Captured by Apes; or, How Philip Garland Became King of Apeland

Philip Garland inherits his father’s animal‑trading business at just seventeen, and instead of diversifying his stock he narrows his focus to the monkey family. He spends every spare hour teaching the apes tricks—somersaults, marching drills, even mock musket fire—turning his shop into a peculiar kind of circus. Isolated from ordinary society, the young naturalist finds comfort in the disciplined chaos of his four‑handed charges, and his reputation draws the curious eye of Captain Seaworth, who drops anchor with his crew for a brief visit.

The captain’s arrival sparks an invitation the teenager cannot refuse: a chance to sail beyond the familiar harbours and see how his trained apes might fare in the wild. What begins as a routine supply run quickly becomes a journey into an uncharted jungle where the primates have their own hierarchy, and Philip is thrust into a role he never imagined. As the tides turn, the line between trainer and subject blurs, setting the stage for a wild adventure that will test his knowledge, his courage, and his very identity.