So Near So Far, by C. Northcote Parkinson
By Peter on Feb 1, 2010 in Historical Fiction, book review
The place of this novel in Northcote Parkinson’s series about Richard Delancey is a little strange. It fills in details of Delancey’s
In the book, France builds up her strength for an invasion of England, and Britain prepares for the threat. The British hear rumors about Napoleon’s new secret weapons of war: vessels driven by steam-engines, new explosive devices, and, most troubling of all, a French secret weapon named Nautilus, which can travel underwater and attach explosive devices below the waterline.
As well, there are stories of love, to some extent deceit, and of Delancey getting engaged in a sailing competition.
However, So Near So Far is in my opinion the weakest of the Delancey novels. The plot is weak and somewhat disorganized, consisting more of disjointed episodes than a larger story. I don’t actually recommend it. I didn’t much like it, even though I have enjoyed the rest of the series!
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