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Revision as of 15:31, 20 March 2018
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{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=Blockade Runner
|author=David Kent-Lemon
|reviewer=Ani Johnson
|isbn=978-1781590645
|website=http://www.davidkent-lemon.com
|videocover=1781590648|amazonukaznuk=<amazonuk>1781590648</amazonuk>|amazonusaznus=<amazonus>1781590648</amazonus>
}}
London shipbroker's clerk Tom Wells is hungry for promotion. Seeking responsibility where ever possible he's still unprepared for a proposition from his employer Mr Pembroke. The company is to operate five cargo ships, shuttling between the Bahamas and America's southern states and he wants Tom to be on board as shipping agent; a dangerous enterprise. Why? It's 1861 and the south is at work war with the Yankee north. President Lincoln has blockaded ports like Charleston and Wilmington in the Carolinas in an attempt to prevent revenue-providing cargo leaving or supplies (including uniforms and arms) arriving. Mr Pembroke plans to illegally 'run' the blockade, something not unattractive to Tom partially due to the vastly increased wage attached but mostly because he has a certain interest in a certain American lady.
David Kent-Lemon left his high flying business career to become a historical researcher and novelist but the subject matter for this his first novel arrived serendipitously. The fictitious Tom's employer Edward Pembroke was a real person – the author's great grandfather. He was researching Mr Pembroke for genealogical purposes and discovered that he was the Chairman of the Chamber of Shipping; following this lead uncovered his nefarious blockade running activities. Anyone who was caught alive by Lincoln's navy as it patrolled the ports faced imprisonment and confiscation of their vessel; a quick way to turn riches into ruin. Of course, many didn't survive the initial attack. Out of this amazing piece of family history David Kent-Lemon has produced a book of two interwoven parts as the story unites Tom's high sea and war adventures with Tom's love life. The latter is, perhaps, a little less successfully related than the former.
If you've enjoyed this we recommend [[Soul Catcher by Michael White]]. If, on the other hand, you'd like to compare Mr K-L with Mr C, we suggest [[1356 by Bernard Cornwell]].
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