American Captain

by Edison Marshall

FLASHING SWORDS! BLAZING ROMANCE!

From Massachusetts to Malta to Tripoli and across the sands of the Sahara, the young American sailor braved the perils of three continents to tame the heart of a beautiful, aristocratic Englishwoman. But his tender dreams were shattered when an English lord betrayed him to the Barbary pirates.

In the turbulent years that followed - enslaved by a wealthy pasha, among the Bedouin tribesmen, challenging the wilds of Africa - he burned to exact a terrible revenge against his betrayer...

Against the father of the temptress who had bewitched his very soul!

Genres: Classics, Historical Fiction

407 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Edison Tesla Marshall (28 August 1894, Rensselaer, Indiana - 29 October 1967 Augusta, Georgia) was an American short story writer and novelist.

Reviews

[David]

Found this in one of the "little libraries" that dot my haunts ... I grabbed it just to see what kind of fiction folks were reading in the 1950's. It's a nice surprise, and it turns out the author seems to be fairly well respected. It's a great adventure story, but you can stop after the first 3 out of 4 parts total. Part 4 degenerates into a soap-opera; it doesn't make the book any better or add to the arc of the story in a wholly satisfactory way.

[Susan Kelly]

Best thing: rich detailing of different places in a different time. You are there! I don't think authors put much effort into this anymore unless they're literary. But why can't the genre fiction do this as well?
Worst thing: Unsatisfying character arc. Sad to say it, but the tidy hero wins all ending doesn't do it for me anymore. Homer is an upstanding citizen from page one and stays that way. Although he loses much along the way, he's not a different person by the end. Older, scarred, richer, but not wiser.

[Karen]

I did not like this book, probably because I'm not an egotistical male. It had it's moments, yeah, but they were overshadowed by the hero's involvement over the years with three women, all of whom were about the same age at the time they became his lover. The ending was a total disappointment. Just made me want roll my eyes and say, "Ick."

[Mark]

A good adventure tale with a little romance. In late 18th century, a young New Englander puts to sea on the Vindictive. Injured, he is left in a hospital in Malta where he meets a young English aristocratic girl. After healing, he rejoins the Vindictive, but they are waylaid by pirates in the Mediterranean and he is imprisoned. Eventually, he escapes, lives with the Tuareg, and discovers buried treasure in Africa. He uses the money to buy a place in English society under a false name to pursue the Englishmen who helped sink his ship. After extracting revenge of a sort, he leaves most his wealth to fight slavery and buys and captains a ship (American Captain…). The conflict between Homer and the father of the girl he loves, speaks of class differences. Freedom-loving Americans versus class conscious English autocrats. Homer Whitman has a large life, though much of it bad, but struggles onward and upward to remember his friends and punish his enemies.

[Allyn Voorhees]

Looks like I got lucky when I bought this book, at a used bookstore, based mainly upon the front cover. Have to admit I was expecting a nautical adventure type of story, and while the basis of the enfolding story is such, there is little of the sea or the sea-faring life in this novel. But the journey one takes reading this adventure is quite good; The author has quite the way with words and sets the scenes beautifully. The way this story explores other cultures (non-English speaking) is what really stands out for me, and is what kept me reading! (It is worth noting that another work by this author, The Vikings, was the basis for a movie starring Kirk Douglas.) The writing has hints of an earlier generation definitely, having been written in 1954, but the context sinks in as you read on. I can wholeheartedly recommend this story, if you can find a copy of it. It deserves all of the 4 stars.
Happy Reading.

[Leslie Herbert]

Historical novel that took me places I did not expect! I learned a lot about early USA/world history. It's tough reading since it is written in the period style. Also very complicated and involving. Take your time and absorb.

[captain]

The synopsis is wrong.

Book Report by captain
2012-04-15

Title: American Captain
Author: Edison Marshall
Date of publication: 1954
Illustrator: none
Setting: Maine, Africa, Mediterranean, ships at sea
Main Characters: Homer Whitman, Izabelle Gazelle, Captain/Lord Tarlton, Sophia, Eliza, and many others
Pages: 407

WARNING: SPOILERS! (written as and example for 2nd graders)

American Captain is a true epic novel which begins on the North New England Coast circa 1800, where the 16 year old Homer Whitman, standing on shore, watches with horror the death of his entire family in a violent shipwreck upon the reef. He is adopted by a family friend, a ship captain, and grows up as a merchant marine. His heroism is soon displayed when, as second mate, he dives in after a crewman who is dragged overboard by the massive anchor. Homer breaks his leg in this courageous act, and is left behind, land-bound in Malta, during his recovery, where, in a clandestine affair, he meets and falls in love with Sophia (the youngest, betrothed to another, daughter of the rich and famous Captain Tarlton). His leg healed, and ship returned, Homer rejoins his captain and crew and sets sail. The merchant ship is besieged by pirates, and through a fierce battle, the captain and entire crew, save Homer and two other men, are killed and the ship sunk. The three survivors are captured by the pirates and sold into slavery in Arabia. After many years of durance in the apt monikered Sepulchre of Wet Bones, renown for its inescapability, Homer eventually escapes in a miraculous ordeal, and meets a mysterious Arab princess in the desert. Through many amazing tales of love and high drama and shows of heroism, bravery, and ethics of character rarely displayed by any man, Homer returns to Western Society a rich man and captain of his own ship, now using the name of another he swore to avenge. Through more high drama and amazing stories, Homer succeeds in learning the truth behind some old maritime tales that proved to be lies! He also avenges his friend and namesake, and reconnects with, now Lord, Tarlton and his family. The story ends in a dramatic labyrinth of intrigue and action, that will leave the reader amazed by the power of the written word. Marshall writes with a florid style that will test even the seasoned reader's vocabulary. His mid-century writing pleasantly predates the insane cleansing of "sexism" from the language, clearly proving that sexism is not in the language, but in the mind. Young readers will probably not even know the meaning of "the distaff side", among other words and phrases, and will find themselves opened to a whole new English language! American Captain is a fantastic book; I enjoyed it immensely, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a story well told. Watch for the action/romance/drama/history movie, coming soon to theaters near you! ;-)

[Robs]

Good read, far reaching adventure, cool story line for being written in 1954.

[Durham Wilton]

a true romance from a man's view. proof that men are the real romantics.Never a dull moment.

[Barry]

Fantastic book of action and adventure. From the raging ocean through battle to Musselman slavery to desert love to finding peace in love with a beautiful girl. Highly Happily recommended.

[Margeau]

I loved this book. The edition I read was an old hardcover, so it seemed like even more of an adventure.
Homer has a grand adventure that takes him all over the world, through many hardships, and to many treasures. I loved every minute of it!