Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent Reading Order

5 series · 71 books · Born 1924

Action & AdventureNon-Fiction

Douglas Reeman is a British author who brings authentic maritime expertise to historical naval fiction, writing under both his own name and the pseudonym Alexander Kent. Drawing on firsthand experience from his Royal Navy service during World War II and the Korean War, he crafted over seventy books spanning multiple series, most notably the Richard Bolitho saga and the Blackwood Family chronicles. His prolific career from 1958 to 2011 established him as a master of action-driven naval adventures grounded in historical detail.

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Blackwood Family Series

Complete

5 books (1982–2004)

Start with Badge of Glory, the first of 5 books in the Blackwood Family series.

Start this series with Badge of Glory

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Badge of Glory
Badge of Glory
1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The First to Land
The First to Land
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Horizon
4
Cover of Dust on the Sea
Dust on the Sea
1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Knife Edge

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (1981–1981)

#Title
1
Against the Sea
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Richard Bolitho Series

Complete

31 books (1968–2011)

Start with To Glory We Steer, the first of 30 books in the Richard Bolitho series.

Start this series with To Glory We Steer

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#Title
1
Cover of To Glory We Steer
To Glory We Steer
1968Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Enemy in Sight
Enemy in Sight
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Enemy in Sight!
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Form Line of Battle
Form Line of Battle
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Sloop of War
1971Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Flag Captain
The Flag Captain
1971Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Command a King's Ship
Command a King's Ship
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Signal-Close Action!
Signal-Close Action!
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Midshipman Bolitho
Midshipman Bolitho
1975Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger
Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of Passage to Mutiny
Passage to Mutiny
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of Stand into Danger
Stand into Danger
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of In Gallant Company
In Gallant Company
1977Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of The Inshore Squadron
The Inshore Squadron
1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of A Tradition of Victory
A Tradition of Victory
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of Success to the Brave
Success to the Brave
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of Colours Aloft!
Colours Aloft!
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
Cover of Honour this Day
Honour this Day
1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
Cover of With All Despatch
With All Despatch
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20
Cover of The Only Victor
The Only Victor
1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21
Beyond the Reef
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22
Cover of The Darkening Sea
The Darkening Sea
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23
Cover of For My Country's Freedom
For My Country's Freedom
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24
Cover of Cross of St. George
Cross of St. George
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25
Cover of Sword of Honour
Sword of Honour
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26
Cover of Second to None
Second to None
1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27
Relentless Pursuit
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28
29
Cover of Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
30
Cover of Heart of Oak
Heart of Oak
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
31
Cover of In the King's Name
In the King's Name
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

1 book (1986–1986)

#Title
1
Cover of Douglas Reeman Introduces Sea Captain's Tales
Douglas Reeman Introduces Sea Captain's Tales
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

33 books (1958–2006)

Start with A Prayer for the Ship, the first of 33 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with A Prayer for the Ship

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of A Prayer for the Ship
A Prayer for the Ship
1958Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of High Water
3
Send a Gunboat
1960Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Dive in the Sun
Dive in the Sun
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Hostile Shore
The Hostile Shore
1962Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Last Raider
The Last Raider
1963Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of H.M.S Saracen
H.M.S Saracen
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of With Blood and Iron
With Blood and Iron
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Path of the Storm
Path of the Storm
1966Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Deep Silence
Deep Silence
1967Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Pride and the Anguish
The Pride and the Anguish
1968Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of To Risks Unknown
To Risks Unknown
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of The Greatest Enemy
The Greatest Enemy
1970Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of Rendezvous - South Atlantic
Rendezvous - South Atlantic
1972Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of His Majestys U-boat / Go In and Sink!
His Majestys U-boat / Go In and Sink!
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of The Destroyers
The Destroyers
1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of Winged Escort
Winged Escort
1975Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
Cover of Surface with Daring
Surface with Daring
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
Cover of A Ship Must Die
A Ship Must Die
1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20
Strike From The Sea
1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21
Against the Sea
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22
Cover of Torpedo Run
23
Cover of The Volunteers
The Volunteers
1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24
Cover of The Iron Pirate
The Iron Pirate
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25
Cover of In Danger's Hour
In Danger's Hour
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26
Cover of The White Guns
The White Guns
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27
Killing Ground
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28
Cover of Sunset
29
Cover of A Dawn Like Thunder
A Dawn Like Thunder
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
30
Cover of Battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
31
Cover of For Valour
32
Cover of Twelve Seconds to Live
Twelve Seconds to Live
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
33
Cover of The Glory Boys
The Glory Boys
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent written?
Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent has written 71 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1958 to 2011.
What is the first book in each Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent series?
Here are the first books in Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent's series: Blackwood Family: Badge of Glory; Richard Bolitho: To Glory We Steer.
What order should I read Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent's books?
We recommend reading Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent's series complete?
Douglas Reeman / Alexander Kent has 5 completed series.

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