Alexander Kent (a pen name of Douglas Reeman) wrote this series about Richard Bolitho and his family. Later books in the series (set after his death) are based on his nephew Adam Bolitho. It is probably the longest running series in the genre at the present time.
We are taken through the history of "Nelson's Navy" from before the American War of Independence to after the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
AOS Naval Fiction |
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| Series: Bolitho | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| 1756 | Born in Falmouth, Son of Captain James Bolitho, Elder Brother Hugh | |
| 1768 | Joins Royal Navy as a Midshipman aboard Manxman | |
| 1772 | Richard Bolitho-Midshipman | Serves as a Midshipman aboard Gorgon |
| 1773 | Midshipman Bolitho & the Avenger | With Gorgon refitting Richard serves on a cutter commanded by his brother Hugh, Avenger |
| 1774 | Band of Brothers | Passes examination for Lieutenant and is assigned to the crew taking Hotspur to Guernsey |
| 1774 | Stand into Danger | Promoted Lieutenant Richard joins the frigate Destiny. He meets the man, Stockdale, who will become his first coxswain. The ship travels to Rio & the Caribbean & he is severely wounded whilst with a watering party on a remote Island |
| 1775 | Joins the Trojan | |
| 1777 | In Gallant Company | Trojan sails for New York & the American War of Independence, As war takes it's toll amongst the other officers he gains seniority and is eventually given the independent command of a prize. |
| 1778 | Sloop of War | Promoted to Commander & given command of the sloop Sparrow Richard continues to fight the Americans. |
| 1780 | Adam, illegitimate son of Hugh Bolitho and Kerenza Pascoe, is born | |
| 1782 | To Glory we Steer | Promoted to Captain & given the frigate Phalarope Richard again returns to the fight against the Americans & French in the West Indies. After a near mutiny takes part in the Battle of the Saints |
| 1784 | Command a King’s Ship | With the war over Richard is given Undine and sent to the far east in support of a new colony |
| 1787 | Appointed to command Tempest | |
| 1789 | Passage to Mutiny | In command of Tempest amongst the pacific islands Richard fights pirates until he is laid low by fever |
| 1792 | With all Despatch | Still recovering from fever and with war breaking out again Richard commands some cutters at the Nore and takes on local Brotherhood in the Medway |
| 1793 | Form Line of Battle | Richard gets command of his first Ship of the Line Hyperion & is sent to the Mediterranean |
| 1794 | Enemy in Sight | The French are chased across the Atlantic to the West Indies & back again. Adam Bolitho joins the Navy and Richard’s ship. |
| 1795 | Promoted to Flag Captain & given command of 3 decker Euryalus | |
| 1797 | The Flag Captain | After putting down a mutiny on another ship Richard’s squadron goes to the Mediterranean |
| 1798 | Signal Close Action | Appointed Commodore Richard is given a squadron & sent to the Mediterranean where he takes a part in the Battle of the Nile |
| Homecoming | Richard returns to England after the Battle of the Nile (Short Story) | |
| 1800 | The Inshore Squadron | Promoted Rear-Admiral Richard is sent to the Baltic & the Battle of Copenhagen |
| 1801 | A Tradition of Victory | Richard is shipwrecked and taken prisoner in the Bay of Biscay |
| 1802 | Success to the Brave | With the Peace of Amiens signed Richard is promoted Vice-Admiral & is sent to the West Indies |
| 1803 | Colours Aloft | With the peace over Richard is posted to the Mediterranean |
| 1804 | Honour this Day | Richard hoists his flag in his old ship Hyperion & sails for the Caribbean |
| 1805 | Battle of Trafalgar | |
| 1806 | The Only Victor | Sir Richard is sent to South Africa and then the second Battle of Copenhagen |
| 1808 | Beyond the Reef | Returning to South Africa Sir Richard is shipwrecked |
| 1809 | The Darkening Sea | Sir Richard takes part in the Mauritius campaign |
| 1811 | For My Country's Freedom | Promoted full Admiral Sir Richard is sent to take part in the Second American War |
| 1813 | Cross of St. George | Sir Richard takes part in the defence of Canada |
| 1814 | Sword of Honour | Sir Richard Bolitho is sent to the Mediterranean |
| 1815 | Sir Richard Bolitho is killed in action aboard his flagship Frobisher | |
| 1815 | Second to None | Captain Adam Bolitho takes over where his uncle left off & returns to the Mediterranean in Unrivalled |
| 1815 | Relentless Pursuit | Adam Bolitho combats the slave trade |
| 1817 | Man of War | Adam Bolitho is Flag Captain of Athena in the Caribbean. |
| 1818 | Heart of Oak | Given command of the Frigate Onward Adam Bolitho joins a French Frigate to suppress North Africa |
| 1819 | In the King’s Name |
Adam is sent on an urgent but risky mission to make a fast passage to Freetown, West Africa, with secret orders. |
| Omnibus editions | ||
| Midshipman Bolitho | Richard Bolitho-Midshipman, Midshipman Bolitho & the Avenger | |
| The Complete Midshipman Bolitho | Richard Bolitho-Midshipman, Midshipman Bolitho & the Avenger, Band of Brothers | |
| Captain Richard Bolitho, R.N. | Sloop of War, To Glory we Steer, Command a King's Ship | |
| Bolitho | With All Despatch, Honour This Day, The Only Victor | |
The author’s official web site is douglasreeman.com