DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Wreckers of Sable Island" by James Macdonald Oxley. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.
In 'The Wreckers of Sable Island' by J. Macdonald Oxley, readers are transported into the haunting world of shipwrecks and survival on the treacherous shores of Sable Island. Oxley's intricate storytelling and vivid descriptions immerse the reader in the desolate landscape, full of danger and intrigue. The novel's masterful blend of suspense and historical detail make it a captivating read for those interested in maritime mysteries and survival tales. The book's exploration of the human psyche in extreme circumstances adds depth to the narrative, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. 'The Wreckers of Sable Island' is a unique addition to maritime literature, offering a fresh perspective on the often unsettling realities of life at sea. With its rich imagery and gripping plot, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
"[...] Now and then some one would creep up on deck, and brave the fury of the blast for a few moments, in hope of finding some sign of change for the better; and on his return to the cabin the others would eagerly scan his countenance and await his words, only to be met with a sorrowful shake of the head that rendered words unnecessary. Eric alone found temporary forgetfulness in sleep. He was very weary, and, though fully alive to the[...]".
An “entertaining” historical investigation into the scavengers who have profited off the spoils of maritime disasters (The Washington Post). Even today, Britain’s coastline remains a dangerous place. It is an island soaked by four separate seas, with shifting sand banks to the east, veiled reefs to the west, powerful currents above, and the world’s busiest shipping channel below. The country’s offshore waters are strewn with shipwrecks—and for villagers scratching out an existence along Britain’s shores, those wrecks have been more than simply an act of God; in many cases, they have been the difference between living well and just getting by. Though Daphne du Maurier and Poldark have made Cornwall famous as Britain’s most notorious region for wrecking, many other coastal communities regarded the “sea’s bounty” as a way of providing themselves with everything from grapefruits to grand pianos. Some plunderers were held to be so skilled that they could strip a ship from stem to stern before the Coast Guard had even left port. Some were rumored to lure ships onto the rocks with false lights, and some simply waited for winter gales to do their work. This book uncovers tales of ships and shipwreck victims—from shoreline orgies so Dionysian that few participants survived the morning to humble homes fitted with silver candelabra, from coastlines rigged like stage sets to villages where everyone owns identical tennis shoes. Spanning three hundred years of history, The Wreckers examines the myths, realities, and superstitions of shipwrecks and uncovers the darker side of life on Britain’s shores. “Bathurst, who won a Somerset Maugham Award for The Lighthouse Stevensons, offers a spellbinding tale of seafaring men, their ships and the ocean that cares for neither.” —Publishers Weekly “A fascinating, haunting account of pillagers, plunderers, and pirates.” —John Burnett, author of Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas
“The whale knew nothing of the oil that men burned to lighten their darkness, or the money his body was worth to the merchants and sailors: men who were clever at making knives and spears and cunning in ways of using them. So one day the whale came up for air, rising through the green depths as he had done countless times before, and there, floating near to him in the sunlight, was a ship.”So begins the tale of The Scrimshaw of Sable Island, where a runaway boy in nineteenth century Bristol is the link between a mysterious carving on a whale’s tooth and a mass of pirate treasure. Fleeing from his apprenticeship to a brutal chimney sweep, young Owen Davies finds himself caught up in the search for the treasure stolen from Captain Kidd by the infamous pirate Robert Culliford. Moving from the teeming streets of Bristol to the quiet farms and forests of Nova Scotia, Owen meets with staunch friends and terrifying perils as he makes his way towards the solution to the mystery of the scrimshaw. As the tale unfolds, other voices gather to tell the story through the discovery of letters and journals, including the diary of Robert Culliford, tracing his journey through shipwreck and madness to the barren darkness of Sable Island – ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’.Based on real facts and places, this is a story for all those who love old yarns of storms and ships, pirates and the sea. Inspired by Treasure Island and Moby Dick, it will appeal to children from 10 upwards. The illustrations by John Gooch provide a series of vivid backdrops to the narrative.All profits from the sale of The Scrimshaw of Sable Island will go to Ty Hafan, the charity that runs a hospice for sick children in South Wales.
