Maritime Fiction

Two Years Before the Mast is a book by the American author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., written after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834 and published in 1840. While at Harvard College, Dana had an attack of the measles that affected his vision. Thinking it might help his sight, Dana, rather than going on a Grand Tour as most of his fellow classmates traditionally did (and unable to afford it anyway), and being something of a nonconformist, left Harvard to enlist as a common sailor.

Captain Alan Lewrie and his small squadron defeat four French frigates off northern Spain, winning honor, glory, and renown. So, why is such a successful captain suddenly without a ship, or another active commission? Why do rumors swirl that jealous foes' powerful patrons are blighting his career? Months on end ashore, even in entertaining London getting his portrait painted, put him in serious sulks. Well, the artist is the sister of one of his midshipmen, a delightful and talented young lady of a modern outlook, but not modern enough to become Lewrie's lover.

This ninth volume of The Flashman Papers, faithfully edited and transcribed by Fraser, finds that Sir Harry Flashman is back in India, where his saga began. This time, our hero is sent by Her Majesty's Secret Service to spy on the corrupt court of Lahore, on India's Northwest Frontier. Flashy's most challenging exploit yet is as politically shrewd and thoroughly lewd as ever.

A maritime adventure novel set in the unforgiving seas around Kerguelen predominantly during the late 19th century. To Hell from the Sea is a visceral narrative plumbing the depths of a dangerous nautical journey, the gritty life of sailors, and the machinations of high society. Following the lives of worldly seamen and aristocrats alike, this novel delivers hard-hitting truths about survival, human resilience, and enduring love, no matter the odds or societal norms. The heart of the story revolves around the lives onboard the Albatross, a vessel on a treacherous voyage. Axel, a grizzled ...

Three mismatched troop transports, lots of 29-foot barges, and an under-strength regiment of foot - a waste of Royal Navy money, a doomed experiment, or a new way to bedevil Napoleon's army in Italy? Either way, it's Capt. Sir Alan Lewrie's idea, and it seems to be working, with successful raids all along the coast of Calabria. But it depends on timely information, and Lewrie must trust Don Julio Caesare, a lord of a Sicilian criminal underworld, and his minions, or the amateur efforts of a disorganized network of Calabrian partisans.

Robert Fairchild thought he had it all—until the U.S. government knocked on the door of his Park Avenue apartment. Accused by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of owning shares in a VLCC trading sanctioned Russian oil, the hedge fund manager turned shipowner watches his world capsize. His fortune. His reputation. His marriage. Even his freedom. Exiled to a trailer park in the Florida Keys, Robert searches for a way out. But when his volatile partner—Norwegian shipping tycoon Coco Jacobsen—vanishes on his yacht, the crisis deepens. Then a Boston private equity ...

Shipwrecked Dreamsby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a gripping historical fiction adventure set in the early 20th century North Pacific. Follow the perilous journey of Jimmy Farquhar, a young and ambitious second mate, as he navigates the treacherous waters of the North Pacific in search of fortune and redemption. As Jimmy embarks on a challenging voyage aboard a mail steamboat, he encounters a series of unforeseen challenges that test his resolve and courage. From battling fierce storms to confronting the harsh realities of maritime life, Jimmy's journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty. ...

Follow Christoph Swift and his diverse band of companions as they navigate the treacherous waters of the Traders World. In a realm where minosium—a gem of extraordinary power—fuels both progress and conflict, every wave conceals a potential ally or enemy. But in this world where ambition and magic intertwine, every alliance harbors a hidden agenda. As Christoph and his unlikely crew sail from sun-drenched archipelagos to mist-shrouded islands, each discovery brings them closer to the mythical Labyrinth—and to danger. Facing ruthless factions and ancient mysteries, they must master ...

With Bonaparte held to a stalemate in Europe, the race to empire is now resumed. Britain's ambitions turn to the Spice Islands, the Dutch East Indies, where Admiral Pellew has been sent to confront the enemy's vastly rich holdings in these tropical islands. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd joins reinforcements to snatch these for the British Crown. The two colonial masters of India and the East Indies face each other in mortal striving for the region—there can be only one victor to hold all the spoils.

Once captured and enslaved in Tripoli, Thomas Watson has escaped at last and vowed never to return. Susannah Wilcox secretly longs for adventure and is thrilled when she is sent to Naples to finish her education. Jules Monroe is freeborn but longs to prove to himself and the wider world that he is a man, out on the sea with his cousin Samuel. Their stories all meet in 1803 aboard the Philadelphia, a 36-gun frigate. Unfortunately, the ship has fallen into the hand of Barbery pirates, and such a powerful weapon will allow them to decimate the United States’ fledgling navy.

1812. Arriving back in England after his successes in the Adriatic, Captain Sir Thomas Kydd is bestowed with honours. In London, he's greeted by the Prince Regent, who, despite Kydd's protestations that he's happy with his present command, insists he be given a bigger ship - HMS Thunderer, a 74-gun ship of the line. But she's old, and being part of a standing fleet, Kydd's chances of further fame and distinction are slim indeed.

Are you ready to be engulfed in a world in which man battles with deep emotions of vengeance, the pressures of society, and passive resistance? Herman Melville’s descriptive style of storytelling captivates and thrills listeners as he deftly reveals the undertones and themes of racial conflict, truth, and social injustice.

"What The Lake Knows" is a modern parable about confronting the stories we tell ourselves—about luck, about loss, about what keeps us safe. In the tradition of "The Alchemist" and "The Old Man and the Sea," this tale reminds us that sometimes our deepest beliefs are the very things preventing us from moving forward. Set against the timeless backdrop of the Great Lakes fishing industry, this meditation on courage, change, and wisdom reveals that our greatest limitations often exist only in our minds. Sometimes the heaviest anchors are the ones we choose to carry. Perfect for readers who ...

A gripping maritime adventure novel set in the vast Atlantic Ocean during the late 1800s. Step into an epic saga of seafaring peril and heart-rending bravery with "Shipwreck in the Shadows." This meticulously crafted historical fiction takes you on a journey aboard the Pacific, a noble vessel caught in the clutches of an Atlantic tempest. As the storm rages, Captain Osborn, the Seagrave family, and their seasoned crew are thrust into a fierce battle for survival. The narrative unveils the daunting aftermath of a devastating shipwreck, where William, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, ...

A Historical Novel Set in Wapping, London, During the Late 19th Century"Along the Thames" is a historical novel set in Wapping, London, during the intriguing era of the late 19th century. This riveting narrative expertly weaves history with fictional characters to paint an engaging picture of the challenging life and times experienced by the ordinary folk of London's East End. The StorylineNarrated through the eyes of young Stephen, the plot centers around his life with his grandfather Nat Huber, a pub owner in Wapping. The story begins with Stephen recalling his idyllic past, the premature...

A luxury cruise ship. A ruthless drug syndicate. A detective who never leaves his ship... until now. Sidney Fleet, brilliant detective and notorious recluse, has made the Meridian Challenger his permanent floating fortress. With his meticulous mind and network of international agents, he solves the world's most complex crimes without ever setting foot on land. But when threatening messages start appearing, followed by a poisoning attempt and sabotage of the ship's systems, Fleet and his pragmatic assistant Drew Peterson realize this is no ordinary case. Someone aboard the Challenger has ...

A deadly storm. A vanished crew. One woman’s fight to uncover the truth. When a routine coast guard rescue mission turns into a nightmare, Captain Emerson Blake is thrust into a high-stakes struggle for survival in the heart of the Great Lakes. Battling hurricane-force winds, betrayal within her own ranks, and a survivor who refuses to talk, Emerson must rely on her instincts—and the pain of her past—to find answers. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes this wasn’t just a tragic accident. Someone wanted that ship—and its secrets—buried beneath the waves. Silent Shore ...

In the year 1282, after their daring heroics liberating Sicily, Esmeray and Bastone find a haven on the island of Favignana. But the War of the Sicilian Vespers reignites, dragging them into their prior roles as spies. Finding strength in each other, they once more join the patriots to rid the Angevins from Sicily. They return to their sanctuary in Favignana, sharing the welcome challenge of raising their adventurous daughter, Aspasia. Esmeray and Bastone, however, long for the open sea, and she accepts command of a trading vessel, but questions if the sea is the best home for their ...

"China Sea Gold" is a thriller novel set in the mysterious and tumultuous waters of the China Sea in the early 20th century. Its narrative, filled with maritime escapades, dangerous and deceiving conspiracies, and an unending quest for hidden treasure, unfolds aboard a creaky, rickety ship navigating through some of the most treacherous waters on Earth. The Story The harrowing tale centers around Mr. Smith, a foreign correspondent who finds himself caught up in a web of deceit and treachery aboard the steamship Kut Sang. As he joins the vessel bound for Hong Kong, he crosses paths with a ...

The world is changing, and not in a good way. Climate change is accelerating, sea levels are rising, but people still have their heads lodged firmly in the sand, or worse. Maritime Canada is drowning, civilization is disintegrating, and it is every man for himself. Can an ordinary man survive the maelstrom? Does he even want to? Being a Survivor in this new world order may take more than he is willing to give.