The Merriman Chronicles
THE MERRIMAN CHRONICLES
Welcome to the captivating world of historical naval fiction set in the age of fighting sail and the Napoleonic wars - a bygone era of naval warfare and heroism.
Set sail with Lieutenant James Abel Merriman, following his rise through the ranks of the British Royal Navy as he encounters French spies, Irish smugglers, corrupt officials and murderous villains. He navigates treacherous waters, engages in thrilling battles, and learns the depth of courage and resilience of his officers and crew.
Available from Amazon as Hardcover, Paperback, eBook / Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and now as an enhanced and unabridged audiobook.
As a self-published author, Burnage has made his compelling works readily accessible to readers worldwide. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a fan of gripping storytelling, or simply seeking an unforgettable escape, The Merriman Chronicles promises an unparalleled journey into maritime legends.
A Certain Threat
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The Year 1792. With French Revolutionary agents travelling freely but secretly between Ireland and England and war with France inevitable, the English government of Mr. Pitt is desperately anxious to uncover any plots between Irish rebels and the French.
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Lieutenant James Merriman with his ship, the sloop Aphrodite, is ordered to the Irish Sea to assist the principal Treasury agent Mr. Grahame in this work. Merriman is plunged headlong into the world of espionage and when Grahame is seriously wounded it falls to Merriman to carry on the investigation.
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Young James Merriman must keep all his wits about him to foil these plans especially when his adversary is revealed to be an exceptional French agent Henri Moreau who hopes that by helping the Irish to throw off the English yoke, France will be able to use Irish ports from which to attack England.
The Threat In The West Indies
The year is 1793 and Captain James Abel Merriman has been sent to the West Indies as Captain of His Majesty’s sloop Aphrodite. Once again seconded to Mr. Grahame of the Revenue Service and under orders of Lord Stevenage of the Treasury Service, they are to discover French and Spanish activities across the islands which will decide their future actions.
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England's oldest enemy France - now under the control of Napoleon Bonaparte - is in the throes of the revolution and also is at war with Austria and the Netherlands. At this point in history - February 1793 - France declares war on England.
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In the West Indies, many of the islands had been fought over by the British, the French and the Spanish. The principal islands of St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe are still in French hands although this may be about to change.
The French Invasion
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Recalled home from the West Indies, Merriman given command of the frigate ‘Lord Stevenage.’ It is known that the French are amassing an army and a fleet to invade Ireland and join with Irish rebels. If it succeeds then England will be ringed by enemy countries under the control of Napoleon Bonaparte, and only the navy stands between France and England.
Once again Merriman is involved in the murky world of secret agents with English spymaster Mr Grahame, a man he knows well, to find out what they can about the French plans in Ireland where Merriman’s old enemy Moreau, a French agent, appears once more. This is a rousing story about murder, fights with the French at sea and ashore with the background of the real French invasion of Ireland which was attempted but failed.
The Threat In The East
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The year is 1798 and it is known that Napoleon is putting a fleet and army together to attack Egypt, from where he might be able to threaten and even attack India to join with Tipu Sahib the ruler of Mysore, a known ally of the French. A British fleet under Admiral Nelson is hoping to intercept him but there is no word of their progress.
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Merriman has been ordered to take the Treasury Agent Mr Grahame to Bombay where their orders are to help The East India Company protect their shipping from pirates and also to find out how far Tipu’s naval building has progressed.
The Threat in the Baltic
In the Spring of the year 1800, Captain Merriman and his frigate Lord Stevenage return home from India after being involved with the East India Company in the destruction of a pirate fleet.
A treaty between Russia, Norway and Denmark threatens to cut the supply of timber and other supplies desperately needed by the navy so on Admiralty orders he is now to prepare for a voyage to the Baltic, to Copenhagen to try and find out about the defences of that town and harbour. So once again he is involved with Mr Grahame the treasury agent in secret, spying activities against England's enemies.
The Threat in the Americas
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In the year 1801 and Captain James Merriman aboard his ship Lord Stevenage is despatched to South America along with a small flotilla. A passenger by the name of George Humphries - part of the extensive network of English spies and agents controlled by a department of the Treasury – has orders for Merriman to seek out intelligence about England's enemies, particularly France and Spain.
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Merriman and crew are also to try and find one Don Carlos Galiano whom he had narrowly missed capturing in the West Indies several years previously. Galiano is known to be behind smuggling and privateer activities in south Atlantic waters and is rumoured to be in Montevideo.
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But another secret purpose behind this voyage is to recover important documents and treasure from a wrecked Indiaman in Brazil, the location of which is unknown apart from some very incoherent details from the sole surviving crew member.
The Threat in the Adriatic
The year is 1809 - late autumn. Captain Sir James Abel Merriman is despatched to Gibraltar to take command of a seventy four gun third rate ship of the line - HMS Thunder - with orders to escort a convoy through the Mediterranean to Malta and on to the Adriatic to find Captain William Hoste.
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Once again seconded to the Treasury - an arrangement with which he has become very familiar – Merriman is joined by Mr. Clarke who is to secretly go ashore and report on French activity whilst the squadron does as much damage as possible to French ports, forts and convoys.
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When given the command, Merriman had felt that he had at last reached the heights of his naval career but he had quickly come down to earth as he realised the greater problems he had to face with command of such a big ship. Dogged by problems with a slow ship in the convoy, a difficult officer and shipboard discipline, there is little time to prepare the crew before they encounter a new French 74 with devastating consequences including severe injury to Merriman himself and the loss of over 150 men.
The Fateful Voyage
Afghanistan 1879. Army Captain, Edward Merriman – the Great Grandson of Admiral Sir James Merriman – is fighting for his life. Pinned down by snipers, surrounded by dead and dying men, the chances of surviving the day are looking bleak.
With bayonets fixed they make ready for their last stand. The clash of steel on steel and screams of the dying are interrupted by a bugle call and a volley of rifle fire. Major-General Roberts’ army column heading for Kabul arrives just in time to fend off a massacre.
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Injured and exhausted, Merriman is ordered back to Allahabad where bad news about his family and bride-to-be awaits. With leave to sort his affairs authorised, he heads to Singapore to see his brother and to find a ship bound for Calcutta and onward home to England.
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He boards the Eastern Light, an iron-built, three-masted barquentine along with some very dubious passengers. Tempers flare as a drunken bully strikes his wife and a Japanese Samurai threatens to remove his head.
Merriman takes control of the situation and hopes for an eventless journey. But as the ship enters Pirate infested waters and a storm brews, Merriman has no idea just how much trouble is ahead.