The Dark Frigate

Summary

London 1620 – Philip Marsham, a nineteen-year-old sailor, has just been orphaned when his father’s
ship was lost at sea. An accident with a gun causes him to flee London, leaving behind his small inheritance left by his father. He decides to journey across England on foot, heading towards Bideford in Devon.

During his travels, he encounters Tom Jordan and Martin Barwick, who claim to be fellow sailors. Tom, who is more commonly known as the ‘Old One’, soon parts company with them; however, Martin becomes Phil’s travelling companion. When they reach Bideford, Martin leads the way to the house of Mother Taylor, an old woman who works as the go-between for numerous illegal activities and arranges positions for Martin and Phil on a frigate, known as the Rose of Devon.

When their ship is captured by pirates, led by the ‘Old One’ only Phil and Will Canty, a fellow sailor of the same age, show reluctance to become pirates. Will Phil join them to save himself?

‘No one, we think, has written so perfect a pirate tale since ‘Treasure Island.’
– New York Tribune

Charles Boardman Hawes a children’s historical novelist won the 1924 Newberry Medal for ‘The Dark Frigate’. It was his third, and final, novel, as he died shortly before its publication, making him the only author to be awarded the Newberry Medal posthumously.

Key Topics

Historical Fiction, Fiction, Pirates, Devon