Harper's Young People, August 24, 1880

A lively portrait of New York’s waterfront comes alive in the opening pages, where sleek, purpose‑built racing sloops thunder across the water with crews of a dozen or more shifting sand‑bags to keep the hulls balanced. The narrative captures the thrill of high‑stakes wagers, the daring names—Susie S., Brown, Dare‑Devil—that echo through the papers, and the daring innovation of the newly arrived catamaran, a twin‑hull marvel that can outpace steamers yet demands careful handling. Readers get a vivid sense of the craft, the skill of the boatmen, and the sheer excitement of a sport that blends engineering with daring.

The book then shifts to a different era, introducing a medieval tale set in the picturesque hills of Dauphiné. Born in 1475 to the long‑standing lords of Terrail, the young Pierre grows up in the stone‑walled castle of Bayard, already showing the promise of a true “good knight.” As his teenage years unfold, his health, training, and the expectations of his lineage begin to shape a path that will lead him into the chivalric world of tournaments, loyalty, and early adventure.