Books On Board
series Reading Order

Philip Hazard Books in Order

9 Books
1965 – 1976 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order for Philip Hazard

To experience the full arc of Philip Horatio Hazard's naval career, you should read the novels in chronological order. Because the narrative follows Hazard's promotions and the historical progression of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, the chronological timeline matches the original publication sequence. However, navigating this series can be tricky due to regional title variations and duplicate listings in database records. In particular, some databases list nine entries, whereas there are actually only eight core novels in the series.

Below is the definitive chronological reading path, mapping both the historical sequence and the alternative names you might encounter on library shelves or online retailers:

  1. The Valiant Sailors (1965/1966) — Set in 1853–1854. The series begins with First Lieutenant Philip Hazard aboard the frigate Trojan as the British Empire slides into war.
  2. The Brave Captains (1968) — Set in 1854. Hazard continues his service during the onset of active hostilities in the Baltic and Black Seas.
  3. Black Sea Frigate / Hazard's Command (1971) — Set in late 1854. Newly promoted Commander Hazard takes command of the steam-screw frigate HMS Trojan to transport reinforcements to the besieged garrison at Eupatoria. (Note: These are two titles for the exact same book.)
  4. Hazard of Huntress (1972) — Set in 1854/1855. Hazard is promoted to captain of the steam-powered Huntress and sent on a high-stakes intelligence mission to Odessa.
  5. Hazard in Circassia (1973) — Set in 1855. Hazard goes ashore on a perilous mission to recruit guerrilla allies among the Circassian tribes.
  6. Victory at Sebastopol / Hazard to the Rescue (1973) — Set in 1855. This novel covers the dramatic climax of the Siege of Sebastopol.
  7. Guns to the Far East / Shannon's Brigade (1975) — Set in 1857. Hazard serves in China before rushing to India to assist during the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny.
  8. Escape from Hell / Sailors on Horseback (1976) — Set in 1857–1858. The final novel finds Hazard leading a specialized naval brigade on land to rescue a besieged garrison during the Sepoy Mutiny.

Understanding the 8 vs. 9 Book Discrepancy

If you look at the catalog records on Bookwrapt or older library inventories, you will often see a nine-book collection list. This is due to a common cataloging quirk. In these databases, Black Sea Frigate (the original UK title) and Hazard's Command (the US title) are erroneously cataloged as separate, consecutive entries (typically numbered as Book 3 and Book 4). Additionally, these records sometimes swap the order of the fifth and sixth books, placing Victory at Sebastopol before Hazard in Circassia.

To ensure you do not buy the same book twice under different names, keep this guide handy. There are only eight distinct novels written by V.A. Stuart featuring Philip Hazard. Reading them in the sequence listed above will keep your historical and character progression perfectly aligned.

What to Know Before You Start

Vivian Stuart (writing as V.A. Stuart) was a prolific British historical novelist who drew heavily on her own military background. Having served as a lieutenant during World War II, she brought a deep appreciation for logistics, command dynamics, and historical accuracy to her writing. Unlike many of her contemporaries who focused on the Napoleonic Era (such as C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower), Stuart chose the mid-19th century as her backdrop. This allows the Philip Hazard series to stand out for several reasons:

  • The Age of Steam: The series documents the fascinating transitional era of naval warfare when sail power was actively giving way to steam-screw propulsion. Hazard must navigate not just enemy fleets, but the technical complexities and shifting tactics of steam-powered vessels.
  • Underrepresented Conflicts: The series provides a detailed look at the Crimean War (1854–1856), a brutal and chaotic conflict that is rarely the focus of mainstream naval fiction.
  • Beyond the Quarterdeck: As the series progresses, Hazard's duties lead him ashore. By the final books, he is fighting land campaigns in India, illustrating the versatile role of the Royal Navy's naval brigades.

Companion Series: The Alexander Sheridan Novels

If you finish the Philip Hazard saga and want more mid-19th-century military action, V.A. Stuart wrote a five-book sister series focusing on Alexander Sheridan. While there are no direct character crossovers between the two sagas, they are thematic companions. The Sheridan series is set during the same era but follows an army officer serving with the East India Company. It provides an excellent land-based perspective on the Indian Mutiny, making it the perfect follow-up read for fans of Hazard's final adventures in Escape from Hell.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start reading the Philip Hazard series?

You should start with the first novel, The Valiant Sailors. The series is highly sequential, and starting here establishes Philip Hazard's character, his early rivalries, and the historical buildup to the Crimean War.

QAre 'Black Sea Frigate' and 'Hazard's Command' two different books?

No, they are the same book. Black Sea Frigate was the title used for the British release, while the book was published in the United States as Hazard's Command.

QCan the Philip Hazard books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained naval mission or military campaign, they are best read in order. The overarching character development, naval promotions, and historical timeline of the Crimean War build directly from one book to the next.

QHow many books are in the Philip Hazard series?

There are exactly eight distinct novels in the series, though cataloging databases often list nine due to regional title variations being counted twice.

QWhat other series did V.A. Stuart write?

Under the name V.A. Stuart, she also wrote the Alexander Sheridan series, a five-book military saga. Under her other pseudonyms, such as William Stuart Long, she wrote the popular 12-book historical saga The Australians.