Fire on the Water

The year is 1861, and America shudders on the brink of disunion. Elisha Eaker, scion of a wealthy Manhattan banking family, joins the Navy against his father's wishes. He does it as much to avoid an arranged marriage to his cousin, Araminta Van Velsor, as to defend the flag.

Eli meets Lieutenant Ker Claiborne aboard the sloop of war U.S.S. "Owanee." An Annapolis graduate who's seen action in the West Indies and the Africa Station, Claiborne is cool and competent in storm and battle, but he now faces an agonizing choice between the Navy he loves and his native Virginia. Whichever road he takes, he'll be called a traitor.

With authentic nautical and historical detail, master sea-yarner David Poyer follows Eli, Araminta, Ker, and their loved ones and shipmates into a maelstrom of divided loyalties, bitter partings, stormy seas, governmental panic, political blundering, and, finally, the test of battle as the bloodiest and most divisive war in American history begins.

ISBN	0671046810	Pages	448
ISBN13	9780671046811 (What's this?)	Volumes	1
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Ltd	Weight (grammes)	367
Imprint	Simon & Schuster Ltd	Published in	London
Format	Paperback	Height (mm)	207
Publication date	06 May 2003	Width (mm)	135
Library of Congress	2001020307	Spine width (mm)	27
DEWEY	813.54	Academic level	General
DEWEY edition	DC21

"The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot" If you have any love for ships or the sea, Poyer's narrative reads, as the critics say, as well as Conrad, Melville, and Wouk.

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