H.M.S. Orpheus — October 21, 1805
“The Captain yet lives.”
I write this with trembling hand. We laid him among the fallen, as per his last orders. But by some miracle—or deception—he rose again in darkness. Alive, though changed. The world will think him dead. And perhaps it is better so.
Horatio — An Alternate History Adventure
What if Lord Nelson survived Trafalgar—and vanished into history under a new name?
Welcome aboard Horatio, a swashbuckling, tongue-in-cheek alternate history novel originally written by my late father, C. James Eccles. It’s a tale of espionage, identity, and the high seas, where one of Britain’s most celebrated naval heroes fakes his death and quietly takes command of a new vessel under a false name.
This isn’t your high school history lesson. It’s Master and Commander with a twist of Blackadder.
A Legacy Project
My father wrote his signature novel Horatio? (with the question mark) in the early 2000s and self-published it through my KDP account. It’s an adventure he poured his heart into—complete with naval strategy, dry wit, and the occasional cannon blast.
In a delightful twist of fate, he even sent a copy to the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh—and received a letter in return. The Prince’s private secretary wrote to say the Duke had enjoyed the book and placed it in his personal library.
That letter is one of my most treasured keepsakes.
Now, years later, I’m giving this story a new life. I’m reworking the novel with love and care—tightening the plot, raising the stakes, and introducing a nemesis character who might just expose our hero’s true identity.
What’s Changing (and What Isn’t)
- Same daring premise: Lord Nelson survives—but at what cost?
- New narrative structure: The story will be reframed through the eyes of Lt. Gage, Nelson’s observant first mate, whose logbook entries pepper the chapters.
- Higher stakes: Secrets, spies, and one dangerous adversary who suspects everything.
- More grit, more heart: Without losing the original’s humour or spirit.
This is still my father’s story. I’m just helping it sail a little farther.
Why “Horatio”?
That’s my working title for the new edition—a nod to the original, and a small tribute to the man who raised me on stories of history, heroism, and humour.
Want to Be the First to Know When It Launches?
I’ll be sharing updates, sneak peeks, and logbook excerpts as I go.
📬 Follow along at the blogbook.
A Little Taste…
“The seagulls arrived first.”
So begins the new edition. Because before the cannon smoke clears, something has already shifted in the air.