The Matty Graves Novels

American sea adventures in the age of fighting sail.



The Matty Graves novels chronicle the adventures of a young officer during the early years of the U.S. Navy. The first three books take place in the Caribbean during the Quasi War, the undeclared naval conflict with France that hotted up in 1798 and petered out in 1801. There were a couple of significant frigate duels, but most of the action involved snatching up each other's merchantmen and suppressing privateers.

Which isn't to say it was dull. When you send out a bunch of young men with guns and swords and tell them to have at it, there's bound to be blood for breakfast some days.

Entire contents © 2007 by Broos Campbell, except those items clearly identified as being in the public domain.

Selected Works

The Matty Graves novels
Book 1: No Quarter

Midshipman Matty Graves must choose between family and duty.

“Refreshingly cynical.”
—Jonathan Lunn

Book 2: The War of Knives

Acting-Lieutenant Matty Graves gets caught up in the Haitian Revolution in 1800. Mayhem ensues!

"[N]ever dull . . ."
—Madison Smartt Bell

Book 3: Peter Wicked

Matty seizes the opportunity to make a name and fortune for himself—even if it means destroying those closest to him.

"[U]nusual, if somewhat jaundiced . . ."
Library Journal

Errata
Errata
Errors after the fact
History
Lubber's Glossary
Seamen's terms in landsmen's language
Timeline
Haitian Timeline
Nautical info bits
Sailing distances around Haïti
How far it is from here to there, by sea, in English statute miles.
Officers' uniforms
Public domain stuff—I didn't write this.
Maps
Maps
Yep, still maps
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