Showell Styles (1908-2005), who was a RNR Lt. Commander WW II, has written factual books about mountaineering. He is also a prolific fiction writer with many of his novels set in the age of sail. He has written two series, one about Michael Fitton and one (for young adults) about Septimus Quinn. Many of his stand alone novels, which are listed below are fictionalised accounts of actual well known figures from the history of the Royal Navy.
The Michael Fitton Series is based on the real exploits of Naval officer Fitton who was overlooked for promotion. It has been out of print but is currently being republished by Faber & Faber. I have attempted to put the series in order based on the descriptions. The Septimus Quinn series is currently out of print but it is believed to be for young adults. I have again attempted to put the series in order.
Age of Sail: Fiction
AOS Naval Fiction |
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| Series: Michael Fitton | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| Mr Fitton's Prize | Michael Fitton joins the HMS Fortitude as master's mate | |
| 1797 | Mr Fitton & the Black Legion | 1400 of the French army have landed on the Pembroke coast |
| Mr Fitton in Command | Fitton is in command of Courier's few survivors | |
| The 12 Gun Cutter | Michael Fitton falls in love at first sight with the armed cutter Snipe | |
| 1799 | A Sword for Mr Fitton | Michael Fitton joins the crew of the HMS Abergavenny as acting-lieutenant |
| 1803 | Mr Fitton's Commission | Fitton is disappointed when he is sent back to the West Indies and placed in command of the schooner Gipsy |
| Lieutenant Fitton | Now a Lieutenant Fitton in command of Gipsy is capturing enemy privateers who disrupt Caribbean trade | |
| Mr Fitton at the Helm | A second officer assigned to Gipsy becomes a thorn in Mr Fitton's side | |
| The Martinique Mission | Fitton hauls down Gipsy's colours with his ship lying helpless under the guns of Fort de France | |
| Mr Fitton's Hurricane | Lieutenant Fitton, commanding Gipsy, encounters a hurricane which brings unexpected dangers and problems. | |
| The Baltic Convoy | Fitton is now in command of the gun-brig Cracker and has sailed to the Baltic | |
| Gun Brig Captain | Fitton and Cracker confront the American privateer Lexington | |
| 1815 | A Ship for Mr Fitton | Finding shore-life difficult Fitton accepts command of a ship embarking on a mysterious expedition to Marseilles |
| Series: Septimus Quinn | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| Midshipman Quinn | Quinn makes his mark aboard HMS Althea in spite of his spectacles. | |
| Quinn of the Fury | Captain Sainsbury puts Quinn in command of a captured brig with a cargo of foul-smelling undressed hides. | |
| 1804 | Midshipman Quinn and Denise the Spy aka Midshipman Quinn Wins Through | Quinn, aboard the Lively, participates in the The Battle of Cape Santa Maria |
| 1805 | Quinn at Trafalgar | Midshipman Quinn is at the Battle of Trafalgar |
| Omnibus editions | ||
| The Midshipman Quinn Collection | Midshipman Quinn, Quinn of the Fury, Midshipman Quinn and Denise the Spy, Quinn at Trafalgar | |
| Series: n/a | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| Nelson's Midshipman | A fictionalised account of Sir William Hoste's naval career | |
| The Admiral's Fancy | Fictionalized biography of Ben Hallowell | |
| Mr Nelson's Ladies | The female acquaintances of Horatio Nelson before his marriage | |
| 1707 | Admiral of England | About Admiral Sir Clowdsley Shovell |
| Number Two-Ninety (or Confederate Raider) |
A fictionalised account of the the Confederate raider Alabama. | |
| 1797 | Sea Road to Camperdown | About Admiral Duncan |
| Vincey Joe at Quiberon | Novel based on the brig HMS Vencejo | |
| The Sea Officer | Sir Edward Pellew's command of HMS Indefatigable | |
| The Frigate Captain (or The Sea Lord) |
The life of Thomas Lord Cochrane | |
| 1798- 1800 |
The Malta Frigate | Malta's bid to rid itself of the occupying French |
| The Independent Cruise | His Majesty's brig-sloop Chance fights a duel at Gibraltar | |
| Mutiny in the Caribbean | (No information is available about this novel but may be about the mutiny aboard HMS Hermione) | |
| Centurion Comes Home | A novel about the round the world voyage of Anson | |
| Seven Gun Broadside | William Wooldrige was facing a court martial for the loss of his sloop | |
| 1813 | HMS Cracker | HMS Cracker must protect convoys supplying Wellington |
| 1810 | The Lee Shore | Ring's knowledge of French was to lead him into a world of espionage and adventure. |
| 1804 | HMS Diamond Rock | A novel based on the occupation of the Rocher du Diamant in 1804. |
| The Quarterdeck Ladder | Jeremiah Coghlan's meteoric rise from ship's boy to Post Captain | |
| A Kiss for Captain Hardy | A fictionalised biography of Thomas Masterman Hardy. | |
| Wolfe Commands You | A story of the life of General James Wolfe including the taking of Quebec. | |
| Nelson Made Me | (No information is available about this novel) | |
| Land From the Sea | (No information is available about this novel) | |
| Stella and the Fireships | William Bissell is in charge of fireships and explosion-vessels under Cochrane at the attack on Aix Roads | |
| Path to Glory | (No information is available about this novel although the short story Siege of Toulon is an extract) | |
| 1793 | Siege of Toulon | The exploits of Sir Sidney Smith at the Siege of Toulon (A short story that appears in ‘The Mammoth Book of Men of War') |
Modern Era: Fiction
Modern Era Naval Fiction |
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| Series: n/a | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| WWII | Indestructable Jones | A nineteen-year-old pacifist becomes an officer in the British Navy |
| WWII | Jones' Private Navy | no description available but may be a sequel to Indestructable Jones |