Shifting Winds A Tough Yarn

Shifting Winds: A Tough Yarn by Robert Michael Ballantyne unfurls a brisk, seafaring tale set in a 19th-century British fishing community where courage, duty, and faith steer every life. Ballantyne weaves multiple strands—Gaff and his son Billy, the steadfast Mrs. Gaff, the enigmatic Haco Barepoles, Captain Bingley and his son Gildart, and the resilient Stuart family—into a vivid coastal tapestry centered on the village of Wreckumoft and the nearby town of Athenbury. This historical fiction and travel-inflected sea story captures everyday rhythms of Victorian Britain, the perils and brotherhood of the shore, and the moral currents shaped by the Shipwrecked Mariners and Fishermen Institution and a quietly Christian outlook. Ballantyne’s keen eye for character and setting brings teen/young adult themes of coming-of-age, responsibility, and community to life without sacrificing adventure: storm-swept incidents at sea alternate with intimate scenes on land, revealing motives, upbringing, and social texture rather than sensationalism. Ideal for listeners who love classic sea stories, historical YA fiction, or character-driven travel tales, this audiobook offers a thoughtful, action-tinged portrait of maritime life and moral growth—perfect for family listening or anyone seeking an old-fashioned yet timely coastal adventure.