Trouble The Water - Hardcover

Bruff, Rebecca Dwight

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1633938093 ISBN 13: 9781633938090

Publisher: Koehler Books, 2019

Synopsis

WINNER OF AMERICANBOOKFEST FICTION AWARD"With this stunning debut novel, Rebecca Bruff establishes herself as an exciting new voice in historical fiction." --Cassandra King Conroy, author of Moonrise, and Founding Honorary Chair of the Pat Conroy Literary Center Inspired by the life of Robert Smalls, the first black Civil War hero, Trouble the Water navigates the dangerous currents of courage, betrayal, and redemption. Born enslaved in South Carolina, Smalls witnesses great privilege and immense suffering alongside his owner's daughter and the dangerous son of a firebrand secessionist. When he's only twelve, he's put to work in Charleston, where he loads ships and learns to pilot a cotton steamer. When the war erupts and his cotton steamer becomes a confederate warship, Robert attempts an escape to freedom for himself and the people he loves.

About this title

From the Author

In 2013, on a visit to the beautiful coastal town of Beaufort, SC, we took one of those touristy horse-drawn carriage rides through the historic part of town. And I mean, historic! The graveyard around the old Episcopal church is the resting place of soldiers from the Revolutionary War. Both sides.Along the way, we heard a story that neither of us had ever heard before.We heard about a man who was born enslaved, in the kitchen house behind the owner's "big house". Turns out he not only had the courage to escape to freedom, but he had the heart to make sure a bunch of others escaped.Oh, and he was a Civil War hero.Robert Smalls. A hero whose name we'd never heard.So, after the tour, we stopped at a bookstore to find a couple of books about this man. There must be some amazing biographies, right? But I didn't find what I was looking for. We went home a few day later, but Robert Smalls wouldn't leave me alone. I googled, and libraried, and amazoned. I found a few bits of information, which only fed my curiosity.Surely someone would tell his story, right?I can only describe it as a calling.Or maybe an obsession.So we moved to Beaufort to allow me to  research and write. I hope you enjoy meeting the hero who changed my life.

From the Back Cover

Inspired by the life of an unsung American hero and slave, Trouble the Water navigates the rich tributaries of courage, betrayal, and redemption. In his inspiring journey, Robert Smalls witnesses great privilege and suffering alongside his owner's daughter and the dangerous son of a firebrand secessionist. At the age of twelve, he's sent to work in Charleston, where he loads ships and learns to pilot a cotton steamer. When the Civil War erupts and his cotton steamer becomes a confederate warship, Robert seizes the opportunity to pursue freedom for himself and the people he loves.

Edition details

• Publisher: Koehler Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1633938093
• ISBN 13: 9781633938090
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 348