Deep Water
Deep Water

Author: Thomas Ruys Smith

Publisher: LSU Press

Published: 2019-12-17

Total Pages: 332

ISBN-13: 0807172871

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Mark Twain’s visions of the Mississippi River offer some of the most indelible images in American literature: Huck and Jim floating downstream on their raft, Tom Sawyer and friends becoming pirates on Jackson’s Island, the young Sam Clemens himself at the wheel of a steamboat. Through Twain’s iconic river books, the Mississippi has become an imagined river as much as a real one. Yet despite the central place that Twain’s river occupies in the national imaginary, until now no work has explored the shifting meaning of this crucial connection in a single volume. Thomas Ruys Smith’s Deep Water: The Mississippi River in the Age of Mark Twain is the first book to provide a comprehensive narrative account of Twain’s intimate and long-lasting creative engagement with the Mississippi. This expansive study traces two separate but richly intertwined stories of the river as America moved from the aftermath of the Civil War toward modernity. It follows Twain’s remarkable connection to the Mississippi, from his early years on the river as a steamboat pilot, through his most significant literary statements, to his final reflections on the crooked stream that wound its way through his life and imagination. Alongside Twain’s evolving relationship to the river, Deep Water details the thriving cultural life of the Mississippi in this period—from roustabouts to canoeists, from books for boys to blues songs—and highlights a diverse collection of voices each telling their own story of the river. Smith weaves together these perspectives, putting Twain and his creations in conversation with a dynamic cast of river characters who helped transform the Mississippi into a vibrant American icon. By balancing evocative cultural history with thought-provoking discussions of some of Twain’s most important and beloved works, Deep Water gives readers a new sense of both the Mississippi and the remarkable writer who made the river his own.

Cat Island
Cat Island

Author: John Cuevas

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2014-01-10

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 0786485787

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Just off the coast of the Gulf Islands National Seashore lies Cat Island, an isolated, T-shaped sliver of sand with a remarkable past. A coveted hiding place for Jean Lafitte's pirate treasure in the late eighteenth century and illegal booze during Prohibition, Cat Island also witnessed the first shots of the Battle of New Orleans, an encampment for Seminoles during the Trail of Tears and the first lighthouses on the Mississippi coast. As a child, author John Cuevas learned that his family had owned and lived on the island for three generations beginning with his ancestor, Juan de Cuevas, referred to as "The King of Cat Island," who received it by way of a Spanish land grant. In this engaging work, Cuevas chronicles the historic events that occurred on the island's shores and offers a tribute to the legacy of one of the Gulf Coast's pioneer families.

Davy Jones' Locker: An Ultimate Pirate Collection (80+ Novels & Adventure Stories in One Edition)
Davy Jones' Locker: An Ultimate Pirate Collection (80+ Novels & Adventure Stories in One Edition)

Author: Jules Verne

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-11-25

Total Pages: 8581

ISBN-13:

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Davy Jones' Locker: An Ultimate Pirate Collection encapsulates the thrilling essence of adventure and the eternal allure of the high seas across a broad spectrum of literary achievements. This expansive anthology brings together over 80 novels and stories, each contributing to a rich mosaic of maritime lore, heroism, and treachery. The collection spans a range of styles from historical narratives to fantastical tales, showcasing legendary works that have shaped the genre of seafaring literature. The sheer diversity within this compendium invites readers into the multifaceted world of pirates, exploring the depths of human ambition, the lust for treasure, and the laws of the sea in a way that no single author could encapsulate. The inclusion of seminal pieces from this vast array of contributors underscores the anthology's significance as a cornerstone of maritime fiction. The assembled authors, including literary giants like Jules Verne, Charles Dickens, and Arthur Conan Doyle, alongside seafaring specialists such as Ralph D. Paine and Captain Charles Johnson, collectively provide an unmatched historical and cultural perspective on pirate lore. Their varied backgrounds, from the forefronts of the literary canon to the specialized niches of naval adventure writing, enrich the anthology's exploration of piracy from multiple angles. These contributors, many of whom lived through the golden age of sail or dedicated their lives to studying it, bring authenticity and depth to the collection, making it a critical convergence of voices that illuminates the era's adventurous spirit and its literary legacy. Davy Jones' Locker is not merely a compilation; it is a gateway to the vast, untamed oceanic past and its narratives, offering readers a unique opportunity to sail alongside some of the most memorable characters in fiction. It is a treasure trove for aficionados of maritime literature, history enthusiasts, and anyone captivated by the romance of piracy. This anthology promises a journey through the tempestuous waters of human nature, driven by the pursuit of freedom, fortune, and the unknown, making it an essential addition to the libraries of those who cherish the thrill of adventure and the craft of storytelling.

Wild Nat, the Trooper; or, The Cedar Swamp Brigade
Wild Nat, the Trooper; or, The Cedar Swamp Brigade

Author: William R. Eyster

Publisher: DigiCat

Published: 2022-06-13

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13:

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Set during the American civil war and revolution, this book follows the misadventures of Catherine Vale. Unusual for the time, the novel's heroine is highly independent, often fighting her own battles and saving others. It is a classic action-adventure story packed with kidnapping, fighting, and friendship; it is the thirteenth book in a popular series.