For Love of Country

William C. Hammond's second novel, A Matter of Honor, follows the seafaring adventures of the prominent Massachusetts family in the years following the American Revolution. It opens with the capture of the Cutler merchant brig Eagle by Barbary pirates and follows Richard, the novel's main protagonist, as he travels to Paris to report to John Paul Jones. The book includes a romantic interest and focuses on the American perspective of the Age of Fighting Sail in the years following the American Revolution, adding a fresh dimension to historical novels of the period.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

William C. Hammond's second novel, A Matter of Honor, picks up where his debut work left off, immersing readers in the captivating seafaring adventures of the prominent Massachusetts family. Set in the years following the American Revolution, this novel offers a thrilling glimpse into the young republic, a time when America was a weak nation without a Navy to safeguard its prosperous merchant fleet from the threat of Barbary pirates or nations seeking to cripple its shipping.

The novel begins with the capture of the Cutler merchant brig Eagle by Barbary pirates, leading to the imprisonment of young Caleb Cutler and his shipmates in Algiers. In a dramatic turn of events, Richard Cutler, the novel's central protagonist, is dispatched to North Africa to negotiate the release of his brother and his fellow captives. However, Richard soon discovers the Dey of Algiers' intention to reject the ransom and the threats posed by the British and French. Faced with this daunting challenge, Richard embarks on a fierce battle in the Mediterranean, engaging in a titanic clash with two Arab xebecs.

In his victorious pursuit, Richard makes his way to Paris, where he reports to John Paul Jones, his former naval commander who now serves as the American emissary to the Barbary States. Hammond's meticulous historical research and in-depth understanding of sailing and maritime customs lend authenticity to the novel, enhancing its narrative without compromising its entertainment value.

Furthermore, A Matter of Honor introduces a romantic subplot involving a desperate race to save the beautiful Anne Marie Helvétian and her two daughters from the guillotine. Hammond's focus on the American perspective of the Age of Fighting Sail in the years following the American Revolution adds a fresh dimension to historical novels of the period, providing a unique and captivating perspective on this pivotal era in American history.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493058099