Product Description

The 15th-century tale of seafaring hero Andrew Wood, loyal supporter of James III of Scotland.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #686057 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 356 pages

Review
'One of Scotland's most prolific and respected writers' The Times 'He has an amazingly broad grip of Scottish history' Daily Telegraph 'An accomplished writer of compelling and unforgettable historical novels' She magazine 'Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes' Scotland on Sunday 'Tranter's popularity lies in his knack of making historical events immediate and exciting' Historical Novels Review

³A wonderfully prolific author...He knows how to keep the plot spinning.² -- KIRKUS REVIEWS

From the Publisher
As a boy, Andrew Wood¹s greatest ambition was to be a merchant-trader like his father before him. He was also determined to avenge his father, who had been murdered by English pirates. Andrew¹s chance came when he was asked to join in a trading venture with the Baltic states. During the voyage, his ship was attacked, and Andrew¹s courage during this and subsequent skirmishes led to his national renown as a pirate slayer. At the invitation of King James III, Wood amassed captured vessels to create the nucleus of a national fleet; such was his success that James eventually promoted him to Lord High Admiral of Scotland. Ultimately, Admiral Wood¹s bold defense of Scottish waters was to incur the dangerous wrath of King Henry VII of England. In The Admiral, Nigel Tranter tells the story of the humble laird who became one of Scotland¹s most famous sailors and valued negotiators ‹ a man who greatly aided his nation¹s cause in a time of international unrest.

Nigel Tranter is one of Scotland¹s best-loved writers. He brought the history of his country vividly to life in nearly a hundred stirring novels.

About the Author
Nigel Tranter, who wrote over ninety novels on Scottish history, was one of Scotland's best-loved writers. He died on 9th January 2000 at the age of ninety.

Customer Reviews

Amazing Story
Very hard to put down my only regret was that it wasn't a bit longer. Mr. Tranter found his gift in storytelling and giving everyone the ability to be captivated by his telling.

Scotland's private Admiral and private Navy
The Admiral, by Nigel Tranter is one of his faster reads. This is the story of the rise and life of Andrew Wood from fatherless farmer, helping his mother and brother, to Lord High Admiral of Scotland and Knight. Andrew wood served 3 kings and witnessed the birth of Queen Mary of Scots. Andrew Wood was the eldest son of a merchant who was killed by pirates. Andrew at the age of 20 leaves the family farm and goes to sea. There he gets revenge against pirates for his father's death and captures their ship single handedly. This gets him started on a rapid rise his own trading merchant and the recognition of King James III. From there he establishes his trade between, Iceland, Scotland, Denmark, Norway and the Lowlands and creates his own fleet. He dedicates the fleet to the will of the crown when ever there is a need. Through King James III, James IV and James the V his service is requested from making a religious pilgrimage, seeking the pope, fighting Isle men in the Hebrides to battling English and rebels in Scotland. He even helps in seeking a wife for the young James V. Throughout his adventures and service he finds a little time to marry and have a son who succeeds him as Lord High Admiral. Andrew Wood led an adventure filled life straight to the top of society. Nigel Tranter covers his life quickly in "The Admiral", I feel is could have been expanded and it left me wanting more 1st and 2nd person thought and detail. It didn't have the depth of typical Tranter. A undertold story and quick read left me wanting.

A review of the book, 'The Admiral', by Nigel Tranter
This is a fairly well written book. However it is not quite up to the high standards seen in The Robert Bruce trilogy. The story of how a relatively low-born sailor's son became so successful to be a friend of two scottish kings and their High Admiral is not very as convincingly related as Tranter's previous books. The perspective does not seem to be that of fifteenth century England. Also, there is no 'nautical' feeling to the story. Acustomed as I am to previous books such as 'the isleman, The Bruce Trilogy, Sword of State...etc, this has been a letdown