Captains Courageous

Brave sailors are an adventure sea tale written by R. Kipling during the time when the author lived in New England, and it tells about a fifteen-year-old boy, the son of a rich man, who is accidentally swept into the sea during a voyage from America to Europe—where he was heading with his mother and intended to finish his education at one of Europe’s prestigious universities.

The unfortunate boy is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman, Manuel, and during their brief acquaintance teaches him the skills of survival at sea aboard a fishing schooner. A few months later their ship heads to Gloucester Harbor in North America (New England). During the voyage Manuel dies. Upon arriving in America, the boy tells his father that, in the name of his attachment and friendship with Manuel, he has decided to connect his future with the sea—thus significantly upsetting his father’s plans…