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ARMADA
by John Stack
Harper, November 2012
408 pages
14.99 GBP
ISBN: 0007389892


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

The author of the popular Masters of the Sea Roman trilogy brings his cannon to bear on one of the great myths of English history – the story of Sir Francis Drake finishing a game of bowls, then sailing off to sink the Armada.

The vehicle John Stack chooses to debunk this heroic piece of folklore, is that of the religious wars which wracked Europe in the late 16th century. Spain was at the height of empire building in both old and new worlds. Its king, Philip, believed it his moral duty to crush the sin of heresy against the Catholic church by destroying the growing Protestant power, particularly that of Elizabeth of England. These wars, on land or sea, were of unparalleled savagery and reflected among the civilian populations with adherents of opposing beliefs tortured and often burnt at the stake.

England was in turmoil. Little more than fifty years after Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, had severed its links with Rome, the old religion remained strong. Catholic priests roamed the country under cover, ministering to the many remaining faithful. The aristocracy in particular were fertile ground, some motivated by belief, some by greed. Spanish-inspired plots and rebellions threatened the queen. Finally, Philip decided to solve the matter by invading. A great army would be escorted from the Netherlands by a huge armada, crush a near undefended England and restore the faith – as a province of a victorious Spain.

Like many of Elizabeth's subjects, Robert Varian lives a double life. He has risen from a lowly background to captain a great fighting ship. But he is a Catholic and in the battle to come must decide where his loyalties lie – with his queen and country or his church. His choice is further complicated when the noble father he thought dead reappears as an agent of the Spanish. High politics, low cunning, betrayal and heroism clash in a carefully constructed and highly believable plot. Varian's struggles with his conscience and to keep his real identity and religion a secret form the base for a thrilling description of the action in the English Channel in July and August 1588 as the armada seeks to link with the Duke of Parma's army.

If Stack is good on land, he is a true master at sea. His detailed descriptions of life on board the vessels, their crews, handling characteristics and firepower are as good as anything in C.S. Forrester's Hornblower series. His historical knowledge is impressive – and he never loses his sense of balance, reflecting Spanish skill, courage and conviction in a parallel story of a young aristocrat fighting to restore his name. This is a thoroughly readable and intensely enjoyable book, whether viewed as simply a thriller or a worthwhile piece of naval history and can only build on his growing reputation.

But to return to Francis Drake. Never more than a privateer with an eye for the main chance, Drake distinguished himself by breaking off a fleet action to capture two abandoned Spanish ships. The great battle? The English sank just one Spanish ship and drove two ashore, but did force them into the North and Irish seas where they lost more than forty vessels to weather. They also parlayed their artillery and handling superiority into the tactic of close quarter engagement which was to lay the basis for Britannia ruling the waves for the next four centuries.

§John Cleal is a former soldier and journalist with an interest in medieval history. He divides his time between France and England.

Reviewed by John Cleal, October 2012

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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