John Deane of Nottingham: Historic Adventures by Land and Sea


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(4.2 stars; 14 reviews)

This is the story of John Deane of Nottingham, a person who, according to the author, really existed. John Deane is born in 1679 to wealthy parents, but starts out in relative poverty, working as a drover around London. He then goes to sea and rises to the rank of Captain of the Navy, but abandons that position to become "Merchant Adventurer". Next he spends some years in Russia, serving Peter the Great on a Russian war ship. When he had enough of that, he became British Consul, and finally spend some years in retirement in his native WIlford by Nottingham, where he died at an old age in 1760.
Such an eventful life of course contained many interesting adventures, which are in this volume related. There are conspiracies, battles on land and sea, pirates, shipwrecks, natural disasters, kings and queens, friends and foes, damsels in distress, and other great yarns. - Summary by Carolin (12 hr 5 min)

Chapters

Preface 1:41 Read by April6090
Mr Harwood and Alethea in Sherwood Forest, and Jack Deane’s First Adventure 15:56 Read by Deon Gines
Dinner at Mr Deane’s in Nottingham - Jack Deane announces the Profession he has… 22:38 Read by megaminxwin
A Poaching Expedition to Colwick Park - Jack forms an Acquaintance who leads hi… 20:38 Read by Peter John Keeble
Fire near Mr Strelley’s Warehouse - Jack Deane shows that he is a lad of Courage 12:44 Read by Deon Gines
Jack’s Visit to Harwood Grange - Is urged to assist in the Jacobite Plot 15:49 Read by Deon Gines
Pearson’s Visit to Squire Harwood - Plan to entrap Jack 8:42 Read by Deon Gines
Jack’s Journey to Stourbridge, and Adventures on the Road 21:16 Read by Deon Gines
Attacked by Cattle-lifters 15:28 Read by Deon Gines
Stourbridge Fair - Adventures at Cambridge 10:10 Read by Deon Gines
Jack encounters Master Pearson, and goes to Norwich 16:00 Read by Deon Gines
Jack’s Visit to Mr Gournay - The Story of Madame le Mertens 23:51 Read by Deon Gines
Jack meets Pearson at Saint Faith’s and accompanies him to the North 14:51 Read by Deon Gines
Jack and Pearson’s Journey to the North, and how Jack was employed on the Road 23:08 Read by Deon Gines
Adventures at the Hagg 25:50 Read by Deon Gines
Jack again visits Harwood Grange 17:06 Read by Deon Gines
Residence in the Fens of Lincolnshire 21:06 Read by Deon Gines
A Decoy described 20:22 Read by Michele Kradel
Journey to London with Long Sam 27:06 Read by John
The Conspiracy 22:14 Read by John
A Ride for Liberty 32:45 Read by John
John Deane turns Sailor, and joins the 'Weymouth', Captain Jumper 24:26 Read by John
First Sea-Fight 22:35 Read by John
After the Battle 15:30 Read by John
Cutting-out Expedition - John Deane is Promoted - Capture of two Galleys 23:36 Read by Deon Gines
The Galley-slave, and who he was 9:41 Read by Deon Gines
Visit to Norwich and to the Farm at the Fens - A bitter Disappointment 27:40 Read by Deon Gines
Returns Home 14:32 Read by Deon Gines
Serves under Benbow in the West Indies 17:20 Read by Deon Gines
Hurricane - Captured by Pirates 22:06 Read by Deon Gines
Imprisonment in the Pirates’ Island - The Lovers’ Meeting 20:19 Read by Deon Gines
Dame Pearson’s History - Engagement between the Pirate and Queen’s Ship 17:55 Read by Deon Gines
The Island Captured 17:32 Read by Deon Gines
Sir George Hooke takes the Spanish Galleons in Vigo Bay 23:16 Read by Deon Gines
Hurricane in the British Channel - Sir George Rooke takes Gibraltar - Sea-fight… 31:08 Read by Deon Gines
Home again - Another bitter Disappointment 17:47 Read by Deon Gines
Adventure in the 'Nottingham Galley' - Shipwreck 14:15 Read by BettyB
Pennsylvania - Return Home - Last Adventures and Conclusion 16:06 Read by BettyB

Reviews

Struggling on several levels


(2 stars)

There is the basis of a good adventure story here but the author mangles the descriptive passages. A frustrating read of a shallow written book by an author with talent. Gave up after 7 chapters.