Ramage assigned to watch Cadiz for the French and Spanish fleets to emerge. When they do he is reminded that frigates such as the Calypso have no place in the line of battle but stay back to relay signals from one ship to another. But when Ramge spots the Hazrd, the twin to his French built Calypso, he cannot resist attempting her capture.

Off to Cadiz to spy for Admiral Nelson. On, to Trafalgar where the Calypso, a frigate is supposed to watch and not get involved. Really! Remember; this is Ramage.
Excellent series, sometimes based on actual events. Always a good story with interesting characters, puzzling quandaries and sometimes quirky solutions. Age of sail tyros should read early in their literary questing for his knowledge and insights into fighting, sailing and British Navy life during these quite fascinating times. Often set in the Caribbean where Pope lived for most of his writing career enabling him to provide very helpful maps, not often found in fiction, for his scenarios. ( )

Captain Ramage wordt door Admiral Nelson persoonlijk opgeroepen zich bij Nelson's vloot bij Cadiz te voegen waar ze de franse en spaanse vloot blokkeren.

Thuis in Kent is Ramage's jonge vrouw, Sarah, radeloos als haar het nieuws bereikt dat één van de grootste zeeslagen die de wereld ooit gekend heeft, de slag bij Trafalgar, elk moment los kan barsten.
Sarah hoopt dat Ramage de frontlinie in het gevecht kan vermijden, maar haar hoop is vergeefs. Strijdend voor zijn land bevindt Ramage zich als snel in een gevecht voor zijn leven en dat van zijn onverschrokken kleine fregat, Calypso.