Wake of the Perdido Star [B0673]

1999 HCDJ 1st edition. The Oscar-winning actor teams up with a shipwreck diving expert to spin a cinematic tale of nineteenth century pirates, shipwrecks, and sea adventure.

In 1805, seventeen-year-old Jack O'Reilly sets sail with his parents from America to Cuba aboard the Perdido Star. But when tragedy strikes shortly after their arrival, Jack makes a desperate escape, rejoining the departing Star as a member of the crew. On his yearslong journey around the globe, he only grows more obsessed with avenging the murder of his parents. By the time he returns to Cuba, Jack has faced storms, shipwreck, and deadly battles. He leads a renegade band who call themselves the Right Honourable Brotherhood of the Shipwrecked Men of the Star. But having seen and suffered so much, what is Jack now willing to sacrifice for revenge?

Hackman and Lenihan infuse this swashbuckling tale with authentic details of 19th century seafaring and deep sea diving. The hero Jack is joined by a colorful cast of characters, including Paul Le Maire, the aristocratic intellectual who earns Jack's friendship; Quince, the first mate, Jack's mentor and defender; Quen-Li, the mysterious Chinese cook whose skills extend beyond the galley; Hansumbob, the ship's poet, whose simplicity belies a wisdom born of the heart; and the greedy Count de Silva, whose charm masks a murderous soul.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Excellent book with super plot and characters. I felt like I was reading a Joseph Conrad book from my youth. It is so sad that there will be no more from Gene Hackman, gifted author as well as actor. May he RIP knowing that his book will entertain readers for many years to come."; "I will admit that I chose this book because Gene Hackman co-wrote it and I was curious. I was very pleasantly surprised at the writing quality. The story, set in the very early 1800s, has an authentic feel, almost Herman Melville-ish in style. The terminology and sentence structures, especially the seafaring language, take a little getting used to but you have to respect the effort it must have required. An exciting tale of piracy, revenge and brotherhood at sea, mixed with some intriguing history. Worth the read."