." Interesting comment. Will it be St Vincent yet when he returns to England?

Granger being set up for Captain of the Fleet at the battle of Copenhagen?

Except that the Tsar is dead in 3 months.

Great book! At times a confusing way to narrate the story, bouncing from the distant past, to the first ending of the war. Should we assume Grim to be the main narrator of book 5, given his being portrayed as the cynic in this book?

Great chapter! (And actually chapter 25, contrary to AwesomeDude's🙈)

Thanks for our Bridgemont fix! I've been reading up on British naval history. I don't think I'm spoiling too much if I say I wish the story skips quickly to 6 months from now!

Rereading this great novel, I'm seeing more and more how dreadful I was as a commenter, for which I give you my apologies. In that light, it may seem harsh to comment in the fashion I'm about to do, but it's the way I feel about your writing. Firstly, your work has taught me loads about your country in general, and your upbringing in the Midwest specifically. That being said, as a European, I'm wont to have a sceptical view on some of the views on politics displayed, even by self avowed Democrats in your story. Take the quote below for instance. "“No offense, Mr. Kramer,” he began, “but this country has a long tradition of protecting its minorities. That’s why we established a Bill of Rights before the Constitution was even ratified in the first place. I think that’s one of the most important concepts of American democracy that makes it so unique. We can’t simply dissolve our government on a whim as they can in Canada, Great Britain or France. The majority cannot vote to oppress minorities as it sees fit. Not that it doesn’t happen and that it hasn’t happened in the past, but legal discrimination against minorities is very difficult to implement, it requires greater than a majority vote . . . in many cases, it requires a vote of three-quarters of all states, and it must be done in broad daylight for all to see." There's an upcoming further instance, where a US centric world view seems to creep into the story. I'm mindful that the mixed bag of Republican and Democrat ideas as David takes them, are more prevalent in the population at large, but this quote above is disturbingly inaccurate. If not in the relative ease of dissolving parliament in said European democracies (and the Commonwealth derivative Canada), then in the complete lack of any mention that the Senate Majority leader (not a super majority, or even a majority, or God forbid a plurality, ONE man!) has the power to stop any and all legislation, including those preventing legal discrimination. There's much to say for the level of democracy found in the US, but it's not the heaven David makes it out to be. Having read the story in full several times already, without spoiling anything, I can tell that David actually believes this, and it's not merely youthful ignorance of the way the world works.

Caroline shows her lack of understanding of the society she lives in, like I commented recently on a prior chapter. Having the gall to call out George,, for incomparable faults. It's an interesting look into British aristocracy, since I can well imagine many women thinking the same, but to have a woman of her station so overtly oppose her husband, seems a bit far fetched. Caroline is an intelligent woman, that knows how to conduct her in the political trenches connected to her station, but she has NO idea how to conduct her in a patriarchy of the level of that age.

Rather, I think that deep down she doesn't grasp the requirements of her station. Sure, she's politically astute, charming in high society surroundings, but she is too much a free spirit in a strictly patriarchal society like the 18th and 19th century British aristocracy.

Uhm, Caroline has done nothing but hold grudges up until this carriage ride. She even had the gall to feel herself offended when George ordered her to Brentwood, after the conception of Elizabeth. In an era noted for patriarchy she felt she had the right to go to Spencer directly. Do I need to go on? I'm surprised Heathford was as hard a deal maker in arranging her marriage as he was portrayed to be, as in the entire story you have to question whether or not Caroline understands her place in society. She'd be more properly married off to a merchant.