First published 2022
A naval officer chronicles his service aboard an American warship patrolling the African coast. His journal entries reveal the daily realities of maritime duty, encounters with local populations, and observations of coastal settlements and trading posts. The officer records conversations with crew members, descriptions of ports and harbors, and reflections on the cultural differences he witnesses. As the cruise progresses, tensions emerge between official duties and personal conscience, particularly regarding the complexities of American naval presence in African waters. The journal captures both the mundane aspects of shipboard life and moments of moral uncertainty, offering an intimate view of one man's experience navigating duty, diplomacy, and personal values during a transformative period of American maritime history.
Genres: historical-fiction, american, adventure, 19th-century, africa, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-uncertainty, personal-conscience
Setting: Africa
Period: 19th-century
188 pages · Paperback · Legare Street Press