Munro, Neil (University of Strathclyde)

Hurricane Jack of 'The Vital Spark' by Neil Munro, Fiction, Classics, Action & Adventure Munro, Neil (University of Strathclyde)

THE WILDEST CHARACTER OF THE HIGHLAND HARBORS

His name is Hurricane Jack.

Or Hurrican' Jeck! The finest sailor who ever sailed the seas! As Para Handy, skipper of The Vital Spark -- a "Clyde Puffer" or steamboat in the harbors of the Scottish Highlands -- claims.

Para Handy, or rather, Captain John Macfarlane, has a crew of wonderful characters, including the effete engineer Dan Macphail, the superstitious ship's mate Dougie, Colin the Tar, and his cousin Davie Green, also known as known as Sunny Jim, a deck-hand wizard with the melodious squeezebox.

But Hurricane Jack is the feature character in this remarkable collection of unusual tales by Scots' national treasure Neil Munro (who wrote, if you aren't Scottish and can't recall him, during the early twentieth century). Included in this volume are "The Mystery Ship," "Under Sealed Orders," and "The Wonderful Cheese."

Beware German U-Boats! This "Clyde Puffer" may lob a haggis depth charge at you!