John Pearce
16 books in seriesBy the Mast Divided Summary

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Book 1
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By the Mast Divided
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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London: 1793. Young firebrand John Pearce, on the run from the authorities, is illegally press-ganged from the Pelican tavern into brutal life aboard HMS Brilliant, a frigate on her way to war. In the first few days, Pearce discovers the Navy is a world in which he can prosper. And he is not alone; he is drawn to a group of men who eventually form an exclusive gun crew, the Pelicans, with Pearce their elected leader.
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Becalmed!
- By Phil on 26-01-11
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By the Mast Divided
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Release date: 02-10-07
- Language: English
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Book 2
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A Shot Rolling Ship
- A John Pearce Novel
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Pressed into King George's Navy for the second time in a month, John Pearce finds himself working aboard HMS Griffin, sailing the Channel in search of the numerous French privateers preying on English merchant ships. Pearce, however, has other things on his mind. He must find a way off the ship in order to rescue his ailing father from the dangers of revolutionary Paris.
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A Shot Rolling Ship
- A John Pearce Novel
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Release date: 22-04-08
- Language: English
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Book 3
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An Awkward Commission
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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John Pearce's recent promotion means that he is finally free to follow his own wishes. But the same can't be said for his trio of closest friends, who are shipped off to the Mediterranean. Pearce vows to liberate them from the brutal tyrant they are serving under. His application to William Pitt finds him sailing off with secret dispatches for Admiral Lord Hood. But when Captain Ralph Barclay puts the lives of his crew at risk, Pearce must embark on a dangerous mission before he can free his friends.
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Wonderful Series of Novels
- By David on 19-05-10
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An Awkward Commission
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Release date: 20-06-07
- Language: English
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Book 4
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A Flag of Truce
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Firebrand John Pearce has been promoted to lieutenant and is in a position of command on board HMS Faron when he returns to Toulon from his successful mission in Corsica.
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Great fun
- By Alexander on 26-07-18
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A Flag of Truce
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Release date: 04-06-08
- Language: English
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Book 5
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The Admirals' Game
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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1794. Lieutenant John Pearce is caught between a feuding trio of admirals. One puts him in a position of danger while another asks him to undertake a hazardous commission in order to protect his friends, the Pelicans. Meanwhile, Pearce is also trying to construct a perjury case against Admiral Ralph Barclay.
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Great naval yarn
- By John on 20-03-15
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The Admirals' Game
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Release date: 01-06-09
- Language: English
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Book 6
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An Ill Wind
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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It is 1793. John Pearce and his Pelicans are going home - to gain their freedom and put the treacherous Captain Ralph Barclay in the dock. Emily Barclay discovers Pearce has papers that would ruin her husband’s career and her future security. And then comes that dread thing, a fire aboard a wooden ship of war! Cast adrift, Pearce and his Pelicans find help from an unlikely source.
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The constant re-telling is getting wearisome.
- By Longedge on 05-04-19
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An Ill Wind
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Release date: 11-05-10
- Language: English
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Book 7
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Blown Off Course
- A Firebrand John Pearce Adventure, Book 7
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Lieutenant John Pearce is in London seeking protection for his friends, the Pelicans, from a reluctant Admiralty. Sitting in the tavern where they were first press ganged, Pearce considers his future. Lacking the evidence of perjury he once had to bring Captain Ralph Barclay to justice, his prospects are not promising. Ralph Barclay’s young wife, Emily, is refusing to live under the same roof as him and she has the means to get her own way: the evidence Pearce believes was lost at sea.
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The sea has dried up!
- By Gary on 25-04-15
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Blown Off Course
- A Firebrand John Pearce Adventure, Book 7
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Release date: 26-04-12
- Language: English
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Book 8
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Enemies at Every Turn
- John Pearce, Book 8
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Michael Tudor Barnes
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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The year is 1794. Free from jail, John Pearce is not free from the smugglers whose boat he stole. While lying low, Pearce soon has other pressing concerns on his mind. Granted a commission by William Pitt, John Pearce evades his pursuers by undertaking a dangerous mission in France. As rebellious ambition turns to bloody disaster, Pearce must try to re-join Admiral Howe. Also serving with Howe is Ralph Barclay - who has somehow contrived to yet again press Pearce’s friends into his crew.
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Good narration
- By Woodies on 31-05-21
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Enemies at Every Turn
- John Pearce, Book 8
- Narrated by: Michael Tudor Barnes
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Release date: 01-06-12
- Language: English
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Book 9
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A Sea of Troubles
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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1794: In the wake of the Glorious First of June, Lieutenant John Pearce has pressing matters to attend to. He must undertake an urgent commission from Lord Hood, track down midshipman Toby Burns, and placate Emily Barclay. Meanwhile smugglers whose ship Pearce inadvertently stole, are on his tail. And it is not only John Pearce who has his fair share of trouble. The triumphant Channel Fleet returns, but the battle is already the subject of controversy - and Ralph Barclay is accused of holding back from the action.
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Pedestrian
- By Phil Stuart-Douek on 22-01-15
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A Sea of Troubles
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Release date: 01-04-13
- Language: English
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Book 10
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A Divided Command
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Unbeknown to John Pearce, the private letter he is delivering on behalf of the prime minister carries the dismissal of the very man he is sailing to see. The need for a government majority to pursue the war with France means John Pearce must step down as Britain’s best sailor, regretfully relinquishing the position to the incompetent Admiral Hotham. Hotham is equally less than pleased about John Pearce, as he is the one person who knows the truth about his dishonest naval career.
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excellent read
- By Paul on 10-02-16
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A Divided Command
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Release date: 13-02-14
- Language: English
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Book 11
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The Devil to Pay
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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It's 1794. Stuck in Palermo harbour, the headstrong Lieutenant John Pearce and his trusty Pelicans must repair the battle-damaged HMS Larcher with only meagre funds to do so. Sailing into danger, they encounter enemies. Pearce has no option but to run until, trapped in an Italian bay, he is forced to abandon his ship. Pearce must face a court martial for his actions, but his troubles are only just beginning.
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What comes next
- By Lingwelli on 15-06-15
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The Devil to Pay
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Release date: 01-04-15
- Language: English
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Book 12
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The Perils of Command
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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John Pearce, having negotiated the highly questionable sale of the two French prizes taken in The Devil to Pay, has left HMS Flirt, as well as the crew and the wounded Henry Digby in Brindisi, and is headed for Naples to see his lover. In an uncomfortable journey, he seeks to work out a way to best both Admiral Sir William Hotham and Captain Ralph Barclay, men who are his sworn enemies. All his calculations are thrown into turmoil when he discovers that Emily is pregnant.
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Great story but only 1 Chapter length.
- By Alexander on 30-04-19
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The Perils of Command
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Release date: 01-08-16
- Language: English
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Book 13
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A Treacherous Coast
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Winter 1795. Lieutenant John Pearce, reckoning to have finally ditched his old enemy, Admiral Hotham, has found a new one in Henry Digby, previously a friend. Meanwhile, Pearce's pregnant and recently widowed lover is adamant they cannot be seen together for the sake of their unborn child as she seeks respectability in society. Aboard HMS Flirt as part of the squadron led by Horatio Nelson, Pearce and his Pelicans soon join them on a reconnaissance which results in the destruction of a key French battery.
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Poor
- By Alexander on 23-06-19
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A Treacherous Coast
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Release date: 12-04-17
- Language: English
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Book 14
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Book 15
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A Close Run Thing
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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John Pearce is hiding in Gravelines with his mysterious companion, known to him as Oliphant. Although they find a crew willing to take them back to England, they learn on the journey that Pearce’s old enemies, the Tolland brothers, are still active on the route and may have been responsible for the murder of Catherine Carruthers. Back in England their problems continue: Pearce must seek to mend fences with Emily Barclay, in a relationship in which nothing is simple.
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excellent series
- By mr j m tattersall on 12-03-19
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A Close Run Thing
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Release date: 01-10-18
- Language: English
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Book 16
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HMS Hazard
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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1796. John Pearce is stuck with a difficult mission, a crew of Quota Men forced to enlist in the Royal Navy, four new midshipmen as well as Samuel Oliphant, companion cum spy, whom he finds a constant irritant. In his favour, he commands HMS Hazard, a speedy warship, a pair of competent officers and, of course, his trusty friends the Pelicans. Their mission is to head for the Mediterranean Fleet and warn Admiral Sir John Jervis of impending danger he will face, fighting a combined French/Spanish fleet.
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HMS Hazard
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Release date: 01-04-22
- Language: English
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