Glory of the Seas

by Agnes Danforth Hewes, Newell Convers Wyeth (Illustrator)

Book by Hewes, A. D.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Juvenile

314 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 1933

Reviews

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1933 novel for teens that is set during the heydey of clipper ships in the 1850s. This is the best kind of historical fiction - a central cast of fictional characters acting against a background of real historical figures and events.

Anyone who loves the history of tall ships in the Boston shipyards, or sailing navigation and charting history, the lead-up history of the U.S. Civil War, the pull of California's early days, and the social history of abolition movements might well enjoy this book. Hewes' work is for older children, particularly boys, but it is also readable for adults.

Unlike many authors from this era, this one is not racist. Yet, even as Hewes clearly condemns slavery, the issue of escaped slaves being returned to the South and late-days black market slave runners' actions will be sobering for readers who hold slavery heritage. I would actually hope it is sobering for any reader.

Hewes did take some liberties with the time frame of Donald McKay's great ships, but they made a terrific foil against the social disturbance of the Fugitive Slave Act - and who can deny the pull of the symbology in The Great Republic and its painful emergence into its life? This was a solid Newbery Award choice, making a superb selection after reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1956 Newbery Medalist) and All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud (1936 Newbery Honor book) <~but follow that up with Flying Cloud for the true story and fuller discovery of the crucial importance of Maury's charts.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never have I read a book where so much exposition is done through conversations between characters. And so much “mystery” where the main character can’t figure out what is going on as he muses to himself, but it is so evident that when it is finally revealed, you knew it all along.

But a solid story. My biggest complaint is that the slave sent back into slavery is just a “that’s too bad”, not the tragedy that it truly was.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so interesting to me to see what parts of history captivated authors in different times. There were years when children's authors were fascinated by the early frontier days, and this book is yet another book about the days of Donald McKay and clipper ships. It was more engaging than I expected, and also coincides with the Fugitive Slave Law in Boston.

This feels to me like a Yankee response to books like Gone With the Wind and the Confederate sympathy sweeping the country when this book was written. The characters in the book in the side of slavery are the bad guys, and we have the honorable characters acting to hide a man who has escaped slavery. However, that man is treated like a child, and far more concern is given to the consequences to those who helped him in like of three Fugitive Slave Law than is given to what his life will be if he is re-enslaved. In the end, preserving the union is seen to be the best way to proceed. It did give interesting insight into the pressure northern businessmen were under to continue to support slavery in order to continue their own business.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 stars. If there were more romance, this would be classified as a young adult today; even so, the age of the young protagonist puts it solidly into that category. This is an historical novel from 1933 written about the advent of the clipper ships in the "California trade"; the Flying Cloud mentioned in the novel set a speed record that lasted from 1854-1989. The other important historical detail was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. These two detail intertwine to form the core of the novel which follows the orphan John Seagrave, a clerk in a counting house, as he makes his way in Boston. There are encounters with ship builders, abolitionists, and a runaway slave. I read this for my 2018 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book, 1934).

[Desiree']

1934 Newbery honor book

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking place during the time the fugitive slave act was passed, John works for Mr. Pinckney, who does not want to switch to clipper ships which are becoming the norm. John's Uncle Asa is a judge who is very against the fugitive slave act and aids in trying to help a slave escape, but eventually Jasper is caught and sent back. John has a romantic interest in Sue, whose father, George Fay, seems to secretly be involved in slaver ships. John is friends with Benny. In the end, Mr. Fay dies trying to save a ship that has caught on fire, and Benny, John, and Asa head for San Francisco, with John promising to send for Sue later.

I enjoyed this book. I like the characters of Uncle Asa and John.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a pretty good book. I was curious as to their methods of not reporting crime if they thought it was better to take care of things themselves instead, and it took awhile to get a feel for each of the many main characters in the book.

But this book is a combination of a history of American Cutters (faster sail ships than previously existed) and the Boston reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act. Altogether, quite interesting.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast clipper ships and travel along with the Fugitive Slave Act come together in this story.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat slow moving but ultimately an interesting history of clipper ships with the northern reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act. If a kid loves ships, he or she will be fascinated.