Clay and the Immortal Memory

Written by Philip K. Allan
Review by G. J. Berger

In the early summer of 1804, British captain Alexander Clay and his sailing frigate Griffin head home from India after years away. The crew yearns for families, cooler weather, and some quiet time. But on the long journey across the Indian Ocean and then north in the Atlantic, the Griffin encounters multiple threats as well as French and Spanish fleets running to the Caribbean. Napoleon has designs on invading and conquering England but must first clear out the formidable British navy. Fictional Captain Clay and his ship closely follow the actual journeys of British ships trying to either bottle up or stalk the French/Spanish armadas. Clay eventually joins Admiral Horatio Nelson’s fleet in one of history’s most important sea engagements, the 1805 battle of Trafalgar off southern Spain’s Atlantic coast.

This tenth and most recent installment of the Clay series brilliantly showcases Allan’s knowledge of and love for nautical history. He takes readers into the lives and minds of both British and French crews as well as Napoleon himself. Humorous and clever encounters with Indian and American traders add to the larger plotlines. Vagaries of weather, never knowing whose sails will suddenly appear on the horizon, and shipboard accidents and illnesses infuse even the quiet scenes with high tension. Allan’s dialogue fits the patois of the time and the education levels of the men—from well-educated officers to illiterate seamen. His rendering of the battle of Trafalgar and its aftermath comes across as big and brutal as the real-life episode. This work is a must-read for lovers of nautical history and anyone wanting to learn more about a pivotal time in French and English conflicts. Highly recommended.