The Blockade Runners

Jules Verne (1828 - 1905)
Translated by N. D'Anvers (1844 - 1933)

Writing at the end of the American Civil War, Verne weaves this story of a Scottish merchant who, in desperation at the interruption of the flow of Southern cotton due to the Union blockade, determines to build his own fast ship and run guns to the Confederates in exchange for the cotton piling up unsold on their wharves. His simple plan becomes complicated by two passengers who board his new ship under false pretenses in order to carry out a rescue mission, one which Capt. Playfair adopts as his own cause. This is going make the Rebels in Charleston rather unhappy with him.

Sure, his new ship is fast - but can it escape the cannonballs of both North and South? (Summary by Mark Smith)

Genre(s): Action & Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, War & Military Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - The Dolphin Mark F. Smith
00:12:23
Play 02 02 - Getting Under Sail Mark F. Smith
00:12:26
Play 03 03 - Things Are Not What They Seem Mark F. Smith
00:13:45
Play 04 04 - Crockston's Trick Mark F. Smith
00:15:10
Play 05 05 - The Shot From the Iroquois, and Miss Jenny's Arguments Mark F. Smith
00:13:07
Play 06 06 - Sullivan Island Channel Mark F. Smith
00:10:58
Play 07 07 - A Southern General Mark F. Smith
00:10:27
Play 08 08 - The Escape Mark F. Smith
00:16:57
Play 09 09 - Between Two Fires Mark F. Smith
00:14:15
Play 10 10 - St. Mungo Mark F. Smith
00:03:17