The Sea Monarch

by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

"The Sea Monarch" by Percy F. Westerman is a novel written in the early 20th century. This adventure story centers around Sub-Lieutenant Gerald Tregarthen of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, who, while on leave, embarks on a journey aboard his friend Jack Stockton's yacht, the "Playmate". Their nautical excursion takes a dramatic turn when they are run down by a mysterious and powerful vessel, leading to Tregarthen's involvement with Captain Brookes, who reveals ambitions of achieving universal peace through naval power. At the start of the narrative, the setting is presented as a sunny summer day in Portsmouth Harbour, where the "Calder", a destroyer, is docked for repairs. After Tregarthen departs on leave, he is eventually seen reading about a peculiar incident involving the German cruiser "Zietan", which encounters strange electrical phenomena at sea. Shortly after boarding the "Playmate", he and Jack set sail, only to find themselves in peril when dense fog obscures their path, resulting in a collision with the advanced ship led by Captain Brookes. After recovering consciousness, Tregarthen learns he is a prisoner aboard Brookes's cruiser, the "Olive Branch", and must decide whether to align himself with Brookes's unconventional mission to deter war through unmatched military strength. As the plot unfolds, the reader is introduced to various mysteries surrounding the "Olive Branch", its crew, and the implications of Brookes's radical vision for peace.