A Captain of the Press-Gang
Captain of the Press-Gang is a novel by Bliss Carman, first published in 1916. It tells the story of a young man, John, who is forced to join the British Navy as a press-ganger. He is sent to the Caribbean to capture deserters and is soon caught up in a world of adventure and danger. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including a beautiful woman, a mysterious pirate, and a ruthless captain. He also discovers a hidden treasure and must battle his own inner demons as he struggles to make sense of his life. In the end, John finds redemption and a newfound sense of purpose.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1891 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 304 words
First lines
Shipmate, leave the ghostly shadows, Where thy boon companions throng! We will put to sea together Through the twilight with a song.
Leering closer, rank and girding, In this Black Port where we bide, Reel a thousand flaring faces; But escape is on the tide.
What this Textopian page supports
A Captain of the Press-Gang is listed on Textopian as a short story by Bliss Carman, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Literary Fiction
- Length: 304 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Captain of the Press-Gang by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Captain of the Press-Gang?
- How does this short story by Bliss Carman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the 19th century and follows the story of a captain of a press-gang, which was a group of people who were forced to join the navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
- Adventure — The book follows the captain's adventures as he navigates the high seas and deals with the challenges of being a captain of a press-gang.
- Romance — The book contains romantic elements as the captain falls in love with a woman he meets on his journey.
- Literary Fiction — The book is written in a literary style and contains themes of morality, justice, and loyalty.
Tags
Poetry · arches · betray · black · burnish · cronies · cutlass · dawn · dost · father · girding · grip