A. Roger Ekirch

"The book is a triptych, beginning with the mutiny on the Hermione and the ensuing manhunt for members of her crew. The second section recounts the arrival of a handful of mutineers in the United States, including Jonathan Robbins, before examining in depth the political crisis that engulfed John Adams and the Federalist Party. The final three chapters focus on the election of 1800 and the protracted consequences of Robbins's martyrdom during the years of Republican ascendancy. As late as 1812, Adams bitterly complained that 'Robbins' was a scandal that ought to have been killed before it died of old age, ' 'a more infernal, wicked, malicious, unprincipled, deliberate, and cruel scandal never stalked this earth.' 'Indeed, ' he rued, 'I know not whether it be dead yet"--Preface.

Of particular interest to me, this book details the pre-industrial sleep pattern of segmented sleep, in particular describing "first sleep" followed by a period of "watch" and subsequently "second sleep". A Library of Congress webcast featuring the author discussing his book ( describes "At Day's Close" this way: "examines the history of nocturnal activity in society in Western Europe, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, before the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Ekirch describes how nighttime embodied a distinct culture, with many of its own customs and rituals. Ekirch, a professor of history at Virginia Tech, conducted much of his research on the book at the Library of Congress. Ekirch writes about night perils, official responses to nighttime such as curfews and watchmen, haunts of men and women at work and play, bedtime rituals, sleep disturbances and finally the demystification of darkness underway in cities and large towns by the mid-18th century."

Everything changed the day a black dragon was born… Cassarah is trapped in the life of being a noble woman whose family is looked down upon. Why you may ask? Because they earned their title rather as payment, rather than being born to the privilege. On the day Cassarah goes to court, finally about to be accepted by society, fate takes the reins and lands her on the hot sands of the Dragon Roost during a hatching. When the black dragon chooses Cassarah and places his mark on her, they are bonded for life. Being claimed by this majestic creature is only the start of the adventure as secrets about her family's heritage come to light. Not only had her ancestors never been noble blood, they’d been mercenaries. A people who have been hunted down to the point of near extinction, but all that is about to change now that the black dragon has been born. Will Cassarah be able to shake off the shackles of her noble upbringing to be the savior these people need? Or will the lies and abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother keep her from spreading her wings?

Discusses the European enslavement of Africans, including their capture, branding, conditions on slave ships, shipboard mutinies, and arrival in the Americas.