Under Enemy Colors

September 3, 2007
Audio fans of Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester will rejoice as Vance admirably re-creates Russell's debut novel set in 1793, during those authors' period. There's arguably more Forester than O'Brian here, but few listeners will be disappointed. A promising young Royal Navy officer, Lt. Charles Hayden, is passed over for a command of his own because his father is English and his mother is French. Instead, Hayden boards a smart new frigate called Themis, captained by Josiah Hart, who is reviled as "Faint Hart" by his crew for his cowardice. To make up for his dislike of battle, Hart treats his men like the enemy. Vance gets all the voices right: the proud and ambitious young Hayden and the sniveling Hart, who abuses his power. The other snobs and older officers, who don't have as much to do or say, are also vividly brought to life. Vance transports listeners to a world both exciting and memorable. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Reviews, May 14).

UNDER ENEMY COLORS is a triumph. Set aboard a frigate at sea off the coast of France at the height of British naval power, this gripping novel combines a simple war story with a tale of infuriating office politics, cowardly leadership, and one man's struggle to remain loyal to his king, an inept commander, and a seething crew. Simon Vance could well earn another Audie nomination with this superb reading. He expertly navigates a complicated story with many characters and a great deal of dialogue, set in a formal style of the period. While accents can too often be the downfall of a good audiobook, Vance makes them an asset. He uses an array of voices to allow the listener to follow the fast-paced dialogue effortlessly. This is a terrific story, enjoyably told. J.B.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine