Richard Bolitho

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Bolitho is a fictional Royal Navy officer who is the main character in a series of novels written by Douglas Reeman (using the pseudonym Alexander Kent).

Bolitho was born in 1756 in Falmouth, England, the second son of a prestigious naval family. He joined the navy in 1768. He served in the wars against France and the United States. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1774, captain in 1782, and admiral in 1800. He died in action against the French in 1815.

Among his fellow officers, Bolitho was known for his tactical ingenuity, his daring, and his disregard of both convention and political expediency. He rose to high rank--despite the opposition of less competent men--because of his ability to win crucial victories against seemingly impossible odds. Among the men of the fleet, Bolitho was known as a demanding but scrupulously fair and humane captain. The men sometimes referred to him, though never to his face, as "Equality Dick." His reputation as a paragon of decency in a brutal world created a fierce sense of loyalty among those who had served under him.

Officers and men who served under Bolitho frequently chose, when given the chance, to do so again. Ships in the squadrons he commanded as a senior officer were frequently commanded by men who had served as his lieutenants when he was a captain. His most lasting relationships were with Thomas Herrick--a fellow officer and his oldest friend--and John Allday, a former Cornish poacher who became Bolitho's coxswain and de facto bodyguard.

Bolitho married twice. His first wife died in a carriage accident. His relationship with the second, the mother of his child, deteriorated when it became clear that she was nothing like the person he thought he married and was a very selfish individual. Estranged from her and his daughter, he carried on an increasingly public affair with Lady Catherine Sommerville, who was his wife in all but name until his death.

In "Enemy In Sight", Bolitho is joined by his nephew Adam Pascoe, who is later renamed Adam Bolitho when he becomes Richard's heir. Adam, the only son of Bolitho's disgraced older brother Hugh, was born in 1780 in Penzance, Cornwall, shortly after his father joined the revolution in America. Having been sent to Richard at the age of 14 by his dying mother, he joined the Royal Navy, rising through the ranks to establish himself as a daring and resourceful frigate captain, as his uncle had once done.

Adam's role in the series steadily increases as Richard ages and achieves high rank. After Richard's death, he becomes the principal character in the series.

Books in series order by the year they are set in (with year published):

1. 1772 - Richard Bolitho, Midshipman (1975)
2. 1773 - Midshipman Bolitho and the 'Avenger' (1978)
3. 1774 - Band Of Brothers (2006)
4. 1774 - Stand Into Danger (1980)
5. 1777 - In Gallant Company (1977)
6. 1778 - Sloop Of War (1972)
7. 1782 - To Glory We Steer (1968)
8. 1784 - Command a King's Ship (1973)
9. 1789 - Passage To Mutiny (1976)
10. 1792 - With All Despatch (1988)
11. 1793 - Form Line of Battle! (1969)
12. 1794 - Enemy In Sight! (1970)
13. 1797 - Flag Captain (1971)
14. 1798 - Signal - Close Action! (1974)
15. 1800 - The Inshore Squadron (1977)
16. 1801 - A Tradition Of Victory (1981)
17. 1802 - Success To The Brave (1983)
18. 1803 - Colours Aloft! (1986)
19. 1804 - Honour This Day (1987)
20. 1806 - The Only Victor (1990)
21. 1808 - Beyond The Reef (1992)
22. 1809 - The Darkening Sea (1993)
23. 1811 - For My Country's Freedom (1995)
24. 1813 - Cross Of St. George (1996)
25. 1814 - Sword of Honour (1998)
26. 1815 - Second to None (1999)
27. 1815 - Relentless Pursuit (2001)
28. 1817 - Man of War (2003)
29. 1818 - Heart of Oak (2007 forthcoming)

There were also some omnibus editions which collected several books from the series into one volume

1. Midshipman Bolitho - contains Richard Bolitho, Midshipman and Midshipman Bolitho and the 'Avenger'
2. Captain Richard Bolitho, RN - contains To Glory We Steer, Sloop Of War, and Command a King's Ship
3. Bolitho - contains With All Despatch, Honour This Day, and The Only Victor