Standards Left Ragged (A Fairaday
and Marlborough Novel) by Charles
White
A Darned Good Sea Going Adventure Story
Yankee privateer Captain Phillip Fairaday and Royal Navy Lieutenant Eliot
Marlborough return in this sea adventure of 1776. As the conflict in the
Chesapeake Bay grows more savage, so, too, does the conflict between
these former friends. While Fairaday raids Tory commerce with increasing
success, Marlborough joins the ship’s company of HMS Roebuck 44 in
order to intercept and destroy the inshore Rebel threat. When they meet in
ship to ship action off the North Carolina coast only one will retain his
command; for the other, an uncertain fate looms.
Personal Review: Standards Left Ragged (A Fairaday and
Marlborough Novel) by Charles White
Reviewed by Joe Graham for Reader Views (4/06)

C.D. White works to create the world of the struggle between the British
navy and American rebel privateers in April of 1776 before the
announcement of the Declaration of Independence in July. He shows the
nautical world of 1776 on the English ship, the "Roebuck" under the
command of Captain Andrew Hammond and the Yankee privateer
"Javelin" under the command of Captain Phillip Fairaday.
White does a good job of setting up the situation of the central conflict
between the British and Yankees, the specific conflict between the brother-
in-laws, Fairaday and Marlborough and the conflicts on the ships between
various shipmates like Fairaday and Kempner who is trying to undermine
Fairaday's authority and take over command.
The conflict between Fairaday and Hammond is intensified by the fact that
Fairaday's brother-in-law is the second in command on the "Roebuck,"
Second Lieutenant Marlborough. The conflict in families with different
family members was not uncommon during the war. White also brings in
the conflicts between the sailors and their respective governments. Capt.
Hammond and Lt. Marlborough have to convince Lord Dunmore, the Royal
Governor of Virginia of the need for a smaller ship that go into shallower
waters after the Yankee privateers. Capt. Fairaday's younger brother, Elias
has to go to Pat Henry to ask for more supplies for his brother's brother.
The author was very successful with the various conflicts to draw the
reader into the story
One quote from the book shows the motivation of the men on both sides of
the struggle. Captain Hammond says, "Aye, what we came for blood and
glory, blood and glory" as they prepare to attack the Yankee privateer.
Any reader who has an interest in American history during the time before
the Revolutionary War will enjoy the book especially if they like nautical
tales.
White is successful in luring the reader into the world of life in the waters
and lands around Chesapeake Bay, but he obviously intends to continue
the story and he leaves several plot threads dangling like how will the
romance between Phillip Fairaday and Peggy Raison develop and will
Fairaday and Marlowe meet in battle and who will come out victorious
which makes for a tantalizing and frustrating ending. I enjoyed the book
especially since I know little about the struggles on and off the American
coastline prior to the Revolution. My only criticism of the book was that it
left me hanging wondering what was going to happen to Fairaday and
Marlborough. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a
nautical tale set at the birth of the American navy.
White has woven together a story of strong, forceful men on opposing
sides of the upcoming battles of the American Revolution and even
though, Americans will naturally side with the Yankees, the author makes
the British sailors interesting enough that you can also hope that the British
will be successful in their endeavors or at least not suffer any serious

harm. He paints a picture of naval warfare that should appeal to naval
buffs and landlubbers alike and should leave them wanting to read more
about Fairaday and Marlborough.
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