The novel chronicles the adventures of Captain Richard Nason of Arundel, Maine, during the War of 1812. A privateer’s life: Nason, a master mariner, joins the American privateer cause after the outbreak of war. Roberts provides a detailed look at the daring exploits of these seafaring Americans. Dartmoor Prison: Nason is eventually captured and sent to Dartmoor Prison, a historical British prison for American POWs. Much of the book focuses on the brutal conditions, widespread disease, and harsh treatment of the American sailors imprisoned there. Historical context: Roberts weaves in historically accurate details, including the prison’s administration and the deadly massacre of American prisoners that took place in 1815. Land and sea: While the novel features exciting sea battles, a significant portion of the story also takes place on land, including a storyline involving a love interest with a British landowner’s wife
