The Speedwell Voyage

by Kenneth Poolman

"No mythic journey, this tale of adventure on the high seas is completely true, told by a writer who spent World War II in warships of the Royal Navy. The story is based on the real-life adventures of George Shelvocke, commander of the 22-gun privateer Speedwell that set sail in 1718 to steal treasure from Spanish ships in the South Seas. Filled with pirates, mutinies, sea battles, violent storms, and shipwrecks on exotic islands, the fast-moving narrative offers authentic details of the period and honest characterizations of real individuals. Not since Shelvocke's own book was published in 1726 has the full story been told, although Samuel Coleridge based his Rime of the Ancient Mariner on events reported by Speedwell's captain. This is the only modern attempt to recount the epic voyage."--BOOK JACKET. "We learn how Shelvocke's seamanship skills allowed him to outfight larger Spanish warships and capture prizes but were no match for the stormy seas that claimed his frigate. We get an