Description

James Hawke has a tavern in Devon, a swift boat, and a discreet side-business in smuggling.

When Parliament demands new oaths and the struggle between King and Commons spreads across the country, the conflict Hawke hoped to avoid closes in around him.

His quiet harbor is torn apart.

In the swashbuckling tradition of Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers, Captain Hawke brings the chaotic 1640s to life in a gripping adventure of storm-tossed seas, clashing faiths, and one man’s struggle to hold fast while England descends into civil war.

PRAISE FOR CAPTAIN HAWKE

“A tremendously well-researched adventure of the English Civil War at sea, Captain Hawke is a book that Rafael Sabatini would have been proud to call his own. The book reminds me of the glory days of Disney, back in the 1950s and 1960s, when this might very well have become a film along the lines of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.”
—H. W. Crocker III, Bestselling historian and novelist, author of Kruger’s Korps

“Master and Commander meets A Man for All Seasons.”
—Bill Rivers, Bestselling author of Last Summer Boys and former speechwriter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis

“Captain Hawke is the kind of swashbuckling historical fiction that Catholic readers have been hungering for: an exciting tale of loyalty, faith, and honor set against the blood and smoke of England’s Civil War. Peter Mitchell has crafted a hero worth rooting for—a Catholic privateer who fights with both his sword and his conscience, never losing sight of what he loves or what he believes. This is a grand adventure story.”
—Phillip Campbell, Author of the Story of Civilization series and Heroes and Heretics of the Reformation

“I grinned at the characters’ salty wit, felt the comfort of the home hearth, and, when tragedy struck, winced at the sting of injustice. Beneath Hawke’s formidable reputation, years of loss and religious persecution reveal a deeper yearning for peace with God and within himself. Yet he is no contemplative! He is a man of decisive action and daring from start to finish. I never imagined seventeenth-century Cavalier naval tactics could be so suspenseful!”
—Theoni Bell, Author of The Woman in the Trees

“A grand achievement of history, morality, and literary prowess! Peter Mitchell’s vast knowledge of history and philosophy, combined with his wit and remarkably creative vocabulary, makes Captain Hawke a riveting page-turner. Mitchell immerses the reader in Hawke’s world and conscience, illuminating the absolute moral principles that guide honorable action with the transcendence of perspective that can only be furnished within the timeless context of Catholic faith and doctrine.”
— John F. Hofbauer, Ph.D., Prof. of Philosophy, Mount Saint Mary College

“A superb yarn! Captain Hawke combines adventure with historical detail in ways reminiscent of Patrick O’Brian.”
—J. P. Clark, Ph.D., Author of Preparing for War and Professor of Strategy, U.S. Army War College

“A thunderingly good adventure story in the tradition of Dumas . . . beautifully written, with turns of phrase and period references that flow smoothly through a pacey narrative. If you love a roaring, tumultuous ride, full of pathos and humour, set against a convincingly painted period backdrop, with nautical adventure front and centre, grab hold of the whipstaff and steer a course for Captain Hawke. You are going to love it!”
—Eleanor Swift-Hook, Author of the Lord's Legacy Series