Jack Tier; Or, The Florida Reef. Complete in One Volume.
by James Fenimore Cooper
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Synopsis
Jack Tier is a tale set against arms smuggling to Mexico in 1846. Under cover of respectable four shipping, Captain Stephen Spike is shipping gun powder to the Mexican government for use against the U.S. The Mexican official purchasing the powder is represented as an honorable and patriotic man. Spike carries along on the voyage a young ingenue, Rose Budd (the original title of the book), her silly aunt and an Irish servant. Young Rose is in love with the upright first mate, Harry Mulford, who does not want to smuggle powder, but who is too loyal to the ship (_not_ the captain) to quit. He ultimately rescues Rose from the sexual predation of Spike, although at first without benefit of clergy. In all of this, both Spike and the young lovers are aided at separate times by the seaman Jack Tier, who turns out to be a cross-dressing woman, who has shipped out as a man for the last twenty years, in search of the husband (Spike) who cruelly deserted her. Jack (who is not revealed as a woman until the second-to-last chapter) finally ends with Spike in her power; she is nursing him on his deathbed. Early on, Rose knew of Jack's true identity, and the two formed a loyal and lasting mutual aid society. There are no clear blacks or whites in this novel, although gray abounds. Jack's motive for hunting down Spike is left open, but hinted to be hatred and jilted anger masquerading as wifely love. Harry and Rose spend a night alone together before they are married. Although a traitor to his country, a smuggler, an outright murderer, a lecher, and a would-be bigamist, Spike is also portrayed as a first-rate sailor and captain. This is one of Cooper's best novels, although the edgy subject matter did not meet with approval in Victorian America.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Wonder Book (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- N13A-03701
- Title
- Jack Tier; Or, The Florida Reef. Complete in One Volume.
- Author
- James Fenimore Cooper
- Book Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Publisher
- Stringer and Townsend
Terms of Sale
Wonder Book
RETURNS are cheerfully accepted up to 30 days. We ship out within 1-2 business days and U.S. Standard Shipments usually arrive within 6-9 business days, Priority 3-6.
About the Seller
Wonder Book
About Wonder Book
Glossary
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- Reading Copy
- Indicates a book that is perfectly serviceable for reading. It may have a defect or damage. As such, reading copy is not a...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Acceptable
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- Spine
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