John Nicol, Mariner: Life And Adventures 1776-1801

In the late eighteenth century, Nicol circled the globe twice. He partied with African slaves in the West Indies. He was on the first ship into Hawaii after the murder of Cook. He went to China. In 1790 he visited Port Jackson as the steward on board the Lady Juliana with its cargo of female convicts.

Here is a plain and enchanting voice that history might easily have forgotten. Caught up in momentous events, Nicol describes the world from below decks.

After falling in love with a young convict named Sarah Whitlam on the Lady Juliana, he tells the moving story of their affair, of the birth of their son at sea and how they came to be separated forever.