
The Naval Fiction Interviews: Philip K. Allan and Alexander Clay
From The Mariner's Mirror Podcast by The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation
May 4, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
The episode features an interview with Philip K. Allan discussing his naval fiction works, including the Alexander Clay series and the Wolves series.
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into naval fiction with the prolific and insightful Philip K. Allan. Since 2018, Philip has built an impressive body of work, most notably his Alexander Clay series set during the Age of Sail. Following a Royal Navy officer through the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the series brings to life a global naval career—from home waters to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South America. Along the way, readers experience everything from commerce raiding and blockades to dramatic ship-to-ship combat and fleet battles, all while gaining a vivid sense of life at sea and the shifting alliances of the era. More recently, Philip has turned his attention to the Second World War with his Wolves series, exploring the deadly struggle between Allied convoys and German U-boats. If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out our other episodes in the naval fiction series, featuring contemporary authors writing naval fiction across the centuries and a fascinating look into the life behind Patrick O’Brian’s iconic work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Guest: Philip K. Allan
Topics covered
- naval fiction
- Age of Sail
- historical novels
- military history
- literature
Keywords
- naval fiction
- Philip K. Allan
- Alexander Clay
- Wolves series
- Age of Sail
- French Revolutionary Wars
- Second World War
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Society for Nautical Research, Lloyds Register Foundation
Books & works: Alexander Clay series, Wolves series
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