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UCFC Book Reviews Captain Nash and the Honour of England by Raymond Butler Review by V. Bjerreskov (2004 August 03) ISBN 0312119526, published 1977 When I picked this book up at the Calgary Herald Used Book Sale earlier this year, I had no idea there was fencing in it. I was looking for books that my father and I might enjoy, and so the 'Captain' in the title caught my attention. It's not actually about a ship captain, but a detective in London. Said detective's weapon of choice (indeed, the weapon of choice for all but one character) is a sword. Captain Nash, a retired military officer, has set up shop as a private detective, espousing a scientific methodology to his practice. He is not, however, a brilliant man like Sherlock Holmes. He is simply methodical, following clues from one place to another, using his understanding of society to seek out likely places for his quarry to be, and putting clues together in a rational manner. Set during the reign of George III (between 1760 and 1820), the society in which Nash practices his trade is dichotomous. On the one hand, you have George, who was known as a devoted husband and father, completey virtuous. On the other, you have the rest of the nobility, who see nothing wrong with 'keeping' a member of the opposite sex, not thinking the least about little problems like marriages and children and the like. There is a lot of sex in this book. Not graphic, mind you, but it's there, and ever-present. Nash's client is charged with murder after winning a duel by sword, and Nash carries a sword at all times. He even mentions that it is his preferred weapon. As well, much is made of gentlemanly honour, and this keeps the sword at the forefront of the setting in the novel. But the part I liked the best was when Nash went to a fencing salle and fenced six bouts with the Chevalier d'Eon. The Chevalier is an actual historical character, a man who dressed as a woman (or the other way around), a sensational fencer in more ways than one, and a noted spy. The description of their practice and the circumstances surrounding it is perfect, and I loved the little touch at the end, where Nash notes that even after six bouts, he is unsure as to whether he has been fencing a man or a woman. But the book is slightly out there. I had some trouble suspending my disbelief. Butler uses a lot of the jargon of the day, which helps create the mental place in the reader, but I was very thankful for the footnotes that defined particularly incomprehensible terms. His plot is a little strange, and the conclusion left a lot to be desired. Nash is a decent character, and I liked him. Most of the supporting cast are also very likeable, but one-dimensional. And everyone is soooooo horny! It made me laugh, though I doubt it was supposed to. If this book was longer, I wouldn't recommend reading it. However, I clocked it at about an hour and a half. For that kind of time investment, the description of the Chevalier d'Eon is enough to make it worth your while, if you can find a copy. This book is only available as a used hardcover. Back to Book Reviews Home  |  About Us   |  About Fencing   |  Links  |  Photo Gallery Image Bank  |  Reviews   |  Fencing Fun  |  Contact Us