Nelson has given us the Revolution at Sea Trilogy, with the infant US Navy centered about Rhode Island.

Thanks to O'Brian, the standard for this kind of historical fiction is so high that comments are necessarily comparative and are therefore likely to sound more negative than they really should. That said, the writing, dialogue, and character development are simple. The situations and event development appear somewhat artificial at times. I could wish the British establishment not appear to be so uniformly monstrous. These books are pleasant, but could be enjoyed and probably fully understood by a 12-year-old.

Nelson certainly knows his history, his ships, and particularly the working of those ships - the detail is pleasing and authoritative. This, added to the American setting, makes the trilogy quite recommendable.

At time of writing, I've not yet finished the 2^nd book, which is better than the 1^st; things may improve yet.

1775, Rhode Island. Isaac Biddlecomb, a talented sea captain, is torn between his life goals and the demands of patriotic causes. Pressed onto a brig by a snobbish tyrannical British captain who is no seaman, Biddlecomb leads a mutiny, disses the local British frigate, and is generally very heroic.

Reluctant Biddlecomb is sent to Bermuda to capture powder badly needed by Washington. The ad hoc, improvised, chaotic nature of the 1775 colonial war effort is very well presented.

Same stuff, but author's skill is improving.