Every week Julian receives many emails and letters from readers across the globe about his books and the world of Thomas Kydd. We’d love to hear from you! Send your contributions to Julian Stockwin marked “Readers’ Letters” – or via snailmail to Julian Stockwin, c/o Anne Clarke, Hodder & Stoughton, 338 Euston Rd, London NW1 3BH, UK

Bringing us authentic seafaring in the great days of sail!
I feel very privileged to have been "in at the beginning" as my wife purchased for me the first book in the series, Kydd. I now have a signed first edition of every title. This provides the opportunity to enjoy re-reading earlier episodes in Kydd's naval career and to re-visit some of wealth of sea-going detail which you provide as well as recall Kydd's own psychology as he achieves each "step" in the navy.

I have just finished a re-read of Seaflower and was riveted by the description of the storm on Trajan and the skillful use of a "club haul" to escape the perilous situation of a lee shore. Here you have bought to our attention a very pertinent aspect of the risks and the fears of the officers and men. Being at sea is a relatively safe form of transport today. We therefore tend to think that the main hazard in the minds of the officers and men in Kydd's time would be violent action against the enemy - seeing, and perhaps being a victim, of the carnage when a 32lb ball crashes through the ship and causes death and horrendous injuries, or ruthless hand-to-hand fighting when boarding an enemy ship.

In fact much bigger risks were disease or the sea itself... I've read that the Royal Navy lost 1,875 men killed in the major and minor battles and engagements of its fleets and squadrons during the wars of that time. During the same period it seemed 13,600 died in ships lost by accident or to the weather, and a much greater number from disease or accident on board. The Officers and men must have been aware of the various risks they faced and therefore in much greater apprehension of being in a hurricane than facing enemy fire or a boarding party. I feel that you brilliantly portray this in the storm which Kydd and his shipmates faced on board Trajan. Just one example of how you use your fictional characters to bring us the authentic aspects of seafaring in the great age of fighting sail!

– Austin Hawkins, UK

At last, an Old Salt who knew what he was writing about!
It was with the greatest degree of satisfaction that I have just finished reading the first eight of your Kydd series of novels. I received your first book Kydd from my cousin when sailing in the Caribbean. I read it twice – at last here was an Old Salt who knew what he was writing about!

Like yourself I am an ex "Inde" lad. Worked my way up to Petty Officer Boy before joining the Stag Line of cargo ships. I was a leading side drummer in the band – don’t miss the rowing up the Menai Straits before breakfast, that’s for sure...

My cousin was also at sea and trained as an engineer on the oil tankers. We both now await each new Kydd novel.

I have just completed Admiral's Daughter and will be pounding on the bookshop door for the following titles!

– Byron Ferguson, Canada

I didn’t think there was anything left to say about the age of sail...
I live in Halfmoon Bay which is on the West Coast of Canada about 80 kilometres west of Vancouver, B.C. I look due south over the Gulf of Georgia towards Nanaimo 24 kilometres away. I grew up on the water and continue sailing today.

I thought I had read every sea story that had been written and didn’t think there was anything left to say about the age of sail. I returned from wintering in the southern desert about a month ago and discovered your books in the local book shop. I am just starting my fifth one now! The shop owner has had to order more copies as the word is spreading. I appreciate the dialogue of the characters and the detail of the sailing terminology. I also like the little twists in the plot. I find myself turning a page and giving a little grunt as I am surprised yet again.

Thank you for your tremendous efforts in producing these books.

ps. I just realised that I am 66 years old and this is the first “fan” letter I have ever written.

– Ron Breadner, Canada

You are still catching me out!
Although I actually joined the RAF, being raised and educated in Plymouth, I grew up with the Navy, and also recognise many of the place-names that appear in your stories, having, in my youth, cycled all over Devon and Cornwall.

As a student of the English language, I’ve really enjoyed your "reported speech"; it is obvious that a great deal of research has gone into that aspect of the writing. It has long been my practice to collect old English Language dictionaries, and some of my collection go back to the middle of the nineteenth century. I also draw heavily upon the Penguin Dictionary of Historical Slang, but, even with all all these resources, you are still catching me out! More strength to your highly entertaining pen...............

– Phillip Stephens, UK

Two bottles of Lord Adm. Nelson...
I always have to reread your books as I go through them so fast I miss some of your wonderful research. Case in point, I just reread Tenacious and Kydd’s encounter with Port Mahon gin. My encounter was in 1969 when I was Weapons officer on the USS Fiske and we were granted a port visit to what I consider the most beautiful port in the Med – Port Mahon. According to the squadron staff we were granted this privilege due to the fact that the Fiske had the lowest VD rate in the Med. (probably as we had not yet made a port visit to Naples).

While tied up at the pier I could smell gin on the land breeze. That afternoon I found a tiny gin distillery right on the shore about a quarter mile from the ship that was making gin from the recipe of the Royal Navy of Kydd’s time. I gleefully bought two bottles of "Lord Adm. Nelson" gin and armed with a bottle of dry vermouth, olives and ICE (not a Brit, ya know) sat on the end of the pier with the Chief Engineer to make our martinis. What a shock. I thought I was poisoned. All I can say is if the Royal Navy could drink that stuff they could easily stand up to a broadside from a ship of the line.

– Jeff Longshaw, USA

Silver Rocket up the Charts...
Firstly, I would like to thank your wife for getting you to write, so the multitudes could enjoy your work! Personally, I would like to thank you for bringing alive the Napoleonic naval and shore life of that period! I have read a couple of biographies on Lord Nelson and Lord Cochrane and I am excited about your new book Victory! I have read the complete series of Patrick O’Brian as well as Bernard Cornwell Sharpe series and have an extensive home library. I must say historic fiction is one of my favorites and will confess that I have devoured your series over the last two months, I couldn’t put them down! Yes, Kydd is certainly a superstar and rode a silver rocket up the charts to safely distinguish himself in the company of Jack Aubrey! I’m eager to see where it all goes with Kydd and can’t wait for Victory and hopefully more exciting books to follow. You are a master at bringing the sea alive in all its moods, and at times I can taste or smell the moment. There is something majestic of that period in time. I think from my former policing background I like that – there was honour and a code of conduct with acceptable behavior in society that unfortunately appears to be somewhat eroded in today's society.

Oh, by the way, my family loves the sea, my wife Janet sailed on HM Bark Endeavour as a hand on the trip and they encountered 3 days of force 11 weather with "Greenies" washing the deck! I could just imagine what it would have been like back in Kydd’s time! Janet and I sailed the west coast of Tasmania together in a Farr 45 back to Melbourne doing a delivery on a Hobart yacht race. We encountered a 10 metre swell across Bass Strait and up to 30 to 35 knots at one time along the west coast. That would be nothing to what you have experienced but it certainly ignited my flame for the sailing! I actually want to sail around the world with Janet when we retire in a 35ft to 40ft steel yacht!

I have a six-month-old son, Jake Wellington, and I plan to introduce him to the joys of reading from an early age by reading the Kydd books to him in a few years' time...

– Ken Leacy, Australia

Then there was Kydd...
I have to say that you have filled some big shoes. This testament is obviously old but I have to say that I am a very pleased 37 year old for finding you. I picked up “Master and Commander” a couple of years ago and read the first page at my local library...and put it back. A couple of months later I took it home and read it. I was in love. I read every one of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey novels I could get, out of order, but brilliant. Then there were none left. Then there was Kydd. Oh yes. I have just finished Seaflower. Thankyou Julian for filling the void in a genre I never thought I would fall in love with. I know this is old hat for you as you have moved on to other novels but I have to say I loved the insight of the mariner from the deck rather than the poop as in the Aubrey books. It kind of rounded things out for me. I feel that Thomas Kydd is a sailor in fastforward but that’s fair enough to tell a story.

– Nathan Collin, Australia

One feels part of the story...
I did not know a thing about sailing, or Tall Ships, even though I was born and raised in an island, until I started reading O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin’s Series. I was extremely happy to find Julian’s books after I finished reading, more than once, Aubrey’s adventures. I have read all of Kydd’s adventures twice. I have bought miniature replicas of some ships, like the Cutty Sark. I wanted to be able to see the rigging and try to learn the names of the different sails.

I visited the Surprise when it sailed into San Pedro, California, for the Tall Ships Parade. It was extremely exciting to go aboard and identify all the parts O’Brian described in the book. It is a wonderful learning experience to have now the opportunity to read Julian’s books. The way he writes, one feels part of the story. One gets so much into the book, that it is almost impossible to think that the book is fiction.

I look forward to the next Kydd/Renzi’s book. I get very anxious, though, to see that Renzi does not speak to Kydd’s sister about his love. Are they ever going to become a pair and marry? I hope so. I am a romantic, 78 years old lady. I need to read the outcome of this love story before I get too old to read! English is not my native language, but I love everything British!

– Martha Berry, USA

It spoke to me directly! I have had the privilege of being introduced to your character Kydd from the novel of the same name. I was stocking up on reading material and found among others, your book KYDD. I’d been a Patrick O’Brian devotee for years, God rest his soul, and it thrilled me to find another avenue by which I can satiate my hunger for excellent material from this period. Having come from humble origins and being raised on a boat at sea till the age of seven, (my first solo watch was at three years – 6am till 10am, steer 180 deg. due south off Pt. Conception, CA, wake me if the wind changes) I instantly identified with your character. Thank you for taking the time to also make use of your Afterword giving the actual number of Foremast Jacks who reached the Quarterdeck, 120. We live in better times!

I frequently consider myself a Quartermaster in the job and industry I work in and have stepped aft of the mast on several occasions. I work in the film industry as a Lighting Technician, Best Boy and Gaffer. But I write as well and have produced several pieces and directed a TV pilot.

It was a bit past 3am last night when I finished Quarterdeck! It spoke to me directly.... Picture yourself, small town college boy with a couple of indie films under his belt standing on the set with Kevin Costner at the helm for a 9 Mo. Production. Sink, swim, or drown!

– David Potter, California

Love at first chapter...I am an avid reader. One day I was on Amazon trying to find something new to pique my interest and I searched on "Sea Adventure". One of your Kydd novels was on the screen and I decided to purchase it. It was love at first chapter. Of course, I was right back on Amazon to purchase a half dozen more of your work. Currently I am reading Seaflower and the boys were just saved by their own cunning from that damned hurricane – very well written!

Your knowledge of the sea and sailing really come through in your work and it makes reading the stories riveting. I find myself wanting to research some of the technical terms I don't know. What the heck is a fo’c’sle? However, your writing is easily understood by the lay person and I generally get the drift.

Bottom line - THANK YOU for adding a whole new layer to my enjoyment of a good yarn! I have had more fun reading your novels than anything I have read in a long time and I just wanted you to know. I will be really bummed out when I have read all of your current books and have to start waiting for something new to arrive at the bookstore. Right now I believe I have 5 more in the waiting to be read stack. Keep up the good work!

– Ken Mascia, Michigan

Just as Kydd has done...
I have just finished your latest book Treachery, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have read all your Kydd series books and eagerly await the next adventure.

In particular I enjoy the fiction you have sewn in to some very well researched history. This brings history to life in a most enjoyable way. In past books I have enjoyed your description of sea battles, tactics and seamanship used during the age of sail. In reading of other history accounts I find your descriptions most probable and realistic. As a person who enjoys history I am fortunate to have in my posession some early charts of the world (some dated as early as 1830 by Imlay and Sons – London). While reading your books I find it most interesting to refer to these charts to get a feel for the areas you describe.

In Treachery I had some personal interest with the Guernsey Island and Jersey Island locations as some of my family tree (on my grandmother’s side) extends to the French Huguenots who escaped from France around 1739 to the Jersey Islands via Granville. On the other side of my family tree are John Smith of Yorkshire, England, who brought his family to Canada in 1773 after losing all their possessions in the great flood of 1771. His grandson Bennett Smith became one of the wealthiest shipbuilders and owners in Canada during the 1800s. The charts I hold are from one of his ships that sailed all over the world. I am the last to carry the Smith name in this branch of the family and am the only mariner, having worked my way from the fo’cs’le on cargo ships to the Captain’s cabin just as Kydd has done.

– Capt. Richard Smith, Canadian Coast Guard

Kydd aboard Constellation and a honeymoon omission...
I am in frozen New Hampshire for a family visit and before turning the Kydd series over to Dad and Mom I have “vetted” the first six books. Well, almost. I have just started Tenacious.

I fear I may have overdone it, because now when I watch the news and hear of some vicious misdeeds my reaction is no longer a solid all-American “shoot him” but rather Flog the rascal!!!!! Not that I hold with flogging. Well. Sometimes.

Kydd aboard Constellation was a pure pleasure. I will soon revisit USS Constitution, the heavier of the Humphreys designs and a real bruiser as you know. And when I am next in London, I will cure the sad oversight of a newlywed on honeymoon in 1979, and Dee and I will visit HMS Victory.

Forgive me for entertaining wild hopes that, like my father, Kydd would find a home in the USA. But for fighting the French, there’s no place like home, I admit. Oddly, even Dad’s French mother (who married the Royal Tank Regiment Grandfather and lived out her life after WWI in Looe [Cornwall, England]) had no use for the French. Silly, I know, but still. Grandmere didn't much care for Germans either.

– Andrew Isaac, USA