The Trial of Admiral Byng

The Trial of Admiral Byng is a fictionalised retelling of the true story of the battle of Minorca and Admiral Byng's subsequent court-martial. The book details the background to the French invasion of Minorca in 1756, breathing new life into the fascinating characters who were involved on both sides. In addition to Admiral Byng, we meet such characters as the octogenarian commander of the British forces, William Blakeney, frequently bedridden with gout, and the outspoken Captain Hervey who is Byng's champion throughout. On the French side, we follow the exploits of the amorous and charismatic Duc de Richelieu, the Commander of the French forces as well as the French Admiral Galissonière, whose dispatch after the battle causes unforeseen consequences to Admiral Byng. The book takes us from the siege of Minorca to the fleet action off its coast and then into the courtroom, where Byng faces the most important battle of his life.