Maine is full of accomplished writers, and some — the master of horror guy who lives in Bangor comes to mind — have done quite well for themselves.
Among those seasoned Maine scribes is James L. Nelson, who might just be the best Maine writer you’ve never heard of.
Nelson’s niche is a bit more narrow than pop horror, but the award-winning writer of nautical historic fiction and nonfiction spins a wonderful tale in his latest novel, “The French Prize” (323 pages, St. Martin’s Press, released July 14, 2015).
The book tracks the travels of young Jack Biddlecomb, the son of one of Nelson’s frequent protagonists, Isaac Biddlecomb, in the post-Revolutionary United States.
Set in 1797, Biddlecomb the younger takes command of his first ship, Abigail, a merchant vessel bound for Barbados. There are some who don’t want that ship to arrive, Biddlecomb eventually learns, and some of the fledgling nation’s most powerful men are pulling strings he can’t see.
If you crave some adventure on the high seas, Nelson delivers, in spades. The battle scenes are elaborately written, the characters are full if not mysterious and the struggles of captain and crew against nature and humans is tangible.
Many readers will likely struggle with frequent references to specific parts of the sailing ships and other nautical terms. Fortunately, the book includes reference sections that will help ease the transition from easy chair to the helm. There’s one problem with that, though: Flipping back and forth to find out exactly what Nelson’s writing about breaks up the flow and certainly interrupts the reading process.
Nelson lives in Harpswell and has written 20 books, including the popular “Revolution at Sea” saga. Five of those volumes are nonfiction. According to his website, the Nelson has long had a passion for boats and sailing and built his first boat when he was a freshman in high school.
According to the bio, the 12-foot skipjack didn’t sail too well, “due to design flaws and Nelson’s inability to sail a boat.”
Since those humble beginnings, Nelson has immersed himself in all things nautical and has worked on plenty of sailing ships, learning the craft. Eventually, his bio states, he decided it would be easier to write about sailing than to actually sail, and he came ashore to begin a new career.
While a great read, “The French Prize” isn’t an easy read, particularly for landlubbers who don’t know their spanker boom from their mizzen topgallant sail.
And while I’ve never been one to read the final page of a book first, I’d suggest readers make an exception in this case. Taking a good look at the final seven pages, in fact, can help readers navigate the book much more smoothly.
That’s where you’ll find a glossary of nautical terms you might not know. And trust me, if Nelson includes it in the glossary, you’re going to need to know what it means when you read the book.
Or maybe you won’t.
The best thing about a tale well-crafted, after all, is that the reader gets to go on a journey, and skilled writers help guide us along the way. Consider, did you know what “quidditch” was before you read the Harry Potter series?
Of course not.
Readers who really don’t care how a sailing ship works, or what its parts are called, might miss a bit in “The French Prize.”
Here’s what they won’t miss, no matter how much they know about ships: Action scenes that sizzle, plenty of intrigue and characters you’ll love or hate — or both.
And that’s a pretty good prize of its own.
