John Frewen, South Sea Whaler

by Louis Becke

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Pages: 75

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About this book

A missing whaleboat and an enormous bull whale set the trouble in motion aboard the Casilda of Nantucket. Captain Ethan Keller blames his second officer, John Frewen, while the other officers trust Frewen's skill and that of his boatsteerer, Randall Cheyne. The search reveals a message that turns a dangerous chase into a challenge to the captain's authority.

Louis Becke's sea adventure follows working sailors through the South Pacific, with close attention to boats, whale lines, shipboard discipline and the labour of a successful catch. Keller's harsh treatment of his crew gives the action a personal edge. A later scene brings Frewen and Cheyne into a plan involving Samoan allies and a vessel held by mutineers. Readers interested in maritime fiction will find practical seafaring detail alongside disputes over loyalty, command and the treatment of fellow crew members.

About the author

Louis Becke

Louis Becke was an Australian short-story writer and novelist whose years as a trader and traveler in the Pacific supplied much of his subject matter. Born George Lewis Becke in Port Macquarie, he went to sea young, worked in Samoa and Micronesia, survived shipwreck, and later turned those experiences into fiction.