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Shaun Lewis
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The Custom of the Trade: A gripping historical saga about the violence and heartache of World War I Kindle Edition

by Shaun Lewis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 786 ratings
When the submarine starts to sink, how do you survive?

Richard Miller is the second-in-command of the submarine D2. His captain, Lieutenant Johnson, has previously withheld a recommendation for command – Richard is too ill at ease with his men and too fond of his Bible. Just as Johnson changes his opinion, the submarine is involved in a tragic accident and sinks, leaving Richard in a race against time to save his men.



In March 1912, Richard’s cousin, Elizabeth Miller, is an activist in the Women’s Social and Political Union, standing alongside the Pankhursts to gain the vote for women. War is brewing, and no one knows what the future brings.



Once the War arrives, Elizabeth is left to run Miller’s Shipyard, building submarines and ships for the Navy, whilst Richard takes command of a submarine and heads off to war. The fight for women’s equality takes a backseat to the war effort, but Elizabeth knows where women can do the most good – in her shipyard.



Set in the dying days of the Edwardian era, and the violence and heartache of World War I, The Custom of the Trade is filled with rich, historical details of the hazards of life in early submarines, the successful submarine campaign in the Dardanelles and women’s own battles against prejudice to gain the vote.


Shaun Lewis was born in Rutland and educated in Shropshire and Scotland before joining the Royal Navy. In a career lasting twenty years he served in surface ships and submarines, as well as in appointments in intelligence and as a Chinese interpreter. He now lives in Lancashire with his wife, Hilary.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    For Those In Peril
  2. Print length
    244 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 28, 2017
  6. File size
    1.8 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0761TRMNY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lume Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ For Those In Peril
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 786 ratings

About the author

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Shaun Lewis

Shaun Lewis

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I was very fortunate to be inspired to love history by two excellent masters at my old school. However, it was only late in my career in the Royal Navy that I became interested in naval and military history. Sadly, our naval history lessons at Dartmouth were good opportunities to catch up on some much needed sleep.

​

I spent twenty years in the Royal Navy, serving in a variety of ships and submarines, in naval intelligence and as a Mandarin Chinese interpreter. I came to writing late in life. I began to find true stories of heroic deeds more fascinating than fiction and one day I suddenly thought, 'More people should know about this.' From that point I began to evolve a series of plots to honour some very courageous people.

​

My novels are not history books, but all are based on real events and, generally, historically accurate. It is the author's privilege to twist facts or rearrange them to fit the story for the purposes of entertainment. However, I hope they will inspire you to read the actual history of the events portrayed.

I have written five novels set in the First World War - the For Those in Peril series. Their topics range from early submarine warfare, the establishment of the Secret Service and forerunner to GCHQ, early naval aviation, armoured cars, the Royal Naval Division and coastal motor boat operations. My first novel, The Custom of the Trade, includes the very successful submarine campaign in the Dardanelles and was briefly Amazon's best-selling novel.

I have written, too, a novel set in WW2. They Have No Graves as Yet, highlights the courage of the Royal Navy's mine disposal officers. I am presently writing the sequel.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
786 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's World War I plot well-written and compelling, with one review specifically highlighting its detailed portrayal of British submarines. Moreover, the narrative is engaging, with customers noting it gets exciting at times, and the characters are full of life.

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20 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it compelling and believable, with one customer noting how it brings history to life.

"I have read so many good historical fiction books that have filled in the blanks that my courses in school left out...." Read more

"...submarine officer and the feminist he comes to love, and it’s worth reading, particularly by anyone interested in subs or World War I." Read more

"A truly wonderful and exciting book...." Read more

"This book was so interesting to me as it told the story of the British submarines...." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, noting that it gets exciting at times.

"...Definitely an exciting book to read. I hope there are sequels." Read more

"...Anyone who loves history should read this book. It is a juicy read and will open your eyes to what humans go thru to protect their country...." Read more

"...Character development is good and for the most part likeable. The pace is very good and keeps your attention and gets very exciting at times...." Read more

"...The authors knowledge of the WW1 subs is extensive,exciting, a d worth every minute you spend in these pages." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are full of life, with one customer describing them as very human.

"...Lt. Miller seemed very human and likable when the reader could read his thoughts and see how he changed as the result of his interactions with his..." Read more

"...Bravo, good job and thank you. Character development is good and for the most part likeable...." Read more

"...and the very fist use of these boats and the brave human men was a fascinating experience...." Read more

"...Good characters with interactions between. A good book to read" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • LiLeCo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Characters and a gripping adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have read so many good historical fiction books that have filled in the blanks that my courses in school left out. I actually pulled up a map of the area in Turkey where the battles happened. The characterizations were so interesting, too. Lt. Miller seemed very human and likable when the reader could read his thoughts and see how he changed as the result of his interactions with his crew. I highly recommend book .
    One person found this helpful
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  • Portista
    4.0 out of 5 stars Subs and Feminists— Britain in WWI
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    England in the early 20th Century was just beginning to come out of the strict Victorian era, with its rigid social castes and restrictive roles for women. Suffragettes— women fighting for the right to vote— were frequently imprisoned, whereupon they would go on hunger strikes. The government responded brutally, forcing tubes down their throats into their stomachs and force feeding them.

    Meanwhile, Europe was entering into war, with the Ottoman Empire and Germany on the one side and Britain drawn in when Germany overran Belgium to attack France. New technology brought submarines into the war for the first time.

    This is the story of young naval submarine officer and the feminist he comes to love, and it’s worth reading, particularly by anyone interested in subs or World War I.
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  • hlhzimm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything that description claims
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A truly wonderful and exciting book. It's unusual for the land side of this type of book to be almost as exciting and interesting as the shipboard side. Definitely an exciting book to read. I hope there are sequels.
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  • Phyllis Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Memories of war
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book was so interesting to me as it told the story of the British submarines. I knew some of the interesting things about subs since my best friend was in the US su rvice. I really loved Richard and his crew and could hear and imagine all that went on in his submarine, especially e9. Anyone who loves history should read this book. It is a juicy read and will open your eyes to what humans go thru to protect their country. Please read it!!!
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  • BJ Brookman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting early WWI view of submarines.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I had a bit of trouble getting started because the story kept skipping back and forth between the submarines and the suffragettes. I read on figuring that someplace these two issues would tie together. The story was interesting because it provided a view of early submarines and how they operated. One had to be brave to go 80 feet down and feel your way along with limited knowledge of what you would run into. Interesting story also in that this WWI conflict was with the Turks. The suffragettes do their part in WWI to help build the boats giving legitimacy to their demand for equality.
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  • Tina Truck
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It took a while to get into the story, I almost gave up on a couple of occasions. It was worth finishing.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very well written and edited. I highly recommend it. Good story telling without having to resort to foul language, gratuitous sex scenes, or political correctness. Bravo, good job and thank you.
    Character development is good and for the most part likeable. The pace is very good and keeps your attention and gets very exciting at times. I would read other books by this author.
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  • Linda
    4.0 out of 5 stars Submarines in W W 1
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This story was interesting in that it provided a view of the early submarines and those who commanded and served aboard. I gave it a 4 instead of 5 because at the beginning of the story I kept wondering why it skipped back and forth from submarines to the suffraget movement.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • gandalf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brave submariners
    Reviewed in Australia on April 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book graphically informs the reader what life was like for the sailors n WW1 era submarines. The hardships endured in these early ships are unimaginable until you read books like The Custom of the Trade. Very enjoyable and I would certainly read any sequels.
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  • Alan C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars 'The Custom of the Trade' - Certainly an ungentlemanly way to conduct warfare - but a compelling read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Shaun Lewis has created a cracking story with this, his first novel. The storyline of wartime adventure and heroism in the early years of submarine warfare is compelling, well-researched and consistent in its flow. The characters are introduced such that the reader's attention is grasped, and then each is developed steadily and intelligently in concert with development of the story. Shaun's career in the Royal Navy's silent service clearly provided key insight into operational tactics and attack and defence techniques and, while he has taken minor liberty with some of the technicalities of the early submarines (explained in the preface), this diversion is used simply to allow greater scope for storytelling without any significant detriment to the history.
    A tremendous read and truly a 'page-turner'. I look forward to the sequel, due for publication soon.
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  • Ian Barker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Decent story, flawed delivery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A story of the development of submarine warfare in WWI, counterpointed with the struggles of the women's suffrage movement.

    It's a decent enough story although the pacing feels rather off. In some places it fairly rattles along while in others it seems to drag. There are also scenes where it builds up tension only to let it drain away with a seemingly too easy resolution.
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  • Brianw
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good story
    Reviewed in Canada on June 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this story. Anyone who enjoys stories of submarines will like this book. Characters are good and history is interesting
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  • RR
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting vies of history
    Reviewed in Australia on March 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A little before my time but interesting how we have changed both socially and economically. Women are now part of history and progress.
    Report

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