Where to Start Reading Andrew Wareham
With dozens of novels spanning multiple centuries, Andrew Wareham’s bibliography can feel like an ocean to navigate. The best starting point depends on your favorite historical subgenre. For classic Age of Sail adventures, start with The Man From Bere, the opening novel of the Call of the Sea series. It introduces Nicholas Turnhouse, a Dorset farmhand who rises through the ranks of the Royal Navy. If you prefer high-seas action from the perspective of an established officer, The Friendly Sea (the first book of the Duty and Destiny series) is an excellent alternative starting point.
For readers who enjoy historical social drama, industrialization, and rise-to-power storylines rather than pure naval combat, the recommended entry point is The Privateersman, which kicks off the long-running A Poor Man at the Gates series. This series swaps the navy for the raw, developing world of the Industrial Revolution, following a smuggler's journey to becoming an industrial tycoon.
Andrew Wareham Books in Chronological Order
Because Wareham’s series are self-contained and follow distinct families or protagonists, reading his entire catalog in chronological order of their historical settings is a fascinating way to trace the evolution of warfare, economics, and society. You can follow the timeline of his series below:
The 17th Century (Civil War & Piracy)
- Years of Blood Series: Set during the English Civil War. It follows Micah Slater as he escapes a harsh home life to fight in the conflict.
- Buccaneers Series: Focuses on the Golden Age of Piracy, following the protagonist Dawes as he makes his fortune in the Caribbean.
The 18th Century (Georgian Era & Early Empire)
- Gin Lane Series: Explores the gritty underbelly of Georgian London and smuggling through the eyes of Sam, a poor farmer's son.
- A Merchant's Tale Series: Explores the rise of British influence in India, featuring Robert Meiklejohn during the mid-19th century and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
- Duty and Destiny Series: Set during the Napoleonic Wars. Follows Frederick Harris's naval commands from the Caribbean to the Barbary Coast.
- Call of the Sea Series: Spans the Napoleonic Wars, charting Nick Turnhouse's rise from farmhand to captain.
The 19th Century (Victorian Expansion & Industrialization)
- The Agricultural Lord Palfrey Series: Follows Waterloo survivor Nathaniel Perry as he inherits the Lord Palfrey title.
- Colonial Warrior Series: Follows Billy Bacon through conflicts in the Spanish Main and with the East India Company's armies.
- A Poor Man at the Gates Series: Traces the rise of Tom Andrews and Joseph Star from smugglers to wealthy industrialists.
- Five Young Men of the Fenlands Series: Follows a group of five working-class men navigating mid-19th century England.
- Earl's Other Son Series: Features Lord Magnus Campbell, who is exiled to the China Station in Hong Kong to seek redemption.
- Cannibal Country Series: Follows Ned Hawkins, an English gutter rat seeking prosperity in Papua.
- Making of a Man Series: Follows Dick Burke as he flees England to fight in the American Civil War.
The 20th Century (The World Wars)
- An Underhand Invention Series: Follows Gilbert Maltravers entering the submarine service in 1912.
- Innocents at War Series: Explores the grim realities of World War I through Tommy Stark.
- War To End All Wars Series: A gritty, detailed look at the battlefields and home fronts of the First World War.
- Innocent No More Series: Set during the build-up to and outbreak of World War II, following Tommy Stark's son, Thomas Stark, in the RAF.
Key Series and Protagonists
Call of the Sea
This series follows Nicholas "Bloody Nick" Turnhouse. Unlike many Age of Sail protagonists who begin as gentlemen midshipmen, Nick starts as a Dorset farmhand. His rise through the ranks provides a detailed look at the rigid class structures of the Royal Navy and the economic realities of prize money during the Napoleonic Wars.
Duty and Destiny
Centering on Frederick Harris, this series takes a more traditional command-focused approach. Harris commands various frigates and squadrons, dealing with political intrigue, colonial skirmishes, and naval diplomacy from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. It is highly praised by fans of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian.
A Poor Man at the Gates
This series is a sprawling epic that follows Tom Andrews and his partner Joseph Star, a freed slave. Together, they transition from smuggling and privateering in New York to building an industrial empire in Lancashire. The series is notable for its deep dive into the economic shifts, technological changes, and social divisions of the Industrial Revolution.
Innocents at War & Innocent No More
These two series form a generational saga. Innocents at War follows Tommy Stark through the trenches of World War I. The sequel series, Innocent No More, picks up with his son, Thomas Stark, who fights in the Spanish Civil War before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) to battle both the Luftwaffe and outdated British military dogma during World War II.
Reader Advice & Reading Caveats
Wareham is a highly prolific writer who frequently publishes multiple books a year. Because his series are heavily serialized, it is not recommended to read the books within a specific series out of order. Doing so will spoil character arcs, promotions, and family fortunes.
However, you do not need to read the different series in any specific order. You can easily read all of the Call of the Sea books before jumping back in time to the English Civil War with Years of Blood. The only exception is the transition from Innocents at War to Innocent No More, where reading the World War I series first adds significant emotional weight and context to the World War II sequel series.