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Title details for The Man Who Saved Henry Morgan by Robert Hough - Available

The Man Who Saved Henry Morgan

by Robert Hough
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available

The Sisters Brothers meets Master and Commander in Robert Hough's rollicking and raucous new historical novel.

The year is 1664, and Benny Wand, a young thief and board game hustler, is arrested in London for illegal gaming. Deported to the city of Port Royal, Jamaica, known as "the wickedest city on earth," Wand is forced by his depleted circumstances to join a raid on the Spanish city of Villahermosa. The mission is a perilous success, and Wand attracts the attention of the mission's leader, an up-and-coming Welsh seaman, Captain Henry Morgan, whose raids on Spanish strongholds are funded by the British government.

While embarking on a campaign in the Caribbean, Wand and Morgan develop an unlikely friendship through a shared love of chess. As Morgan is corrupted by his increasingly sordid attacks on Spanish cities, he slowly becomes Wand's greatest enemy. To defeat his former ally, Wand embarks on a strategic battle of wits and must help Morgan in the most savage and unexpected way possible. This is blistering and bawdy storytelling at its best.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 4, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781770899469
      • File size: 2103 KB

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781770899469
      • File size: 2103 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      March 7, 2016
      Hough, whose 2013 novel, Dr. Brinkley’s Tower, was nominated for the Governor General’s Award and the Scotiabank Giller Prize in Canada, creates a fictionalized account of a real-life 17th-century swashbuckler. Benjamin Wand is a chess-playing hustler deported from London to Port Royal, Jamaica. He joins the crew of the ship Pearle, captained by the Englishman Henry Morgan and tasked with loosening Spain’s grip on its Caribbean territory. After a successful and treasure-rich mission, Morgan takes an interest in Wand as a chess tutor, and the pair strike up an unlikely friendship, which continues even when Morgan is appointed governor of Jamaica. Hough, a former journalist, based his text on Wand’s autobiography and his own extensive research. Wand and his relationship with Morgan are fascinating, but Hough spends too much time spent incorporating tidbits from his research that slow the pace and don’t serve the story. There is also a distracting difference between Wand’s articulate first-person narration, possibly his older self reflecting back on his life, and his dialogue throughout the book in the voice of his illiterate, street-urchin beginnings. Wand has an intriguing life story but Hough’s telling doesn’t fully do it justice. Agent: Jackie Kaiser, Westwood Creative Artists.

    • Library Journal

      May 1, 2016

      Benny Wand is an illiterate, chess-playing hustler and petty thief in 17th-century London. Arrested and deported to Port Royal, Jamaica, known for its roughnecks and lawlessness, Benny lands in the company of privateer Henry Morgan and his seagoing brethren. Morgan finds the sandbagging con man to be clever and useful as a strategy consultant, but this tenuous alliance comes with dangerous strings attached, for both parties. Their perilous relationship takes them through Panamanian jungles, battles with the Spanish, and fortunes lost and won. With trust ever a central issue, this constantly strained union could prove to be fatal. VERDICT Hough (Dr. Brinkley's Tower) spins this historical novel with pleasnant touches of believability. It reads at a good clip with the humid, sinew-knotting, bug-infested, and sweaty narrative of an eyewitness.--Russell Miller, Prescott P.L., AZ

      Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from November 1, 2016
      Twenty-year-old Benny Wand stands before the judge with 10 seconds to decide: Newgate prison or deportment to Jamaica. Jamaica it is, and he is off to the town of Port Royal to start over. Arriving with nothing but the clothes on his back, Benny continues the life that got him arrested: conning money by playing chess. He lives in the back alleys of Port Royal until the infamous privateer Henry Morgan takes him on as a crew member, and they head out on a raid. Surviving high seas, jungle, and heat, Benny perseveres and, at a crucial moment, realizes that their strategy is wrong. The young man attracts the attention of Morgan, and an unlikely friendship ensues as Morgan, an expert chess player himself, compels Benny to join him regularly in a game. Unable to beat Benny, Morgan recognizes him as a master strategist and relies upon him for tactical insight. The protagonist revels in the attention but becomes increasingly concerned as his inherent belief in the goodness of humanity collides with the growing sordidness of their raids and Morgan's deteriorating health and sanity. Sophisticated teens will appreciate this excellent tale. The sights, sounds, and smells of 1600s Jamaica come alive through Benny's eyes. Chess players, privateers, prostitutes, gamblers, and the upper crust create the rich environment in which Benny lives while searching for meaning in his life. VERDICT Chess, history, and the art of the con mingle to create a top-notch tale that many mature teens will enjoy.-Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • School Library Journal

      December 1, 2016

      Twenty-year-old Benny Wand stands before the judge with 10 seconds to decide: Newgate prison or deportment to Jamaica. Jamaica it is. Chess, history, and the art of the con mingle to create a top-notch tale-with pirates! (http: //ow.ly/h2xF305MzTe)-Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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