|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
Quill & Quire
Beth Powning’s second novel is the affecting and engaging story of a young woman seeking her place in the world – a place away from the loneliness and boredom of a small Canadian village.
Azuba is the young wife of Nathaniel, an older man who captains the Traveller, a commercial ship. The couple originally planned to travel together, but when Azuba becomes pregnant, Nathaniel realizes he cannot jeopardize his wife’s safety or that of his unborn child by taking her aboard his ship.
The primary action begins in 1861, five years into the couple’s marriage. Azuba, pregnant again, suffers a miscarriage while her husband is at sea, and finds comfort and understanding in her friendship with a local minister. Upon Nathaniel’s return, rumours of an affair between Azuba and the minister are swirling, and as a result he feels compelled to take his wife and five-year-old daughter on his next voyage. During that arduous trek around the world, Azuba and her husband begin to rebuild their relationship and in the process explore the dynamics of family and belonging.
Powning’s lyrical prose accentuates the struggles of the characters while smoothly advancing the plot. The descriptive passages paint a clear picture of the historical period while taking care not to wallow in gratuitous details. Unfortunately, the prologue is written in a more formal style than the novel proper, and the epilogue seems like an add-on – both are unnecessary and detract from the narrative’s flow and impact.
Thematically, The Sea Captain’s Wife is about the complexities of relationships – between husband and wife, between extended family members, friends, and society – and about the conflict between work and family. Nathaniel’s decision to have his wife and daughter accompany him allows Powning to effectively explore the consequences of a lack of balance between passion and pragmatism.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.Review
"The Sea Captain's Wife is a terrific tale, fast-moving and expertly told, one which measures, in the author's phrase, 'the true size of the world.' Like The Hatbox Letters, Powning's second cleverly crafted novel is not to be missed.
—London Free Press
"Equal parts character study, travelogue and action-adventure tale, The Sea Captain's Wife is a marvellous read."
—Edmonton Journal
"Epic in its emotional intensity… The work also succeeds at painting a vivid and vibrant portrait of the Atlantic Canadian landscape during the last days of the age of sail."
—The Chronicle Herald
"It is swashbuckling, it is heart-rending and readers will shed tears."
—National Post
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Made me grateful not to be a sea captain's wife (but I loved it),
By J. Macgillivray "Maritime Bookworm" (Moncton, NB, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Sea Captain's Wife (Hardcover)
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this book.When I think of Beth Powning, I think of her beautiful descriptions, especially of nature. However, in this book, she shows she can bring her descriptive powers to the dark side. While there are lovely descriptions of the heroine Azuba's home on the Bay of Fundy, the author also brings to life the less pleasant aspects of being a captain's wife at sea: seasickness, being tossed around in a boat during storms, rotting maggoty food, the difficulty in maintaining personal hygiene on a boat, near-starvation, pirate attacks, etc. There are also fascinating tidbits of history and sailing lore. A great story for anyone, and history buffs will love it. I sure did.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Treat,
By
This review is from: The Sea Captain's Wife (Paperback)
Not having read this authour before, I didn't quite know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprisedRight from the start I liked the easy prose, the lovely description and the interest obtained. Not being overly weighed down by heavy words, it is an easy read, but one in which you are eager to read more. This is a book unlike any I have read , but one in which I found hard to put down. The story line is refreshing, and the characters are fascinating, each strong in their own way. Of course, it was frustrating reading about life on the sea , in an era where woman were really to be seen, obeyed, and not heard, but you will be riveted to find out how this brave and adventurous woman handles difficult situations, including her husband. This is a book about a test of love and could easily make one wonder about what they would have done in the same situation.The Sea Captain's Wife I found this book a treat, one which could easily be read either while on vacation or cozy in bed. Good to the last drop.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book!,
By
This review is from: The Sea Captain's Wife (Hardcover)
This novel is absolutely a wonderful read! I am surprised that there are only 4 reader reviews. I guarantee that once you start this book you will have a hard time putting it down! The author is a skilled story teller and a gifted writer.It truly was a tumultuous but exciting voyage. This book sheds light into the little known world of sea captains' wives particularly in the 19th century. Highly recommend it! 5 star rating!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
|
