A Colonial America Adventure
Making Way
Making Way is a two-volume novel set at the time of the American Revolutionary War. It is a dynamic tale that depicts how that era of American history impacted the lives of a diverse set of individuals: some young, some older; some experienced at life and the sea, others new to the adventures of both; some men, some women, but all inextricably connected together by a whirlwind of events. Here’s a glimpse into the lives of these characters and how they begin to be affected by this tumultuous era.
Young people in Colonial America were living in an era of dramatic change and facing challenges made more difficult and complex by a myriad “unknowns.” Countries, rules, money, allegiances, security, mobility and survival were unsettled and uncertain.
In that essential way, young individuals in 21st Century America can see parallels with those in this story.
Volume 1:
Sailing into the Revolutionary Storm
Volume 2:
The Revolutionary Storm Rages
Volume 1 covers the struggle to create an enterprise to generate basic income for the otherwise directionless, odd characters around the New England waterfront.
Volume 2 takes up the story as they face the only option they have: join the rebellion and seek a credible and manageable role in it as privateers.
In Volume 1, readers no doubt will recognize the the struggle to generate basic income for the otherwise directionless, odd characters around the New England waterfront.
They stumble into situations with no plan. They typically find themselves exploited by those more experienced with commerce. The key to their effort to support themselves is a strange sequence of events that gives the lads the use of a formidable sailing vessel called the COMMERCE.
The early challenge is to find a crew that can sail the newly designed “schooner.” Days are like random episodes in the crew’s hapless and often disjointed decisions on what to do next. Before long, the wandering nature of their efforts puts them at odds with the British colonial administration in Virgina colony and then with the British military working to suppress the impulses of rebellion in the American colonies. Without any awareness, they become unwitting participants in the rebellion.
And without recourse, the crew and their vessel, now renamed PYGG, flee to familiar environs back in Cuttyhunk. This is where their misguided adventure began and perhaps where they could escape capture by the British.
. They face engaging in all sorts of struggles with which they have no experience. Worse still, the PYGG is now skippered by a woman. She is able, but faces having to convince potential crew — men or women — to sign on with an inexperienced crew in a life and death campaign at sea. Chris doesn’t even have enough hands to manage sailing the PYGG let alone take her into battle with armed merchant ships. As Chris finds recruits, she recognizes that it is a strange collection of mostly women who are willing to go to battle for fame and fortune. The characters who join the crew are reflective of the tensions in Colonial America. And they come to the enterprise with contrasting motivations and very strong views about the gender bias in society. As they prepare to fight, they reveal so many of the little known inhibitors that all women faced in that era.
Their forays as privateers reveal a great deal about their real abilities and their insights into the rebellion, its motives, and its potential outcomes. The PYGG survives by stealth, ingenuity, and a compelling objective to survive even if that involves breaking some of the unwritten maritime rules of the day. The crew learns that however careful they are to avoid the nasty parts of warfare, they nonetheless face harsh choices. They operate independently on the very edge of the privateering fleets which are so essential to the American war effort. They confront an intrinsic disrespect for their ability to contribute. As PYGG’s successes mount, they receive an order from the very top leadership of the rebellion. It specifies the most controversial and desperate of all missions. To sink the HMS JERSEY, the dreaded and evil prison ship in New York harbor from which prisoners do not emerge. They die tragically and inevitably from small pox, starvation, or both. Suspected rebels are held there and perish there without (or awaiting) trials.
The women of the crew contribute meaningfully to the rebellion, but not without recognizing the immense human cost of war. In Colonial America or in contemporary America, that realization should be clear to all who “see what others don’t see, learn what others don’t learn, and who tread lightly on history.”
For a general description of each character and the main challenge each faces in our story, simply click on a name below.
VOLUME 1: Sailing into the Revolutionary Storm
VOLUME 2: The Revolutionary Storm Rages
The Grandpa
All seniors can find meaning in sharing lessons learned through their experiences.
Laurel
Today, young adults are challenged to find relevance in the past without dampening their impulse to innovate their futures.
Alan Sydney Symonds Eldridge
In today's world, choices proliferate and have the potential to perplex any young adult.
Na
The mobility in society today may create some of the same cautions.
Adam #46
As humans we naturally seek some measure of a steady state, a place where more is understood and seems more manageable.
Bud
As our world gets more complex, one can understand the growing importance of relationships -- relationships of trust and confidence.
Chris
We all have multiple identities, but stability requires that we think carefully about how those are prioritized.
Neville Strathclyde
Aging can be isolating. Is it possible to find a way to link generations in a way that benefits all?
Rose
Can ability and talent really raise one to a new level of accomplishment in spite of beginning with nothing?
Kelly
Is it possible to escape starting life with many more liabilities than assets? How tough is it to change one's environment?
Lass
Oppression can be perceived in many setting where authority seems inescapable and stifling. Is it enough to search for "normalcy?"
Pink
Can a person with considerable experience and resources avoid committing to the conflict?
Nik
Do you see the wisdom in seeing what others don't see and learning what others don’t learn?
Lucy
How dramatically can a person transform given new information that challenges their past?
Horatio
Responsibility to family and community would seem paramount but we can face situations where we must rethink the measure of that responsibility.
Dutch
Can a young teenager gauge adequately what is to be believed or trusted?
Anne Cormac
Aging runs the very real chance that your experience will be minimized and your value diminished.
Eric
When should one tolerate a decision from an authority that seems unwise or unproductive?
Dad
The decision on which side to support in a conflict is usually a very difficult one. Risk -reward and right and wrong can complicatie one's choice.
Gale
Can a person with a single-minded focus be relied upon to work in a team setting?
Tempest
After a trauma, we all are inclined to take a moment and revisit our "purpose."
Amie
Is it unwise to seek high adventure, embracing risk, and simply counting on one's own abilities?
Address
DePaul University
Department of Political Science
990 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-2458
Contact
- DFarkas@DePaul.edu
- +1 847-251-2671