No Flaws or Blemishes but minor age-toning to the text-block; Still Gift Quality. First Edition, First Printing.

'Amiable rakehell and thorough professional Alan Lewrie undertakes his eighth adventure, and he still hasn't made it through 1796.

In command of H.M.S. Jester, a sloop of war, Lewrie sails to the Adriatic as part of a squadron in support of Britain's allies in the area. Unfortunately, Napoleon invades Italy at the same time, Britain's allies are beset or intimidated, and the British must ally with Serbian pirates to make up for their lack of strength for operations against French supply vessels. The uneasy alliance brings the action-packed novel to a gripping if gruesome climax. Lewrie sails away with his reputation enhanced and another willing woman in hand.

Lewrie is not always appealing company, except possibly to cat lovers, but his adventures present a vivid, well-researched, thoroughly readable portrait of the rough-and-tumble side of the Royal Navy, at its best and its worst, during the days of sail.' [Booklist]