Fishing captain Jean Cotterell is rescued by a French frigateThe Hortenseoff the Grand Banks of Nova Scotia in May 1794. His fishing vessel hasfoundered and he ... » 

Fishing captain Jean Cotterell is rescued by a French frigateThe Hortenseoff the Grand Banks of Nova Scotia in May 1794. His fishing vessel hasfoundered and he is the sole survivor. The Hortense is part of RepublicanAdmiral Jan Van Stabels great fleet of more than 100 ships bringing corn toFrance. Life on The Hortense is like France under the Terror chaoticungovernable and obsessed with savage radical political theories. Separatedfrom the French fleet in the Western Approaches she is intercepted by twoBritish frigates and Cotterell finds himself embroiled in the heat of battle. «