Bright and distant shores by Dominic Smith.
Millionnaire insurance magnate, Hale Gray, builds the tallest skyscraper in Chicago in the 1890’s and plans to draw in the crowds with an exhibition and museum. He engages Owen Graves, a young demolitions expert, to collect artifacts from the South Seas.
Owen hopes to make enough money on the expedition to buy a house so he can marry his fiancé, Adelaide. No stranger to hardship, Owen has just one reservation: Hale also wants him to bring back some “savages” to exhibit.
Owen sets sail on the Lady Cullion with veteran Captain Terrapin, a man of contradictions, rough and promiscuous but also an accomplished pianist and lover of finery.
Hale’s son, Jethro, accompanies the expedition, a Harvard-educated dandy, determined to earn his father’s respect. He starts his own collection of natural artifacts, bottled or stuffed on board. The crew instantly despise Jethro and he seems to irritate everyone.
They sail through the Pacific Islands, trading with the locals.
Meanwhile, in the Solomon Islands, a Scottish missionary minister dies, leaving his houseboy, Argus, in need of a job. Argus has been well educated by the missionary and is a Christian convert. He finds the sister he hasn’t seen for years and together they sail through the islands looking for employment.
When Argus meets with Owen’s expedition it seems to solve both their problems – Owen has a “savage” to exhibit and Argus gets to see the western civilisation that he has heard so much about.
This is old fashioned adventure with a slant of political correctness that doesn’t always work, and I found some parts a bit confusing, but I enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
Recommended by Janet
Millionnaire insurance magnate, Hale Gray, builds the tallest skyscraper in Chicago in the 1890’s and plans to draw in the crowds with an exhibition and museum. He engages Owen Graves, a young demolitions expert, to collect artifacts from the South Seas.
Owen hopes to make enough money on the expedition to buy a house so he can marry his fiancé, Adelaide. No stranger to hardship, Owen has just one reservation: Hale also wants him to bring back some “savages” to exhibit.
Owen sets sail on the Lady Cullion with veteran Captain Terrapin, a man of contradictions, rough and promiscuous but also an accomplished pianist and lover of finery.
Hale’s son, Jethro, accompanies the expedition, a Harvard-educated dandy, determined to earn his father’s respect. He starts his own collection of natural artifacts, bottled or stuffed on board. The crew instantly despise Jethro and he seems to irritate everyone.
They sail through the Pacific Islands, trading with the locals.
Meanwhile, in the Solomon Islands, a Scottish missionary minister dies, leaving his houseboy, Argus, in need of a job. Argus has been well educated by the missionary and is a Christian convert. He finds the sister he hasn’t seen for years and together they sail through the islands looking for employment.
When Argus meets with Owen’s expedition it seems to solve both their problems – Owen has a “savage” to exhibit and Argus gets to see the western civilisation that he has heard so much about.
This is old fashioned adventure with a slant of political correctness that doesn’t always work, and I found some parts a bit confusing, but I enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
Recommended by Janet
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