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Yamacraw Bluff
The tale begins in London in the 1730s; Tom Ellis is trapped in debt and heading for the Fleet, a notorious debtors’ prison. By happenstance Tom is sucked into a fight, defending a drunken aristocrat who happens to be James Oglethorpe, the eventual founder of Savannah, Georgia, and Tom's life is changed forever.
Languishing in prison, he is rescued by Oglethorpe and pulled into a fantastical scheme to start a new colony in America. Tom Ellis travels across the Atlantic with the first founders and fights to protect the colony from a dramatic scheme to undermine it
Yamacraw Bluff is a fully panoramic historical novel capturing the sights, scenes, and experiences of the founders, while telling the untold story of loss, internecine conflict, and revenge.
About the Author
Dr. Luke Pittaway is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Ohio University. He has been an academic since 1998 and he earned his PhD from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The author worked in universities both in the UK and the US, founding entrepreneurship programs. He has published over fifty academic papers and book chapters in his discipline.
Pittaway emigrated to the United States, and Georgia specifically in 2008, to settle in Statesboro, located near Savannah. At this time, he became fascinated with the colonial history of North America and especially the states of Georgia and Ohio. As he became knowledgeable about this history, he realized that many people were unfamiliar with aspects of American history prior to the War of Independence, and this motivated him to write about the founding histories of colonial North America in an accessible way that would be appealing to readers of historical fiction.
Languishing in prison, he is rescued by Oglethorpe and pulled into a fantastical scheme to start a new colony in America. Tom Ellis travels across the Atlantic with the first founders and fights to protect the colony from a dramatic scheme to undermine it
Yamacraw Bluff is a fully panoramic historical novel capturing the sights, scenes, and experiences of the founders, while telling the untold story of loss, internecine conflict, and revenge.
About the Author
Dr. Luke Pittaway is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Ohio University. He has been an academic since 1998 and he earned his PhD from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The author worked in universities both in the UK and the US, founding entrepreneurship programs. He has published over fifty academic papers and book chapters in his discipline.
Pittaway emigrated to the United States, and Georgia specifically in 2008, to settle in Statesboro, located near Savannah. At this time, he became fascinated with the colonial history of North America and especially the states of Georgia and Ohio. As he became knowledgeable about this history, he realized that many people were unfamiliar with aspects of American history prior to the War of Independence, and this motivated him to write about the founding histories of colonial North America in an accessible way that would be appealing to readers of historical fiction.
364 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 16, 2026
This was a fascinating story about starting the colony of Savannah GA.
March 11, 2025
Yamacraw Bluff by Luke Pittaway is a historical novel published by Culicidae Press of Madison, Wisconsin
Great movies have been made of books detailing the elevation to statehood – epics such as Ice Palace for Alaksa and Lone Star for Texas spring to mind – and I guess this one to beat them all.
University professor Luke Pittaway’s first of what is promised to be several books set in what became the state of Georgia, Yamacraw Bluff, is truly a tour de force and ultimately a “cert” for screens big or small – but preferably the former.
We are told this is the work of a man who was born in leafy Oxfordshire in Great Britain yet who came to the Peach State back in 2008, having been engaged by the university in Statesboro, and became immersed in its fascinating history.
His hero is Tom Ellis, named after one of those who made the same journey across the Atlantic back in the 18th century at the behest of the then very real English parliamentarian James Edward Oglethorpe, the man who created the colony and soon afterwards the province of Georgia which would become one of the original 13 states and the fourth to ratify the Constitution.
Dr Pittaway brings to fictional life in his tale others who crossed the ocean along with many incidents that occurred and which he unearthed from historical accounts in the state’s archives.
The good ship Anne, carrying General Oglethorpe and his band of settlers, made landfall at Charles Town and then Port Royal in South Carolina where they were welcomed by Colonel William Bull.
From there Tom and his mentor travelled in skiffs to reach the bluff of the title, flat and high above the Savannah river.
They were greeted by Yamacraw native Americans and their legendary leader Tomochichi along with the traders John and Mary Musgrove, all of whom play a part in this exciting tale.
The site would quickly become the birthplace of the great city and seaport of Savannah.
Probably named after the river, it was the first state capital and where Downtown has retained the pattern of Oglethorpe’s grand plan.
Action-packed with brilliantly described scenes and the experiences of the characters, initially in London and then at the bluff and its environs, it’s a book that simply refuses to be put down.
Great movies have been made of books detailing the elevation to statehood – epics such as Ice Palace for Alaksa and Lone Star for Texas spring to mind – and I guess this one to beat them all.
University professor Luke Pittaway’s first of what is promised to be several books set in what became the state of Georgia, Yamacraw Bluff, is truly a tour de force and ultimately a “cert” for screens big or small – but preferably the former.
We are told this is the work of a man who was born in leafy Oxfordshire in Great Britain yet who came to the Peach State back in 2008, having been engaged by the university in Statesboro, and became immersed in its fascinating history.
His hero is Tom Ellis, named after one of those who made the same journey across the Atlantic back in the 18th century at the behest of the then very real English parliamentarian James Edward Oglethorpe, the man who created the colony and soon afterwards the province of Georgia which would become one of the original 13 states and the fourth to ratify the Constitution.
Dr Pittaway brings to fictional life in his tale others who crossed the ocean along with many incidents that occurred and which he unearthed from historical accounts in the state’s archives.
The good ship Anne, carrying General Oglethorpe and his band of settlers, made landfall at Charles Town and then Port Royal in South Carolina where they were welcomed by Colonel William Bull.
From there Tom and his mentor travelled in skiffs to reach the bluff of the title, flat and high above the Savannah river.
They were greeted by Yamacraw native Americans and their legendary leader Tomochichi along with the traders John and Mary Musgrove, all of whom play a part in this exciting tale.
The site would quickly become the birthplace of the great city and seaport of Savannah.
Probably named after the river, it was the first state capital and where Downtown has retained the pattern of Oglethorpe’s grand plan.
Action-packed with brilliantly described scenes and the experiences of the characters, initially in London and then at the bluff and its environs, it’s a book that simply refuses to be put down.
December 10, 2025
Historical fiction is not normally my genre, but I took a chance on this book based on a friend’s recommendation. I was pleasantly surprised to find a tale that is at times harrowing, at times rollicking, but always entertaining. The story follows its fictionalized protagonist on an epic journey from the squalid constraints of London’s infamous debtor’s prisons to the wide-open possibilities of early colonial America. Along the way, we get to know James Oglethorpe, the eccentric, idealistic aristocrat who founded Georgia.
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Oglethorpe or the progressive ideas that inspired him. As such, I was convinced that the barroom brawl where the protagonist first encounters him had been concocted for the sake of an interesting plot. Some quick research dispelled that misconception. Turns out Oglethorpe was quite the charismatic rogue, and his founding principles stood in stark contrast to what most of us think of as the ideology of the Old South. Bravo to the author for introducing me to such a complex, interesting historical figure.
In terms of characterization and plot, this book will not throw any curve balls at you. The stakes are clear from the start, and the characters’ motivations are easy to discern. If someone behaves like a villain, you can be pretty sure that they are, indeed, a villain and will eventually get their comeuppance. Whether this is a selling point or a flaw I leave up to you.
Overall, Yamacraw Bluff provides an entertaining look at a part of American history that few Americans are aware of.
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Oglethorpe or the progressive ideas that inspired him. As such, I was convinced that the barroom brawl where the protagonist first encounters him had been concocted for the sake of an interesting plot. Some quick research dispelled that misconception. Turns out Oglethorpe was quite the charismatic rogue, and his founding principles stood in stark contrast to what most of us think of as the ideology of the Old South. Bravo to the author for introducing me to such a complex, interesting historical figure.
In terms of characterization and plot, this book will not throw any curve balls at you. The stakes are clear from the start, and the characters’ motivations are easy to discern. If someone behaves like a villain, you can be pretty sure that they are, indeed, a villain and will eventually get their comeuppance. Whether this is a selling point or a flaw I leave up to you.
Overall, Yamacraw Bluff provides an entertaining look at a part of American history that few Americans are aware of.
April 24, 2025
Yamacraw Bluff by Luke Pittaway is a great piece of historical fiction. It covers several lesser known areas of the history of the colonization in the Southeast United States. I learned a lot while enjoying the story for the sake of the story itself.
Pittaway does an excellent job of combining some of the wonderful quirks of the real characters (especially James Oglethorpe) with the fictionalization that drives the plot forward. I really enjoyed the book and found myself intrigued by several of the plot lines to the point of looking up additional history out of curiosity.
If you're a fan of historical fiction (especially in the same vein as Hornblower or Aubrey/Maturin) you'll enjoy Yamacraw Bluff! I'm looking forward to future sequels!
Pittaway does an excellent job of combining some of the wonderful quirks of the real characters (especially James Oglethorpe) with the fictionalization that drives the plot forward. I really enjoyed the book and found myself intrigued by several of the plot lines to the point of looking up additional history out of curiosity.
If you're a fan of historical fiction (especially in the same vein as Hornblower or Aubrey/Maturin) you'll enjoy Yamacraw Bluff! I'm looking forward to future sequels!
January 13, 2026
Yamacraw Bluff is a very engaging book for anyone looking for an exciting adventure set in a historical environment. The story draws you in from the beginning with its rich character descriptions, detailed scenes, and plot lines that keep the reading moving forward. The book stands well on its own as an adventure story, but for readers who enjoy historical fiction, there are several additional layers to appreciate. Personally, I appreciated learning more about early American history and the province of Georgia, which would later become one of the original states. After this captivating read, I am already looking forward to the next part of the series.
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February 3, 2026I really enjoyed the historical accuracy of this novel, which transported me back to the early colonisation of America.
It is an extremely descriptive novel and the main protagonists' characters are cleverly woven into the storyline and I found myself constantly rooting for Tom Ellis!
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in British history.
It is an extremely descriptive novel and the main protagonists' characters are cleverly woven into the storyline and I found myself constantly rooting for Tom Ellis!
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in British history.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews