THE HALFHYDE LINE

St. Vincent Halfhyde, recently separated from Her Majesty's Royal Navy, becomes the owner/master of the steamer TARONGA PARK, the first commercial vessel in the Halfhyde Line. In Victorian time, when coal-burning tramp steamers had replaced sleek clipper ships, Halfhyde's maiden voyage from Australia to Ireland was far from routine. Severe storms and other dangers were commonplace as pre-Panama Canal sailors rounded Cape Horn. But when his cargo of machine parts turns out to be guns for the rebels in the West of Ireland, and the gun-running cargo owner boards in the Pacific and takes over the TARONGA PARK, only Halfhyde's grim determination to prevail carries the day. Reader Christopher Scott's fluid presentation and very British narration lend an appropriate atmosphere to this story. His comfortable pace and crisp vocal characterizations top off an all-around fine job. The writer, reader, and subject blend into a stimulating listening experience. T.J.M. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]