Moonlight Helmsman: Robert Smalls' Amazing Escape

by Richard Maule

MOONLIGHT HELMSMAN
Robert Smalls’ Amazing Escape
by Richard Maule

“One of the great untold stories of American history."
– Philip Van Doren Stern

“Maule skillfully renders Smalls’ life through fictional embellishment, powerfully portraying his indomitable longing for liberty… a riveting story, and a sadly neglected sliver of American history… a seamless weave of historical investigation and fictional drama starring an African-American hero."
– Kirkus Reviews

He was alone in dreaming it could be done, but on a moonlit night in 1862, the slave Robert Smalls stole the Confederate flagship and sailed off to freedom. Richard Maule’s novel, Moonlight Helmsman, brings to life one of the most amazing stories in our nation’s history.

Born into bondage, Smalls longs for the sailor’s life, and by the time the Civil War begins, he is assigned to pilot a Rebel ship in Charleston Harbor. Through a dramatic chain of events, Robert conspires to steal the boat, taking his friends and family along. His diverse crew includes his strong-minded wife Hannah, his preacher-turned-engineer Deke, and a fascinating madman named Spider Jefferson. Their intricate plot requires imagination, stealth, and the brazenness to defy certain death.

Taking the reader through treacherous channels, explosive mines, and enemy forts, the author leads us to a nail-biter of a climax. Faithful to the facts of history, Moonlight Helmsman is a gripping and inspiring testimony to the power of the human will.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2017

Reviews

[Richard Maule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I said I had read the book, Goodreads has been bugging me to write a review. Since I wrote Moonlight Helmsman, I didn't want to cheat by calling it "a masterfully crafted novel that leads the reader through a labyrinth of engaging characters and heart-stopping suspense." But unless I wrote something, they would have kept bugging me, so in all humility, I reluctantly gave myself five stars.

[Diane Secchiaroli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!! The historical aspects of the novel were most interesting while the fiction aspects seemed real. The book makes you want to read more about Robert Smalls and visit the African-American Museum in Washington, D.C., which surely must feature him prominently. The book would make a great book club selection as it raises guestions about slavery, the Civil War, and women's roles.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and well told. Poor editing with simple spelling mistakes. Needs better editing otherwise, as the author states, a great story about a man of colour during a time when all odds were against him.

[Alison O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-told truth-based story of slave-turned-senator Robert Smalls. Maule has skillfully filled in the gaps to make this historical fiction come to honest life. What an incredible, inspiring story! I learned a lot. Loved it!!

[Mary Conley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I found the story interesting, I found the book hard to read and disjointed.

[LuckySu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it..the adventure and the build of of the story was greatly written.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable! This is an absolute page turner that is rich pulling out an unknown story from American history! Truly a "must read" for anyone looking for a great book!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about an important person in the history of the civil war.