The Figurehead

Stout of beam and straightforward in design, this journeyman saga takes two families from sail to steam in 19th-century Liverpool. That tough old tyrant, Jesse Bostock, directs intelligent, ambitious granddaughter Nell to marry into the shipping competition--the Gresham family. But after Jesse's death, Nell is unwilling to marry capable Edmund G. in spite of her frustrations at not being able (as a woman) to run the business Jesse had left her. Nell does succumb, however, to the charms of Malcolm, Edmund's brother, and settles down happily to raise twin boys, Jesse and Alan, though taking enough time out from domesticity to arrange some innovative shipping complicated by America's Civil War blockades. But later than anyone would suppose, Nell discovers that Malcolm is still seeing that stunning Eurasian, Poppy, the mistress he had seemingly discarded. (The title refers to Poppy's uncanny resemblance to an exotic figurehead on an old Bostock clipper.) Wily and efficient Nell marries Poppy off to an American, but Poppy's husband, son Jesse, and Malcolm are all lost at sea, leaving two smoldering adversaries--one devastated by grief, the other hell-bent for revenge. Poppy surfaces like a serpent, beds Alan, marries Edmund, and plots to take over the company. It's son Alan, self-exiled from Nell and Liverpool because of Nell's disapproval of his marriage, who will effect a solution to the various afflictions.