The Fenn, George Manville 1831-1909 creator text utu 2007 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "The Black Bar" by George Manville Fenn is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the HMS Nautilus, which patrols the west coast of Africa during the time when the British Navy was actively combating the illegal slave trade. The main character, Mark Vandean, is a young midshipman who finds himself in various harrowing situations as he and his fellow crew members attempt to thwart slavers and navigate the dangers of both the sea and the ethical dilemmas surrounding slavery. At the start of the narrative, HMS Nautilus is on a mission to intercept American slave ships. The opening scenes introduce us to midshipmen Mark and Bob, who engage in light-hearted banter while dealing with the heat and challenges of their patrol duties. Though they stumble upon a playful chimpanzee, their mission soon becomes serious as orders lead them into an actual confrontation with the grim realities of the slave trade. As they strive to save individuals from drowning or being thrown overboard, the story hints at themes of bravery, the moral complexities of duty, and the personal growth of young men thrust into a harsh world. This establishes a gripping framework for the adventures that are to follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2007-05-05 Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England Original publication data not identified Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction Midshipmen -- Juvenile fiction PZ Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21326 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21326 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133506.0 21326