An easily-read historical fiction of Nathaniel Bowditch.
Plot
As a boy Nat Bowditch dreamed of going to Harvard. He knew he was smart enough; when he was little he begged the teacher to give him longer and longer problems to work, reveling in the precision of mathematics. But the chance to go to Harvard continued to elude him, and when he finally made it out of his indentured servitude under a cooper he went not to Harvard, but to sea. And on the seas with the merchantmen he began rewriting the navigations that would continue to guide captains around the world for years to come.
Morality
The characters are not explicitly Christian, but this is concerning an age in which Christian ethics were maintained by nearly all who wished to function in society.
Spiritual Content
As a boy Nat believed that jingling a silver shilling under a new moon would bring good luck.
Violence
There are occasional fights and losses of life at sea, but nothing graphic.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Wine is consumed.
Sexual Content
None. Marriage is held in very high esteem.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
One of the characters is known for swearing, though this is merely referenced. Characters say ‘blast!’
Conclusion
While not much for numbers myself, this was one of my favorite stories growing up, and I look forward to reading it to my children some day. The characters are lively representations of both real historical figures and imaginative figures of the day. Written simply and yet delightfully, ‘Carry On, Mr Bowditch’ is a wonderful introduction to the man who charted the courses of sailing ships to safety round the world.
This review is brought to you by Jenny.
