The Irish Yankee
In June 1775, two months after the first battle of the Revolutionary War, Irish Yankee Jeremiah O’Brien gives up his lumber business and takes to the sea as commander of the Unity. His first order of business? Capture a schooner off the coast of Maine that’s loaded with supplies for the British. When news of his naval success reaches the Continental Congress, he’s granted a letter of marque to operate as a privateer. This allows him to seize British merchant ships, and keep some of the booty for himself and crew, the rest going to support colonial forces. In defiance of the British Navy, he plies coastal waters taking one prize after another, only returning to his hometown in Machias to deliver much-needed provisions. That, and court Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, a Yankee rebel whose independent spirit is as fierce as his own. All the while, well-armed English adversaries threaten everything he holds dear as his missions grow increasing dangerous.
First in a series, The Irish Yankee takes a remarkably fresh look at the war for American independence in the New England colonies. Although numerous battles take place at sea with O’Brien at the helm, they are not the primary plot drivers. Rather, this is a well-researched exploration of what it means to be part of a struggle to forge the destiny of a newly emerging nation. Scenes of farmers going into battle armed only with pitchforks, and womenfolk melting down iron pots to cast musket balls, are reminders of the desperate conditions. But there are also weddings, shipboard camaraderie, romance and family get-togethers amidst the war effort. The result is a fascinating, informative and thoroughly engaging look at characters drawn from history. The author’s notes are particularly interesting.
