The Sea Captain’s Wife
Azuba Galloway, the daughter of a ship-builder in Nova Scotia, has always wanted to go to sea. When she falls in love with sea captain Nathaniel Bradstock, they plan to spend their married life together aboard his ship, Traveller. After their marriage and the birth of a daughter, Nathaniel changes his mind and Azuba remains at home. She chafes at being left behind and never settles into the usual pursuits of a sea captain’s wife, but continues to yearn for travel and adventure. After she commits an indiscretion, Nathaniel changes his mind and decides to let her and their young daughter accompany him, albeit reluctantly. At this time in the mid-19th century, many seamen believed it was bad luck to have a woman on a voyage.
At first, Azuba is thrilled to have achieved her dream and be on board her husband’s ship. But she soon learns that life at sea sometimes brings with it unimaginable hardships. They face storms, pirates, illness, starvation, fatal accidents, and potential mutinies. At times, Azuba cannot believe she has put her child in such a perilous situation, and longs to be home safe. But the hardships are tempered by her joy in the exciting ports of call, periods of luxurious living in European cities, the joy of being together as a family and having their daughter grow up knowing her father.
Full of adventure, romance and historical details of life on board a ship during the 19th century, this was a beautifully written, engrossing story that I highly recommend. A glossary of nautical terms is included for landlubbers.
