As usual I have numerous people to thank for their generous assistance. Rif Winfield who kindly answered questions for me and whose magnificent British Warships in the Age of Sail I refer to regularly. I would like to thank Brian Vale for answering all my questions about Dr Thomas Trotter and the hospital ship Charon. Mr Vale’s wonderful Physician of the Fleet (written with Griffith Edwards) deserves to be widely read. Robin Manson for reading an early draft (and getting the oil canister back on my marine diesel when I thought only a contortionist might do it).
When I was looking for information about Hayden’s new ship, Raisonnable, I came upon a scale model of Agamemnon (Raisonnable’s sister ship) built by Roger Antrobus. Not only was this a fantastic model, but it was photographed in such a way that you could believe you were looking at a full-sized ship. I used these photos of the model to help plan and imagine the action aboard Raisonnable. Anyone interested in seeing this model might find it online at roger-antrobus.magix.net. Many thanks to Roger.
I would also like to thank another Rodger – my good friend Rodger Turner, who created and looks after my site for me and also answers technical questions whenever I have trouble with my computers. I suspect he has no idea how much I value his contribution.
I have to thank my fantastic agents in the US and UK – Howard Morhaim and Caspian Denis, and my ever-thoughtful editors, Alex Clarke and Rachel Kahan.
Last, but first in my heart, everlasting thanks to my wife and son who put up with all of my writer’s eccentricities and manage to take it all with the best of humour.