The Pirate Slaver: A Story of the West African Coast

by Harry Collingwood

"The Pirate Slaver: A Story of the West African Coast" by Harry Collingwood is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story is centered around Henry Dugdale, a midshipman aboard the British warship Barracouta, tasked with patrolling the West African coast to thwart Portuguese slave traders. As the plot unfolds, Dugdale finds himself captured by slavers, but develops a complicated relationship with the captain’s son, leading to a series of naval adventures that reflect the darker side of maritime history. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the Barracouta, stationed near the mouth of the Congo River, where the ship's crew receives orders to engage in operations against slavers. Following a tense atmosphere, the plot thickens with Harry's character undergoing his first taste of the naval conflict when the ship encounters a series of challenges including capturing a brig-laden with slaves. As the story progresses, it begins to delve into the harrowing realities of the slave trade, alongside the camaraderie and moral dilemmas faced by the crew amidst escalating tensions at sea.