Captain Kettle on the War-path: Restored Classics to Go Edition
Aug 2026 · Otbebookpublishing
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About this ebook
This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design. Captain Sir Owen Kettle, the one-legged seaman who chafes at being kept from the war, leaps at a secret mission to intercept a German submarine and outwit official caution with sheer nerve. In New Orleans, he and politician Martin Carnforth adopt aliases, trail the suspicious tanker Grüda, and are drugged and shanghaied aboard, where Kettle's hard-handed ingenuity quickly turns survival into a contest of wills. From forced labor and humiliating deception to a tense Atlantic crossing, the novel builds a brisk wartime adventure of comic dialogue, patriotic mischief, and rough seamanship. As the Grüda becomes a floating refueling station for a U-boat, Kettle prepares for close combat with whatever weapons the ship can offer. He then seizes the moment, rams a submarine, survives a catastrophic torpedo explosion, and faces fresh danger from another attacker. Later, trapped with Dr. Mary Brown, he uses bluff, calculations, and improvised torpedo controls to destroy a second target, while their sparring reveals the story's gender tension and affectionate wit. Brown's wish to bring a captured submarine in under a suffragette flag clashes with Kettle's practical caution, and his stubborn confidence extends even to a minor wound and a dubious patent medicine. The tale closes by introducing Lieutenant John B. Plough, R.N., recalled from romantic leave to duty, signaling another lively turn in this naval romance-adventure.
This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design. Captain Sir Owen Kettle, the one-legged seaman who chafes at being kept from the war, leaps at a secret mission to intercept a German submarine and outwit official caution with sheer nerve. In New Orleans, he and p...
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About the author
Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne (1866-1944) was a British author whose adventurous spirit and vivid imagination left a lasting mark on early 20th-century literature. Born in Birmingham, England, Hyne was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he honed his literary skills and developed a passion for storytelling. His career took off with serialized stories in popular magazines, captivating readers with tales of high seas and distant lands.Hyne's most famous creation, Captain Kettle, became a cultural icon, embodying the rugged, fearless adventurer archetype that resonated with an audience hungry for escapism during the tumultuous times of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Hyne's works often reflected the imperialistic attitudes of his time, yet he also infused his narratives with a nuanced understanding of human nature and the complexities of colonialism.A contemporary of H.G. Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle, Hyne's influence extended to his peers, contributing to the rich tapestry of adventure and speculative fiction that defined the period. His ability to blend realism with the fantastical earned him a dedicated readership and a place in the annals of adventure literature.Despite his success, Hyne was not without controversy. His unapologetic portrayal of imperialist themes and occasionally stereotypical characterizations sparked debates about the ethics of representation in literature. However, his work also provided a platform for discussing the moral ambiguities of empire and the human cost of exploration.Hyne's legacy endures through his contributions to the adventure genre, inspiring subsequent generations of writers to explore the boundaries of human experience and the unknown. His life and work remain a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in shaping cultural and historical narratives.
Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne (1866-1944) was a British author whose adventurous spirit and vivid imagination left a lasting mark on early 20th-century literature. Born in Birmingham, England, Hyne was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he honed his literary skills and developed ...
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