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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9781581826098
ISBN number: 1581826095
Label: Cumberland House Publishing
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 416
Printing Date: October 01, 2007
Publishing house: Cumberland House Publishing
Sale Popularity Level: 260159
Studio: Cumberland House Publishing
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The very first volume in a series of maritime novels set in the early years of the United States, A Matter of Honor is a dramatic account of a young man's coming of age during the American Revolution. Introducing Richard Cutler, a Massachusetts teenager with strong family ties to England, the novel tells his story as he ships out with John Paul Jones to avenge the death of his beloved brother Will, impressed by the Royal Navy and flogged to death for striking an officer. On the high seas, in England and in France, on the sugar islands of the Caribbean, and on the battlefield of Yorktown, Cutler proves his mettle and wins the love - and allegiance to the infant republic - of a beautiful English aristocrat from the arms of Horatio Nelson himself.
First as a midshipman aboard Ranger, then as a lieutenant aboard Bonhomme Richard, Cutler plays a critical role in such events as the sea battle with HMS Drake off the coast of Ireland, Ben Franklin's negotiations with the French in Paris, and the raid of American marines on the English seaport of Whitehaven, and the famous battle with HMS Serapis in the North Sea. From Europe he sails with his bride to the West Indies, where the real war is being fought by England against her ancient enemies, France and Spain, for control of the lucrative sugar trade. From Tobago, where his family owns a plantation, Cutler joins the great French fleet under Admiral de Grasse and sails to Yorktown, there to meet his fate. For him, it is a matter of honor.
A Matter of Honor is deeply researched and eloquently told. Sailors and historians will appreciate the author's attention to maritime detail, vivid sailing scenes, and dramatic battles. Filled with fresh insights on how a weak and disunited America was able to prevail against the world's most powerful nation, the story is told from several points of view. Within its pages are romance and relationships, complicated responsibilities, and ties involving a family that spans both sides of the Atlantic and both sides of the war. Fans of historical and nautical fiction will want to follow the adventures of Richard Cutler in this novel and in subsequent volumes in the series.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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Having read all the O'Brian and Forrester naval series, I think this one compares more closely to the Hornblower series. The story moves quickly, entertains throughout, and develops characters well without bogging down in too many details. The plot is faily simple, no surprising twists or turns, but it is enjoyable. There is a hint of humor, plenty of historcal accuracy, and the action holds interest. I believe the character (Richard Cutler) stands to impress the reader even more as he moves along in future books to take on greater roles of responsiblity. My only negative would be the story ends rather suddenly.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book (read it in five days) and recommend it to fans of the naval, historical fiction genre.
Rated by buyers 
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A merchant's son with a love for the sea participates in some of the Revolutionary War's naval events makes up Hammond's very first novel.
The story starts out with the sails full but half way through it loses the wind.
Heavy use of nautical terms makes for a hard read for landlubbers.
I found that a little more use of diagrams and maps of battles would have made for a better understanding.
I thought the last quarter of the book was flat.
A nautical person may like the book but for me it was just ok.
Rated by buyers -
He's not Hornblower
He's not Jack Aubrey
He's not Bolitho or Ramage or Lewrie
Cutler, our hero in this story is just plain not...
Not heroic or exciting. He is wordy and he is so fortunate as to meet and be a part to great events. He meets and has intimate dialogue with John Paul Jones and gets to become a worthy companion so as to get to the French Court and meet notables there. He has strong ties to England so he can do a turn there and meet Nelson. (Both sides of our heroes bread is buttered it would seem.)
He witnesses the end of the war of the revolution. As an American, since we won't have another war until 1812 (30 years later) perhaps we will be spared seeing him again. Since 50 is the now 80's what with medicine and the hardships of life in the late 1700's... Something tells me though that every little provocation that the US is involved in will have this hero, or his descendents involved.
The author ruins a good read with too many coincidences of being involved in the great events of the day. Then making our lowly midshipman capable of giving long paragraphs of what should be short dialogue. The genre that so many worthy others have tackled has more adventure and less preaching by the protaganist to establish their characters. More show, less tell perhaps is the rule.
The hero is supposedly going to war over the death of an elder brother but there seems little emotion over that except as the briefest overlay. He falls for a daughter of a British Post Captain in the course of a few weeks one summer while in his early teens. That daughter can turn her back on Sovereign England for the cause of the Rebels just because they are so in love.
Just can't believe it. Which further makes our hero that much harder to accept. Cutler the hero is too much favored by providecne to be believable and thus the whole tale is weakened by it.
Rated by buyers -
A gripping story, exceptionally well told, with historical sweep and detail. Intrigue, vendettas, battles on sea and land with hand-to-hand combat, steamy (but wholesome!) sex, clever dialogue, lovely word-painting of rural scenes. I hope he keeps writing.
Rated by buyers 
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I read a lot of historical fiction as well as non-fiction history books, but I have never read fiction about naval history unless you count SHARPE'S TRAFALGAR by Bernard Cornwell. While A MATTER OF HONOR did not convert me to this sub-genre, it's an intriguing story with the bold escapades of naval war hero John Paul Jones serving as a backdrop. It covers the years 1777 to 1781 with glimpses into the early Revolutionary War years, 1774-1776.
The hero, Richard Cutler, who lost an older brother he admired to the overzealous and cruel punitive practices of the British navy, joins the newly instituted U.S. navy under the command of JP Jones. His very first adventure involves a bold strategy to attack the British navy in British waters. Events that happen here shape the immediate future for our hero.
Readers should keep in mind Cutler's age - 17 in 1777, as some of his daydreams might otherwise seem unlikely. I also had some trouble with his competence at such a young age, but his family did own merchant ships.
As the title indicates, this is a story about honor and courage. At times, though, Cutler's actions seem too incredible and over-the-top - like a Hollywood treatment of the story. Also, the scenes outside the naval adventure read more slowly for me.
Overall, I think the book is a very good very first novel. Fans of naval fiction with history as context, rather than content, should enjoy it.
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