THE FIRST BOOK IN THE LEGENDARY SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER JULIAN STOCKWIN. PRAISE FOR THE KYDD NOVELS????? 'A true master of the art' ????? 'The very best of historical nautical fiction' ????? 'Stockwin is a historical genius'????? 'As a retired Royal Navy sailor, I am overwhelmed at the detailed excellence of this author' Perfect for fans of C.S.Forester, Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and anyone who loves a gripping adventure on the high seas.Thomas Paine Kydd, a young wig-maker from Guildford, is seized by the press gang to be a part of the crew of the 98-gun battle ship HMS Royal William. The ship sails immediately, and Kydd has to come to terms with the harsh realities of shipboard life without delay. Through the furore of naval battle and the dangerous thrills of life aboard ship, he will quickly come to respect the courage of his fellow sailors.So begins his iconic journey... from lowly deckhand to legendary admiral of the British Navy.