Shipwrecked

In this captivating audiobook, historian Jonathan W. White chronicles the adventurous life of Appleton Oaksmith, a sea captain whose experiences intertwined with significant events of the mid-nineteenth century, including the California Gold Rush and the Civil War. The narrative sheds light on the Lincoln Administration's efforts to dismantle the illegal trans-Atlantic slave trade, focusing on Oaksmith’s legal troubles and dramatic escape from custody. Despite being pursued by federal marshals in New York City, Oaksmith's subsequent involvement as a Confederate blockade-runner and his eventual return from exile as an anti-Klan politician offers listeners a fresh perspective on the complexities of slavery and political dynamics during a tumultuous era.