Alexander McKee (1918–1992)

In 1816, an envoy of ships sailed from Rochelle, france headed for St Louis, Senegal, to replace the English government there with a French one. Command of the lead ship was given to an incompetent aristocrat, because of political policy at the time. Like much incompetent management world-over, this buffoon, because of stupidity in a relatively unchallenging situation, managed to run his ship into a sandbar. Worse, he cowardly saved his life and those of VIPs aboard, while abandoning more than half of his ship's inhabitants to horrid travails, cannibalism, and death. Politicians tried to quash the truth, when the few survivors told the story of the Captain's cowardice, but it would eventually out.

If you despise humans who sell their souls for money and/or power, this book will add to your despising. Or, you can try to pity them, because really, though they strive so heartily to do so, and give up so much, they can never be happy, and end badly.… (mehr)