The Sultana (1913)

The Sultana is a historical novel written by Henry Cottrell Rowland and was first published in 1913. The story is set in the mid-19th century during the American Civil War and centers around the sinking of the steamship Sultana. The Sultana was a Mississippi River paddle steamer that was carrying over 2,000 Union soldiers who had been recently released from Confederate prison camps. The ship was overloaded and poorly maintained, and tragically, it exploded and sank just north of Memphis, Tennessee, killing over 1,800 people.The novel follows the lives of several characters who are aboard the Sultana, including a Union soldier named Tom and a wealthy Southern woman named Virginia. Tom is determined to survive the war and return home to his wife and child, while Virginia is grappling with her loyalty to the Confederate cause and her growing attraction to Tom. The two become unlikely allies as they struggle to survive the disaster and its aftermath.Throughout the book, Rowland provides a vivid depiction of life during the Civil War, including the horrors of prison camps, the devastation of war, and the complex social and political dynamics of the time. He also explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, as the characters grapple with the consequences of their actions and decisions.Overall, The Sultana is a gripping and emotional novel that offers a unique perspective on one of the deadliest maritime disasters in American history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War or historical fiction.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.