Captain Rum: A Wondrous Adventure
When an Oxford Professor stumbles upon an old naval Captain’s log, he unwittingly discovers what many scholars now agree is one of the greatest maritime adventures in history.
In 1821, Captain Fintan McAdam set sail from London, solo, in search of adventure. During his journey, he discovered incredible new worlds and interacted with their amazing inhabitants. They forced him to confront his enemies within, learning much about himself.
Captain Rum, as told in McAdam’s own words through his journal, is a tale of discovery, despair and delight. It will keep you enthralled through many a stormy night.
The Story Behind This Book
Captain Rum was the most difficult piece I have ever written. By far. The manuscript started life as a genuine attempt to write in the style of an 1820s ship's captain. For inspiration I read other maritime journals, most notably those of Captain James Cook, and tried to imitate the flavour and style of their writing. I noted that they usually wrote in a very formal style, with elaborate prose and eye-wateringly long sentences. My attempts to copy this style succeeded - unfortunately a bit too well. The original novel was very heavy going; it was, in a word, boring. The authentic prose made it as unreadable as are Cook's journals, which would be shunned by all but the most ardent historian. After realising that this authenticity was getting in the way of the story rather than enhancing it (prompted by some subtle hints from early reviewers) I re-wrote the entire manuscript word by word, converting my own work into more modern and readable prose. Despite the drudgery of this task, the end result was a much more entertaining story, which I hope readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Related Books
More
Second Book of the Gastar Series: Children of Discord
General Fiction
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Young Adult
72 views
The First Book of the Gastar Series: "Act of Redemption"
General Fiction
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Young Adult
87 views
