Best Selling Books by William Gilkerson

"A thrillingly exhilarating adventure and glorious coming-of-age story, rich in both imagination and history, in perception and truth. I couldn''t put the book down."—Donald Sutherland Nova Scotia, 1952. Not exactly the place you’d expect to run into pirates. But an old mariner, his boat driven ashore in a gale, brings with him enough stories about buccaneers and their lore to make it seem that he must have had firsthand experience of the pirate life. But how is that possible? Captain Charles Johnson’s uncanny knowledge of seamanship’s dark side fuels the imagination of the young boy he befriends, setting him on his own journey of mysterious adventure.

For as long as they’ve existed, pirates have conjured up visions of high-seas adventure and skullduggery, sea chases and bloody battles, dangerous coastal lairs and buried treasure. Rightly so, for ever since ships have carried valuable cargo, pirates have enraged monarchs and struck terror into the hearts of honest seamen with their willingness to risk life and limb for an undeserved share of the riches. Whether the cargo was gold or silver, spices or silks, animal or human, there have always been villains ruthless enough to kill or be hanged for it. From the days of the Vikings to the present and in all the oceans of the world, pirates have made their presence known and feared. Recorded here are their stories along with striking images of ships, storms at sea, and secret harbors where “black ships” could be re-stocked and refitted. Award-winning author and artist William Gilkerson has spent years researching and painting their colorful history. From the terrible Black Beard to the fascinating Granuaile, or Grace O’Malley as the English called her, they have come to life under his brush. One can almost hear the creak of timbers, the snap of canvas while turning the pages. This gift book is a rich treasure in its own right. From the Hardcover edition.

Full of astounding adventures, Sailing Alone around the World is the true story of the first man ever to circle the globe alone entirely by sea. In a little over three years, Captain Joshua Slocum completed the feat many experts believed couldn''t be done—and he has the stories to prove it. During his historic voyage, Slocum was chased by pirates in Gibraltar, soaked by a "rain of blood" in Australia, and battered by perilous storms in the open ocean. He also met many famous—and infamous—people along the way, from Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa, to Black Pedro, "the worst murderer in Tierra del Fuego." This absorbing tale, written with humor and poetic eloquence, was first published in 1900 and has remained in print ever since.

In 1952 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, fierce winds force a small boat into port. The sailor of the boat is the eccentric Captain Charles Johnson, who then takes up residence at the small inn run by a young boy, Jim, and his mother. With each day, Captain Johnson becomes more and more valuable to the family and changes the fortunes of their previously struggling business. But it soon becomes clear that the stranger living in their midst is more than just a sailor. Who is this man who tells such vivid stories about sailing on a pirate ship? And how can he possibly know so much?

This combines the romance and adventure of the sea with revelatory insight into human nature. The mysterious and magical experiences of five lifelong friends on their boat, fulfill all their dreams of adventure. As the voyage proceeds, each man is faced with an even greater adventure: the uncharted territory deep within.

William Gilkerson takes the broad, sweeping history of the human race and puts it in story and pictures that are at once meaningful, sometimes profound, and always funny. His pen takes us from cave men with rocks, to modern bombs and rockets, and depicts the chaos throughout. First published in 1963, we are delighted to bring this amusing and glorious look at arms and armies through the ages to a new audience. There are laughs on every page, but also wry, though provoking observations, all expressed through Gilkerson''s wonderfully detailed drawings which will enthrall readers of all ages. A book to read and enjoy, and then share with friends.

This highly praised tale of adventure and intrigue combines the history of Western piracy with a humorous and suspenseful story of friendship and trust. Winner of the Canadian Governor General¿s Literary Award for Children¿s Literature, and the New York Library Association ¿Book of the Season¿ Award. ¿A wonderful adventure.¿ ¿Once you start reading, it¿s hard to stop.¿ Illustrations.