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The Keeper
THE KEEPER by John G. Ives is fresh, new historical fiction at its very best. Filled with electrifying rescue scenes, pitting a handful of men against fierce storms and bitter cold… A story of honor and love, fellowship and betrayal, strength and vulnerability… This is a novel of the Life-Savers.
Set in Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, in 1899. Joshua Duell, the book's hero, is a young New Yorker who returns home from the Spanish American War, where he lost his brother. Now his mother has disappeared in a mysterious shipwreck, and he travels to the small fishing village at the outer reach of the continent to find out how. With his friend and college roommate Buddy, Joshua joins the United States Life-Saving Service, which patrolled the beaches in winter storms and saved 175,000 lives during its brief history.
Under the leadership of John MacDonald, their wizened, heroic leader known as the Keeper, they face rigorous training and treacherous work as the storms come. Buddy is a charmer, but he alienates the other Life-Savers, which leads him to take drastic actions he and Joshua will come to deeply regret. Injured in his first rescue, Joshua meets the strong and independent Julia, a woman doctor, which was rare in that time. But their greatest troubles begin with the appearance of Kirov, a Russian salvager who draws Buddy into a dangerous game of greed and violence. A story of intense action, beautiful descriptions of the sea, and the coming of age of a fascinating young man.
Set in Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, in 1899. Joshua Duell, the book's hero, is a young New Yorker who returns home from the Spanish American War, where he lost his brother. Now his mother has disappeared in a mysterious shipwreck, and he travels to the small fishing village at the outer reach of the continent to find out how. With his friend and college roommate Buddy, Joshua joins the United States Life-Saving Service, which patrolled the beaches in winter storms and saved 175,000 lives during its brief history.
Under the leadership of John MacDonald, their wizened, heroic leader known as the Keeper, they face rigorous training and treacherous work as the storms come. Buddy is a charmer, but he alienates the other Life-Savers, which leads him to take drastic actions he and Joshua will come to deeply regret. Injured in his first rescue, Joshua meets the strong and independent Julia, a woman doctor, which was rare in that time. But their greatest troubles begin with the appearance of Kirov, a Russian salvager who draws Buddy into a dangerous game of greed and violence. A story of intense action, beautiful descriptions of the sea, and the coming of age of a fascinating young man.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
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16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 25, 2015
Great historical fiction. Life saver station life was not an easy day at the beach. Throw in a little love, a little piracy, and harsh weather and you've got a story. Growing up on Cape Cod you always hear of the the old life saving stations ( the beachcomber bar and restaurant in Wellfleet was one), now I have an understanding into what the men did. Amazing and brave.
July 19, 2020
A wonderful historic accounting of the day-to-day lives of turn of the century U.S. Life-Saving Service members (the precursor to today's Coast Guard), with some fun characters and good story telling included. Thoroughly enjoyed it...
As a frequent visitor to and fan of Provincetown, MA, I also enjoyed the author's historic references to places, events and local landscapes, but especially enjoyed his fictional re-creation of the lives of typical folks one might encounter around town during that period: e.g. a female physician; local business people and even a few salvage pirates!
After having read this book, I'm also now especially curious to learn more about the seasonal "Hell Town" that was apparently located in the vicinity of Hatches Harbor during this period, and would be interested to know if anyone is aware of any photos that may have survived of that settlement?
By the way, if you enjoyed the 2016 movie, "The Finest Hours", about the historic February 1952 storm off the coast of Cape Cod and the extraordinary efforts by the Coast Guard to rescue the stranded 30 member crew of the oil tanker that was ripped in half by the storm, you will probably also like this book.
As a frequent visitor to and fan of Provincetown, MA, I also enjoyed the author's historic references to places, events and local landscapes, but especially enjoyed his fictional re-creation of the lives of typical folks one might encounter around town during that period: e.g. a female physician; local business people and even a few salvage pirates!
After having read this book, I'm also now especially curious to learn more about the seasonal "Hell Town" that was apparently located in the vicinity of Hatches Harbor during this period, and would be interested to know if anyone is aware of any photos that may have survived of that settlement?
By the way, if you enjoyed the 2016 movie, "The Finest Hours", about the historic February 1952 storm off the coast of Cape Cod and the extraordinary efforts by the Coast Guard to rescue the stranded 30 member crew of the oil tanker that was ripped in half by the storm, you will probably also like this book.
September 16, 2013
This novel is amazing, a beautifully written historical novel about the harrowing life of a young man who ends up in Provincetown, Cape Cod, working for the U.S. Life-Saving Service (precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard), where he & others risk their lives to save people from shipwrecks. He also finds love, answers to the mystery of his mother's death in a shipwreck, and the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. One of my favorites this year. Available to purchase & ship through www.titcombsbookshop.com.
July 4, 2015
In 1899, Joshua Duell is trying to cope with the death of his brother in the Spanish American War and the death of his mother in a shipwreck. He and his friend Buddy join the U.S. Life-Saving Service, a precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard, where they train for saving lives off Cape Cod's shores. This is Joshua's story of growing physically and emotionally through his service. I liked the story, just could not get excited about any of the characters.
January 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book, though it seemed to have some time discrepancies. I have been to Provincetown and the dunes many times so it was fun to try to picture the town as it was around 1900.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews