Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama

Name: Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama
Author: L. Frank Baum

The story follows Sam Steele, a young American adventurer who travels to the Isthmus of Panama to work on the construction of the canal. He becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures involving pirates, treasure hunters, and corrupt officials. Steele's experiences are marked by his bravery, cunning, and resourcefulness as he navigates the treacherous world of 19th-century Panama. Along the way, he encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a beautiful Spanish señorita, a ruthless pirate captain, and a group of eccentric American engineers. Through Steele's adventures, the novel explores themes of imperialism, colonialism, and the clash of cultures in the Americas. The story is a thrilling tale of action, suspense, and humor, with a strong sense of place and period detail.

By L. Frank Baum · First published 1906 · Genre: Adventure, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 24 chapters · 60,463 words

First lines

The bark _Nebuchadnezar_ came staggering into Chelsea harbor in a very demoralized condition. Her main and mizzen masts were both gone, the bulwarks were smashed in, the poop swept away, and she leaked so badly that all the short-handed crew were nearly ready to drop from the exhausting labor of working the pumps. For after weathering a dreadful storm in which the captain and mate were washed overboard, together with five of the men, those remaining had been forced to rig up a square-sail on the foremast and by hook or crook to work the dismantled hulk into harbor, and this they did from no love of the ship but as a matter of mere self-preservation, the small boats having all been lost or destroyed.

What this Textopian page supports

Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama is listed on Textopian as a novel by L. Frank Baum, dated 1906 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: L. Frank Baum
Date: 1906 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Travel Literature, Humor
Length: 60,463 words
Structure: 24 chapters, 1,448 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama by L. Frank Baum
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The plot centers around exploration and thrilling experiences in a foreign land.
Children's Literature — The writing style and themes are suitable for a younger audience, focusing on imagination and discovery.
Fantasy — Elements of whimsy and fantastical situations are present, typical of the author's style.
Travel Literature — The narrative includes descriptions of the setting and cultural aspects of Panama.