Smuggler's Luck

by Edouard A. Stackpole

Originally published in 1931, Smuggler's Luck recounts the adventures of a Nantucket boy during the American Revolution. Nantucket in those lean and hazardous years lay between the devil and the deep blue sea, with the British navy ready with ruthless retaliations against the islanders for any favor shown the Patriot cause. The Patriots, on the other hand, threatened to cut off supplies to the islanders if they sided with the British. In this story Edouard Stackpole, the late dean of Nantucket Historians, chronicles that exciting and perilous era through the experiences of young Timothy Pinkham and the Stormy Petrel. In a yarn that has entertained and inspired traders for over seventy years, Timothy's adventures, afloat and ashore, involve a voyage to the Caribbean, mysterious doings in the hideouts of secertive islander Keziah Coffin, and high-steaks politics involving Tories, Patriots and even the Continental Congress.

310 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Edouard A. Stackpole was an American journalist, museum curator, whaling historian, and author.

Born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, a descendant of a family of whalers, Stackpole graduated from Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He worked for several years as a printer, reporter, and editor at newspapers in Nantucket.

He was Curator Emeritus of the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut from 1951 to 1966. He published 28 books and monographs, largely about whaling and the history of Nantucket.

He was a marine historian for over three decades, and was awarded two Guggenheim fellowships for his two-volume book The Sea Hunters. Numerous articles by Mr. Stackpole have appeared in the World Book and Grolier encyclopedias as well as in magazines and newspapers.

In a review of the book in The New York Times, Orville Prescott wrote, "Everything about whaling that Herman Melville couldn't cram into Moby-Dick is now crammed into The Sea Hunters. "

Reviews

[Christian Troccoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple and charming story. Bit boring at times and clearly trying too hard to set up sequels for this book, but nostalgic all the same. Reminded me a lot of the adventure novels I used to read as a kid.
6.5/10

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from my childhood!

[Hackie Laguna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgic adventure that brings back childhood memories