Ice King has generational change, moral wickedness, greed and romance woven through the lives of a father and son caught up in the turmoil that preceded the implementation of the British Trade Act of 1807, which would end Britain’s involvement in the slave trade.
In 1804, Liverpool was the largest slave trading port in Great Britain, yet her influential traders felt threatened by the success, in Parliament, of the anti-slavery movement.
William King, son of a Liverpool slave trader, was one of the few who spoke out against the ‘Trade’.
This epic has generational change, moral wickedness, greed and romance woven through the lives of a father and son caught up in the turmoil that preceded the
implementation of the British Trade Act of 1807, which would end Britain’s involvement in the slave trade.
Excerpt
In 1804, Liverpool was the largest slave trading port in Great Britain, yet her influential traders felt threatened by the success, in Parliament, of the anti-slavery movement.
William King, son of a Liverpool slave trader, was one of the few who spoke out against the ‘Trade’.
This epic has generational change, moral wickedness, greed and romance woven through the lives of a father and son caught up in the turmoil that preceded the implementation of the British Trade Act of 1807, which would end Britain’s involvement in the slave trade.
Professional Reviews
Aye, Aye! High Adventure on the High Seas
Ice King is the story of an ambitious young ship's captain at the turn of the 19th century in England, who is determined to succeed on his own terms. Appalled by the inhumanity of the slave trade, he vows to prove one can still turn a profit by trading in goods that were not produced by slaves. Ice is the unlikely commodity that launches his career.
The novel rings with such surprising authenticity of life at sea, England's naval conflict with Spain, and the cruelty of the slave trade that readers will constantly find themselves checking the publishing date to make sure this was really written by someone in the present. The author, Geoff Woodland, weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of life in 19th century England, transporting readers into the middle of exciting adventures on the high seas and the coastal towns of England and The Americas. There's romance, intrigue, mystery, action, a social conscience -- and even an education!
The writing is crisp and moves the plot along at a fast clip, with a complex set of characters and plot lines skillfully propelling the action to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Ice King is a great read, well deserving of a hearty "aye, aye," and a five star rating.
Fantastic woven adventure set in the 1800s slave trade
Liverpool in 1804 was the largest slave trading port in Great Britain. Ice King shows the discontent, success, wealth and change which the slave trade brought, set against various backdrops from Boston to Cuba and back to Liverpool.
The King family are in the shipping business, George King is close to downfall in his business and must decide what to do next - collapse or join in the profitable slave trade. His son, William is totally against the idea, having experienced a Spanish slave trade boat on his travels. The book tells of greed, turmoil, vindictiveness and the harsh reality of life aboard boats in the 1800s.
My favorite character is William. He has solid principles based on facts, and isn't afraid to take his ideas and enterprise on them whilst acting against the slave trade. The tension between him and his father, and later on Charlotte is palpable.
I enjoy reading historical stories, this one was no exception. It's woven really well, and had me turning the pages wanting to know what was going to happen next, all the way through - very engrossing. The adventures that William has made for fantastic reading. As a reader I was swept away into a world where women aren't meant to be the leaders and slaves are seen the same as cattle. Charlotte, the daughter of a rival boating family, seems pleasant enough at first - appearances aren't all they seem and eventually a poisonous family get what they deserve.
Ice King is a detailed book, packed with information on how life was likely to have been like on board, including insights into surgery and death on board. It also shows what it must have been like for the family left behind. Thoroughly enjoyable
A Brilliant Read
I have just finished this book and thought it was brilliant, the story was fact paced and a real page turner. There is something for everyone in the book, and I would highly recommend it to both male and female readers. Normally once I have finished a book it takes me a while to get into a new one, but with Ice King I was completely hooked from page 1. There is a lot of information and story, but at no time does it feel like you are being overwhelmed by the whole thing. Life at this time was hard for a lot of people and through this book you learn a lot. I really enjoyed getting lost in the story and the events that follow, and it felt like I was standing on the side watching things as they happened, so much so that I even felt like yelling at characters at some points to warn them! All in all I would really recommend this book and it is well worthy of the five stars I have given it.
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