The Wreckers of Sable Island

In the waning years of the eighteenth century, crossing the Atlantic is a daring venture reserved for soldiers, merchants, and the occasional adventurous soul. From the genteel halls of Oakdene Manor in Warwickshire, the story opens with the Copeland family weighing a young man's wish to join his father—a surgeon with the Duke of Kent’s regiment—at the far‑flung garrison of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The era’s harsh ships, the promise of new lands, and the tension between a grandfather’s protective caution and a grandson’s restless ambition set the stage for a tale of duty and discovery.

Eric Copeland, a fifteen‑year‑old of sturdy build and keen intellect, is determined to leave the safety of his country estate and prove himself abroad. His spirited resolve meets the squire’s skeptical doubts about the “wild place” of Nova Scotia, hinting at the challenges ahead as the boy prepares for a voyage that could reshape his future.