Title: A Sailor’s Tale: Miss Judith 1893 – 1898 Miss Molly
Author: E. G. ‘Lusko
Publisher: Edward Hlusko
ISBN: 978-1959071266
Pages: 334
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Hollywood Book Reviews
Whenever people look throughout history to learn from the past, most people tend to look into the big moments in history, from historic battles that changed the landscape of a nation, to the political leaders who founded new nations altogether and so much more. Yet if history teaches anything, it is that the profound moments of humanity can be found in the little, everyday moments which families for generations can look to, and some of the most rewarding pieces of history are found in correspondence between families.
In author E. G. ‘Lusko’s, A Sailor’s Tale: Miss Judith 1893 – 1898 Miss Molly, the author continues the journey of exploring the late 19th century through the letters written by a US Naval Sailor to his niece, Miss Judith. The book showcases the letters between a man and his niece, as he regals his niece with stories of his time on the high seas, working through the Caribbean and beyond through naval battles, dining parties, and power plays as his letters help the small, hometown young woman experience parts of the world through her uncle’s eyes.
The author did a remarkable job of capturing the heart and tone of the original letters while also helping to clean up some of the flow found within the letters themselves. The personal, informal nature of the letters allow the reader to really get a sense not only of the uncle, QMC, and his nature, but the time period itself and how the people of that era spoke to one another. The places that the uncle traveled and was able to bring to life through his letters, from the Caribbean to the coast of Alaska and even Greece, were vibrantly brought to life and allowed the reader to be transported to that time period.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction books, in particular those who enjoy family related books which have a particular focus on history and genealogy facts as well. The author was able to not only bring these letters to life once more in our modern times, but was able to highlight the impact everyone has on others in their lives. From the impact he had on his young niece in regaling her with his exploits, to the impact he had on his fellow crew members, QMC and his letters showed that the smallest moments in a person’s life can have long-reaching impacts throughout history, like a pebble thrown into a still river.