
audiobook
by Earl of Thomas Cochrane Dundonald
A seasoned British admiral narrates his unexpected commission to aid the fledgling Brazilian empire, thrust into a turbulent sea of revolution and foreign intrigue. He arrives in Rio de Janeiro to assess a rag‑tag fleet, confronts the stark inadequacy of Portuguese‑trained crews, and grapples with an uneasy imperial court that both courtesies and resists his leadership.
The officer’s account details daring blockades of Bahia, the deployment of fireships, and frantic chases of enemy convoys, all while navigating a maze of political demands from ministers and local juntas. Amid the clash of swords and sails, he wrestles with contentious prize‑money disputes, the fickle loyalties of Portuguese factions, and the constant threat of mutiny.
Through vivid logs and candid letters, the narrative captures the clash between naval discipline and revolutionary fervor, offering listeners a window into the early struggles that shaped Brazil’s path to independence.
Full title
Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domination, Volume 2
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (513K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-12-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1775–1860
A fearless naval commander with a taste for bold, unconventional action, he became one of the great real-life swashbucklers of the age of sail. His dramatic career carried him from the Royal Navy to the independence struggles of Chile, Brazil, and Greece.
View all books