The Wreck at Sharpnose Point

By Jeremy Seal

Book Overview

While walking through a cliff-top graveyard in the town of Morwenstow on the coast of Cornwall, the author encounters a wooden Scottish figurehead that once adorned the Caledonia, a ship wrecked on the English coast in 1842. Through further investigation, Seal begins to suspect the townspeople, and chiefly the town's parson, Robert Hawker, for the Caledonia's demise on the jagged shores below. Though no one has ever been brought to court for "wrecking"--luring ships ashore to loot the cargo--it's a commonly held belief that this sort of cruelty did take place. But, is that what happened in Morwenstow?
Having meticulously researched maritime logs, broadsides of the day, and other first-hand documents, Seal weaves history, travelogue, and imaginative reconstruction in this marvelous piece of detective work, bringing us a mystery of the best kind--the sort that really did happen.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156027054
• ISBN13: 9780156027052
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 4.4" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Seafaring Whodunit?

Seal's chance sighting of the Caledonia's figurehead in a coastline churchyard starts him on a hunt relating to its history. He traces down logs and documents along with the descendent of the ship's sole survivor to create a seafaring story which reads like a pure whodunit. And that may be the problem, did Seal use what he discovered to *create* as plausible an outcome as he could manipulate or is this...true?

enthralling historical speculative book

While in the town of Morwenstow, author Jeremy Seal noticed the cracked figurehead of the Scottish ship Caledonia, which sunk off the English coast in 1842. Interested in learning more about the ill-fated vessel, Mr. Seal searched public records dating back to 1842, customs paperwork and local edifices like the church. Mr. Seal concludes that the townsfolk led by Parson Hawker caused wreck in order to salvage the cargo.When Mr. Seal examines the past through his mesmerizing theory, readers receive an enthralling historical speculative work. However, when Mr. Seal provides insight into how he conducts research and the steps he took to draw his conclusion, the book loses momentum. Though overall quite interesting, TREACHERY AT SHARPNOSE POINT could have been morbidly great with more insight into the 1842 Morwenstow Caledonia link and less Seal.Harriet Klausner