This novel follows the tumultuous life of its eponymous protagonist, a young man of mixed fortune who embarks on a series of adventures across the seas and through various countries. Born to a gentlewoman and a disinherited gentleman, he faces the harsh realities of poverty and social injustice from an early age. After enduring a difficult childhood and an apprenticeship to a cruel surgeon, he joins the navy, where he encounters a colorful cast of characters and experiences the brutality of naval warfare. His journey is marked by romance, friendship, and a quest for retribution, as he navigates the complexities of 18th-century society, seeking to overcome the obstacles of his birth and fortune to secure a place for himself and his loved ones.

The 1854th greatest book of all time