The ''Revolution at Sea Saga'', sometimes known as the ''Isaac Biddlecomb Series'', is a series of five

novels A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...

written by

James L. Nelson James L. Nelson (born 1962) is an American historical novel, historical nautical novelist. Early life Nelson was born in Lewiston, Maine in 1962. He expressed an interest in boats from a young age, building a skipjack (boat), skipjack in ninth ...

, published from 1997 to 2001. It centers around the exploits of protagonist Isaac Biddlecomb during the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

, specifically the years 1775 through 1777.Folsom, Chandra Niles. ''Revolution at Sea''. The Hour, August 20, 1999, p B2.

Storyline

The ''Revolution at Sea'' saga focuses on Isaac Biddlecomb and Ezra Rumstick, former smugglers for Isaac's

surrogate father Surrogacy is an arrangement, often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to delivery/labour for another person or people, who will become the child's parent(s) after birth. People may seek a surrogacy arrangement when pregnan ...

(and later

father in law A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship. A person is a child-in-law ...

) William Stanton. Over the course of the series, Biddlecomb and Rumstick become increasingly involved with the naval aspect of the American Revolution, which brings them into contact with historical figures such as

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

and

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

Installments

The following titles represent the five novels in the ''Revolution at Sea Saga'': # ''By Force of Arms'' (1997) # ''The Maddest Idea'' (1997) # ''The Continental Risque'' (1998) # ''Lords of the Ocean'' (1999) # ''All the Brave Fellows'' (2001) # ''The Falmouth Frigate'' (2022) The following title is not part of the ''Revolution at Sea Saga'', but uses several of the same characters: * ''The French Prize'' (2015)

Characters

The following is a list of the major characters in the ''Revolution at Sea Saga''.

Isaac Biddlecomb

The protagonist of the series, a

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

turned naval captain. Biddlecomb becomes increasingly successful in his naval endeavors over the course of the series, leading him to increased fame within the

American Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...

and the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...

itself. In ''Lords of the Ocean'', Biddlecomb marries childhood friend Virginia Stanton. They have a son together, Jack Biddlecomb, who would later be the protagonist of ''The French Prize'', a sequel to the Revolution at Sea Saga.

Ezra Rumstick

An old friend and shipmate of Biddlecomb's, Rumstick is a fierce revolutionary who becomes increasingly embroiled in the war, often while sailing alongside Biddlecomb.

Virginia Biddlecomb (née Stanton)

The rebellious daughter of William Stanton, Biddlecomb's employer and surrogate father, Virginia comes to love Biddlecomb and the two are married, eventually having a son together.

William Stanton

An American merchant who employed first Biddlecomb's father, then Biddlecomb himself. Stanton was responsible for introducing Biddlecomb to Rumstick, and caring for Biddlecomb when his father was killed. Stanton later became Biddlecomb's father-in-law, and Jack Biddlecomb's grandfather.

Elisha Faircloth

Commander of the

marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

aboard Biddlecomb's ship, the ''USS Charlemagne''.

Edward Fitzgerald

Major Edward Fitzgerald is advisor to

in ''The Maddest Idea''. Although his personality and character traits were created by the author, it is a historic fact that Washington had a right-hand man by the same name. In ''The Maddest Idea'', he is assigned with the job of flushing out the traitor who turned Biddlecomb over to the British; Fitzgerald appears again in ''Lords of the Ocean''.

Reception

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' has praised ''The Continental Risque'' and ''By Force of Arms'', calling the first book an "engaging start to what promises to be a fine adventure series in a neglected milieu". The

Bangor Daily News The ''Bangor Daily News'' is an American newspaper covering a large portion of central and eastern Maine, published six days per week in Bangor, Maine. The ''Bangor Daily News'' was founded on June 18, 1889; it merged with the ''Bangor Whig and ...

reviewed ''Lords of the Ocean'', writing that the series would appeal to "anyone who likes fast-paced stories of battles, boats and heroes". A reviewer for the

Lodi News-Sentinel The ''Lodi News-Sentinel'' is a daily newspaper based in Lodi, California, United States, and serving northern San Joaquin and southern Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorp ...

praised ''All The Brave Fellows'', saying it gave a fresh outlook to familiar material.Smith, Sandy. ''U.S. Navy saga has wide appeal''. Lodi News-Sentinel, December 1st 2001, p 3.

Patrick O'Brian Patrick O'Brian, Order of the British Empire, CBE (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during t ...

said of the first book in the ''Revolution at Sea Saga'' "Authenticity runs throughout the book, carrying total conviction," and of the author, "...Nelson writes with the eagerness of a young man sailing his first command." He has also been called "one of today's most gifted historical novelists."

References

{{reflist Novels set during the American Revolutionary War Historical novels by series