Fender, J.E.

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Fender, J.E.

(James E. Fender, James Trowbridge)

PERSONAL: Born in Memphis, TN; married; wife's name Ruth. Education: University of Alabama, B.A., 1963; Suffolk University Law School, graduated 1981.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, University Press of New England, 1 Court St., Ste. 250, Lebanon, NH 03766.

CAREER: Writer, novelist, museum curator, and attorney. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH, legal counsel. Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1960–77; became captain; served in Vietnam.

WRITINGS:

"FROST SAGA"; NOVELS

The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost: Being an Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, University Press of New England (Hanover, NH), 2002.

Our Lives, Our Fortunes: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, University Press of New England (Hanover, NH), 2004.

On the Spur of Speed, University Press of New England (Hanover, NH), 2005.

OTHER

Contributor of poetry, short stories, and articles to periodicals. Also author of the novel Easy Victories, under pseudonym James Trowbridge, 1973.

SIDELIGHTS: Writer, novelist, and attorney J.E. Fender is legal counsel for the U.S. Navy's oldest shipyard, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is also curator of the shipyard's museum, tending a perpetually growing set of holdings that include naval artifacts, books, and documents covering the shipyard's entire storied history. An Air Force officer and Vietnam veteran who speaks five languages, Fender spent much of his military career working in operations and intelligence.

As Fender described it in an interview with Gina Carbone in the Portsmouth Herald, "I live in the latter part of the eighteenth century from nine p.m. to midnight" as the author of the "Frost" chronicles, a series of books that traces the lives of mariner Geoffrey Frost and his loyal comrade, the mute Ming Tsun. "I feel like I belong in the area of Portsmouth in the time between 1775 and 1800," Fender said in an interview with Cara Lovell for Foster's Daily Democrat, "walking the cobblestone streets and the deck of the Cat," Frost's ship.

In the "Frost" novels, Fender describes how he bought an old sea chest and found inside it reams of yellowed paper, with yellowed newspaper clippings, crumbling letters, and extensive writings in Portuguese. Translated into English, the documents tell about seaman Geoffrey Frost, a daring smuggler and sea captain from revolutionary-era America. They also reveal how Ming Tsun, a Mandarin Chinese tortured and rendered mute by having his tongue cut out, was saved by Frost as the captain sailed away from China. In addition, the papers document how Frost and Ming Tsun evolved as mariners and continued their adventures over the years.

In reality, there is no chest full of documents, no Ming Tsun, and no Geoffrey Frost. The entire story was made up by Fender, and, as critics have remarked, the carefully drawn history of the characters and their mysterious backgrounds add a touch of historical realism to the series. "Part of his fun is seeing how long he can keep someone believing the meticulously constructed story is real," Carbone observed.

With a nod to C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower, the first book of the series, The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost: Being an Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, details how Frost and Ming Tsun join forces. A seafarer of deep learning and almost superheroic skill, Frost plies the dangerous but lucrative China trade routes, which leads to his association with Ming Tsun. While sailing along the New Hampshire coast, Frost encounters some British ships that nearly destroy him, but he manages to capture a British sloop, which becomes his flagship. When he learns his brother-in-law has been imprisoned in a heavily guarded British fort in Nova Scotia, he mounts a rescue mission, freeing not only his grateful brother-in-law but also dozens of other American prisoners as well. Library Journal reviewer Fred Gervat noted that Fender "has made an auspicious start" with the first novel of his series. Booklist reviewer Margaret Flanagan commented that the "suspenseful, action-packed tale will appeal to fans of seafaring fiction."

Audacity, Privateer out of Portsmouth: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories continues Frost's story as he works as a licensed privateer along the east coast. The American Revolution continues, and Frost lends his capable hand to the colonies' struggle, capturing several British ships and helping sailors in distress. "Fender offers historical detail … plenty of action, and unforgettable characters," remarked George Cohen in Booklist.

In Our Lives, Our Fortunes: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, Frost once again strikes against the oppressive British, capturing a large cargo of food and arms. When he learns that American General George Washington and his troops are suffering in Pennsylvania, Frost devises a plan to move his captured goods to aid Washington's beleaguered Continental Army. Avoiding the heavily patrolled waters off the coast, Frost and his crew undertake an overland mission that proves as successful as his seagoing exploits. Frost even has the opportunity to accompany Washington in his crossing of the Delaware River. Margaret Flanagan, writing in Booklist, concluded that "fans of seafaring fiction will still enjoy this action-packed tale."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 15, 2002, Margaret Flanagan, review of The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost: Being an Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, p. 1586; May 15, 2003, George Cohen, review of Audacity, Privateer out of Portsmouth: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, p. 1638; April 15, 2004, Flanagan, review of Our Lives, Our Fortunes: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated from the Ming Tsun Chronicles, and Diligently Compared with Other Contemporary Histories, p. 1423.

Foster's Daily Democrat (New Hampshire), September 1, 2002, Cara Lovell, "Bringing Mariner Tales to Life: Author Weaves History and Fiction in Revolution-Era Book Series."

Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2005, review of On the Spur of Speed, p. 247.

Library Journal, June 1, 2002, Fred Gervat, review of The Private Revolution of Geoffrey Frost, p. 194.

Portsmouth Herald (New Hampshire), Gina Carbone, "History with a Hook," profile of J. E. Fender.