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The Launching of the Huntress: Book One of the Money Ship Series
Money ships were wrecks of treasure-galleons that were belched up from the bottom of the sea after tremendous storms, yielding doubloons and all other kinds of precious treasure ... gold bars and bullion, chests of brilliant gems. Though just a story Jerusha Gardiner heard in childhood, it led to a strange and convoluted quest in far-off and exotic seas, triggered by the launching of the ship Huntress...
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2017
7 people want to read
About the author
Joan Druett
51 books185 followersBack in the year 1984, on the picture-poster tropical island of Rarotonga, I literally fell into whaling history when I tumbled into a grave. A great tree had been felled by a recent hurricane, exposing a gravestone that had been hidden for more than one and a half centuries. It was the memorial to a young whaling wife, who had sailed with her husband on the New Bedford ship Harrison in the year 1845. And so my fascination with maritime history was triggered ... resulting in 18 books (so far). The latest—number nineteen—is a biography of a truly extraordinary man, Tupaia, star navigator and creator of amazing art.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 8, 2017
Lively, witty historical fiction from historian Joan Druett
Maritime historian and nautical fiction author Joan Druett begins a colorful saga that should appeal to readers of both nautical and general historical fiction. She brings the early nineteenth century maritime world to life with colorful, pertinent descriptions and dialogue as telling and as tongue in cheek as Jane Austen's. A rousing first installment by an author thoroughly at home in her world.
Maritime historian and nautical fiction author Joan Druett begins a colorful saga that should appeal to readers of both nautical and general historical fiction. She brings the early nineteenth century maritime world to life with colorful, pertinent descriptions and dialogue as telling and as tongue in cheek as Jane Austen's. A rousing first installment by an author thoroughly at home in her world.
August 28, 2022
The Launching of the Huntress by Joan Druett is the first book of the Money Ship series, set in 19th-century England after the fall of Napoleon. Captain Michael Gardiner and his wife Eliza are the innkeepers of the Crown Inn in East Grinstead. Owner George Gardiner had encouraged Michael to invest all his savings (from sea-faring voyages) into upkeep, with the promise of inheritance.
But it was a trick. George Jr. shows up with a signed Will, and takes over the inn. Michael must return to the sea to earn money, so he can once again buy an inn, to remain on land as he desires. He had been press-ganged multiple times over the years, suffered greatly at the hands of sadistic captains. He reluctantly signs the Articles to spend the next several years at the helm of the newly built whaler The Huntress into the South Seas. Shortly after, he learns to his chagrin that there might be prize money for him to claim from a previous voyage. If only he had not committed himself for years to The Huntress.
Eliza is adamant - she and their 8-year-old daughter Jerusha will go too. It's unheard of on a whaler. To Jerusha it's a grand adventure. She grew up listening to her father's tale of a money ship (Spanish galleon) wrecked off the coast of Massachusetts, and how he and a pal -almost- salvaged the treasure.
Eliza's friend and mentor Fanny O'Cain has risen significantly in the world, from head cook to Duchess. Only problem: her sixteen-year-old son Nelson has an implacable enemy. Fanny's solution: send him safely away, on The Huntress. She won't take no for answer.
Eliza and Nelson don't want to be friends. But his rapid rise in rank means they are in near quarters. He is impressed with her thirst for knowledge, and grudgingly agrees to tutor her with his collection of books: medicine, history, navigation.
The Gardiners, Nelson and the crew have all their hopes for the future pinned on a successful voyage.
But it was a trick. George Jr. shows up with a signed Will, and takes over the inn. Michael must return to the sea to earn money, so he can once again buy an inn, to remain on land as he desires. He had been press-ganged multiple times over the years, suffered greatly at the hands of sadistic captains. He reluctantly signs the Articles to spend the next several years at the helm of the newly built whaler The Huntress into the South Seas. Shortly after, he learns to his chagrin that there might be prize money for him to claim from a previous voyage. If only he had not committed himself for years to The Huntress.
Eliza is adamant - she and their 8-year-old daughter Jerusha will go too. It's unheard of on a whaler. To Jerusha it's a grand adventure. She grew up listening to her father's tale of a money ship (Spanish galleon) wrecked off the coast of Massachusetts, and how he and a pal -almost- salvaged the treasure.
Eliza's friend and mentor Fanny O'Cain has risen significantly in the world, from head cook to Duchess. Only problem: her sixteen-year-old son Nelson has an implacable enemy. Fanny's solution: send him safely away, on The Huntress. She won't take no for answer.
Eliza and Nelson don't want to be friends. But his rapid rise in rank means they are in near quarters. He is impressed with her thirst for knowledge, and grudgingly agrees to tutor her with his collection of books: medicine, history, navigation.
The Gardiners, Nelson and the crew have all their hopes for the future pinned on a successful voyage.
June 24, 2017
Once again, Druett shows her sure-footed understanding of a historical setting. You will taste, smell, feel every aspect of the England of this book! Told from the perspective of a smart young girl who observes everything keenly - even if she doesn't understand it fully - this account of a family whose fortunes have suddenly been upended will charm and involve you. And the description of the Huntress’ launch will make you breathless!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews