Upon the Malabar Coast, the ninth book of Philip K. Allan's Alexander Clay series, ends with Captain Clay and the crew of the frigate Griffin concluding a vital mission to the Far East -- with the added bonus of saving a valuable merchant fleet from French marauders -- just as England's war with Napoleonic France resumes in earnest.

Now, with much-needed repairs complete, Griffin at the beginning of Clay & the Immortal Memory rightfully expects to be sent home for some long-overdue time ashore. After cleverly eluding pursuit by a few enemy ships in the southern seas, Clay and his crew set their course for England.

Their hope for an uneventful voyage home is dashed, however, when the frigate encounters a large, westbound French and Spanish fleet in the Atlantic.

Allan prefaces the 10th book in the series with a peek into Napoleon Bonaparte's plans to circumvent the Royal Navy, break his fleet out of blockaded ports, divert the inestimable Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's attention and ferry a vast French army across the channel to bring the war directly to England's shores. As history records, the French and Spanish fleet, commanded by Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve, did indeed lead Nelson on a merry chase to the Caribbean and back before a decisive battle -- ending with the Royal Navy's unquestioned victory and, unfortunately, Nelson's death -- off Cape Trafalgar.

In this novel, of course, Clay and the men of Griffin have a major part to play in the prelude to the battle and, although frigates had little to do in the conflict itself, in the aftermath. Again, history tells us that, after the Royal Navy's overwhelming success, the weather decided to play an active role in the outcome. Allan brings the storm to life, bringing new havoc to the wreckage of two mighty fleets. Before the storm is over, the Griffin will pay a heavy price.

Not content to view the great fleet action through the eyes of the British, Allen also brings readers aboard the Redoutable, a French ship of 74 guns commanded by Captain Jean Lucas. Although Lucas was a historical figure in the battle -- who fought most valiantly by all accounts -- Allan focuses his attention on the fictional lieutenants Camille Dupotet, a hidebound authoritarian, and Francois Brissot, who has clever ideas to help even the odds against superior foes.

All told, Allan does the Trafalgar story justice. Much has been written about this historic naval action, and if fiction writers are to be believed, Nelson owed his victory to a legion of minor captains, all of whom played pivotal roles in the fight. I'm happy to include Alexander Clay among their number.

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