The Life of a Smuggler

Perfect for maritime historians and fans of Poldark, a look at the true history behind the legends built around smugglers.

"Brandy for the parson, baccy for the clerk . . ."

We have an image, mostly from movies and novels, of a tall ship riding gently at anchor in a moonlit, secluded bay with the "Gentleman" cheerfully hauling kegs of brandy and tobacco ashore, then disappearing silently into the night shadows to hide their contraband from the excise men in a dark cave or a secret cellar. But how much of the popular idea is fact and how much is fiction?

Smuggling was big business-it still is-but who were these derring-do rebels of the past who went against paying taxes on the importation of luxury goods? Who purchased the illicit contraband? How did smugglers operate? Where were the most notorious locations? Was it profitable, or just an inevitable path to arrest and the hangman's noose? Author Helen Hollick attempts to answer these queries and more.

Auteur

Helen Hollick is a bestselling historical fiction author, with her books 'A Hollow Crown' and 'Harold the King' being published in both the UK and the US. Her Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, set in the fifth century, is widely acclaimed as a different telling of the Arthurian myth. She has written two non-fiction books, 'Pirates; Truth and Tale' and co-wrote 'Discovering the Diamond' with her editor, Jo Field, a short advice guide for new and novice writers who are interested in self-publishing. Smuggling is her first book with Pen & Sword, for their In Fact and Fiction series.