Lewrie and the Hogsheads

The 18th-century British Royal Navy captain encounters Spanish pirates in the Bahamas in this historical adventure short story.

“You could get addicted to this series. Easily.” —The New York Times Book Review

Captain Lewrie of the HMS Reliant has been stuck in Nassau Harbor, biding his time after ferreting out pirates on the coast of Spanish Florida. Until, that is, one of his brig sloops comes into harbor with an unexpected cargo of survivors from an American brig. Their ship, the Santee out of Charleston, South Carolina, has been taken by a Spanish privateer far down in the Bahamas near the Crooked Island passage.

With this news of more pirates at large, Lewrie has a chance to get out of dodge, have some fun, and maybe even capture a prize. But he's about to learn that there's another, much boozier side to the Americans’ story.

“If Horatio Hornblower is the gentleman’s sailor and Jack Aubrey is the thinking man’s sailor, Lewrie is of and for the working class. Pugnacious and randy, he’s a refreshing sea breeze.”―San Jose Mercury News

“Lewrie is an endearing character-hero, philanderer, smuggler, spy: a courageous naval officer unencumbered by high morals or indecision.” —Publishers Weekly

“The best naval adventure series since C. S. Forester.” —Library Journal

“Stunning naval adventure, reeking of powder and mayhem. I wish I had written this series.” —Bernard Cornwell