ianhallauthor: Scotland’s Darien Scheme as it Has Never Been ToldOpportunities: Jamie Leith in

ianhallauthor:

Scotland’s Darien Scheme as it Has Never Been Told

Opportunities: Jamie Leith in Darien (Book One of The Jamie Leith Chronicles) is the story of the Darién Venture seen through the eyes of a rough and tumble Edinburgh street urchin turned accidental explorer. The book is a roller-coaster adventure set against the backdrop of Scotland’s ‘last chance’ at survival…

Edinburgh, 1698. Scotland’s crops had failed again, and starvation was building in the cities. A plan was hatched to colonize Panama, ship goods overland, and hence shorten the voyage to India. Half the available cash in Scotland was raised to support the project. Five ships and three thousand souls set off in a quest to be the salvation of an ailing nation.

Young Jamie Leith inadvertently stows away and wakes a prisoner of the venture, manacled to its success or failure. Determined to survive at all costs, Jamie faces enemies, storms, and sickness with optimism and a ‘ne'er say die’ attitude.

Opportunities is a classic adventure tale infused with the land on your feet spirit that lies in the heart of all Scots.

​The Jamie Leith Chronicles Book Series

The Jamie Leith Chronicles is a historical fiction book series set against a backdrop of real life events in Scottish History.

Volume One

Opportunities: Jamie Leith in Darien

Starts in 1698, and sees Jamie accidentally stow away on a ship in Leith. He is thrown head first into the Darien Scheme; the Scottish plan to colonize Panama. Driven half way across the world, he must use all his street skills and natural abilities to survive in a world of disease and chaos.

Volume Two (Work In Progress)

Opportunities 1707: Jamie Leith the Jacobite

Set in 1707; Jamie is bored, and returns to Scotland to help a certain King James regain his British throne. But nothing is ever easy, and every step he takes forward, he is beaten two back by circumstance. With a price now on his head, he must complete his mission, and get home to his family.

Volume Three (Planned)

Opportunities 1715: Jamie Leith the pioneer

Set after 1715. Jamie moves to North Carolina where he cannot help being drawn into the war against the Spanish

My favorite of Ian’s books… :-)