My Shipmate—Columbus

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27019

Title

My Shipmate—Columbus

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A young history student doubts the textbook heroism of Columbus. After his eccentric uncle leaves him a mysterious time-traveling trunk, he journeys back to 1492. Witnessing the explorer's drunkenness and fear firsthand, the student must intervene to ensure the voyage succeeds, ultimately rewriting history's perception of the great navigator.

Summary up to 500 words

In Stephen Marlowe's *My Shipmate—Columbus*, skeptical college student Danny Jones receives a telegram announcing the death of his estranged grand-uncle, Averill. Averill's will leaves Danny a peculiar steamer trunk in the basement, claiming it contains a machine that runs on faith and allows time travel. Disappointed to find only a trunk, Danny enters it anyway, driven by a desire to verify historical truths and honor his uncle's unconventional teachings. He awakens in 1492 Palos, Spain, inhabiting the body of Martin Pinzon, a sailor in Christopher Columbus's fleet. Danny quickly realizes the historical narrative he was taught is flawed. The crew mocks Columbus, who is depicted as a drunkard believing the world is flat and refusing to sail west. Danny, possessing Pinzon's mind, intervenes to protect Columbus's daughter, Nina, from a local bully named Pietro. Realizing that history depends on the voyage's success, Danny convinces Nina to join him on the *Nina*. They sail west while the drunken Columbus chases them in the *Santa Maria*. Upon reaching the New World, the crew, inspired by the discovery, turns on Pietro, throwing him overboard. Shamed by his daughter's bravery and the success of the voyage, Columbus transforms into a true explorer. Danny returns to the present, understanding that Columbus was indeed a hero, not a drunkard. He accepts the legacy of the time trunk, ready to use it again to explore history's truths. The story challenges readers to question accepted historical facts, emphasizing that history is often propaganda from the winner's point of view and that personal faith and courage are essential to uncovering the truth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27019.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27019.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 15:04 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• Science Fiction
• Time Travel