Rich Man's Coffin

About the Book

Winner of the 2002 San Diego Book Awards. Before Melville even thinks about writing Moby Dick, an American slave is living a daring and dangerous life on the open seas. Forget what you know about ´Pip´ or any other limited African-American stereotypes in classic novels: Black Jack White, a real man born during the War of 1812, escapes brutal slavery in Mississippi. In Rich Man´s Coffin, he decides to change his fate at an early age; and at a time when the Underground Railroad is in its infancy, this courageous young black man overcomes the odds to reach New Zealand. Black Jack, like an African-American Robinson Crusoe figure, finds himself in a distant and foreign land. His simple plan to become a wealthy whaler takes a strange and violent twist; and he finds himself thrust into the vicious yet noble life of the local cannibals. Love and war intertwine, and Black Jack is challenged to survive many turbulent events. (Cover design by Chris Garcia) Read a review of this intriguing book at Blether.com

About the Author

Kenneth Gardner began writing at the age of six with his first book, The Devil’s Gold. His first novel, Rich Man’s Coffin, was written while he enjoyed a sabbatical in New Zealand. His busy career includes graduating from the University of North Carolina with honors as a National Merit Scholar, a stint in the Navy aboard nuclear submarines, and traveling the world. He lives in San Diego, California.