EXILE- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THOMAS HIGGINS

From whaling wharves to the Florida swamps, one man’s courage can change a world. On the edge of empire, a boy becomes a warrior—and a legend is born.   Thomas Higgins grows up in the whaling port of New Bedford, caring for his alcoholic father and earning his way as a skilled blacksmith. He falls in love with the daughter of a prominent captain, but a bullying crew member pushes him toward a dangerous fate. When he confronts the bully at sea, Thomas is knocked unconscious and awakens aboard a pirate slave ship bound for Florida. He leads a rebellion, is seriously wounded, and is cast overboard. Rescued by the Seminoles, he finds a new family among the Black Seminoles and discovers a larger purpose as a warrior during a crucible moment in early 19th-century Florida. From New England ports to the wild swamps of Florida, this is a sweeping story of survival, courage, and redemption.