In the King's Name - The Cruise of the Kestrel by George Manville Fenn AUDIOBOOK

First published in the late Victorian era, George Manville Fenn’s "In the King's Name: The Cruise of the Kestrel" offers an authentic glimpse into maritime service during the turbulent aftermath of the Jacobite rising. Fenn, known for his robust tales of adventure and his keen observation of character, guides listeners aboard His Britannic Majesty’s cutter, the Kestrel, as it patrols the southern English coast. Through the candid perspective of young Hilary Leigh, recently drafted from the glamorous frigate Golden Fleece to the unassuming but earnest Kestrel, the novel unfolds amidst the shimmering calm of the Channel and the latent tensions of smuggling, loyalty, and royal authority.

Set shortly after the battle of Culloden, the story situates itself in a fraught historical moment: the sea is bright and teeming with both life and clandestine activity, as the Kestrel’s loyal crew remain ever-watchful for smuggling boats, Jacobite fugitives, or secret messages defying King George II’s rule. Fenn captures the camaraderie and rivalries among sailors with characteristic warmth and humor—from the prideful contests over pigtails to boisterous sea shanties echoing beneath the rigging. The day-to-day realities of naval life are drawn with precise detail, evoking both the tedium and the sudden bursts of action that color the sailor’s existence.

Fenn’s style combines a seaman’s vernacular with vivid, painterly descriptions of sky and water, sails shimmering like silver and mackerel gleaming in sunrise hues. The interplay between comic moments and suspenseful pursuit reflects deeper themes of duty, youthful ambition, and national identity in an era of unrest. Listeners seeking a maritime tale enriched with historical color, sharply etched characters, and the inexorable pull of the open sea will find this a rewarding and atmospheric expedition.

Audiobook time & format : 8h34m4s, OPUS, 400 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
Instant Access After Checkout - Professionally Generated Audio

More George Manville Fenn audiobooks