Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
It is 1843 and Captain Sir Nathaniel Drinkwater embarks on the paddle-steamer Vestal for an inspection of lighthouses on the west coast of England. Bowed with age and honors, the old sea officer has been drawn from retirement on half-pay to fulfill his public duty. The following day, tragedy strikes, and Drinkwater is confronted with his past life: his sins and follies, his triumphs and his disasters. Drawing on a true incident, Richard Woodman deftly concludes the career of his sea hero. Drinkwater's complex character is revealed in its entirety. To the end, Nathaniel Drinkwater's life is full of incident and the unexpected, so typical of the sea officers of his day.
Synopsis
1843: Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater's career concludes as he is drawn from retirement and embarks on the paddle-steamer Vestal for a final mission to inspect lighthouses on the west coast of England, where he is faced with a tragic incident and must confront his past.