Jim Davis

By John Masefield

Book Overview

"Jim Davis" is a gripping adventure novel set against the rugged coastline of early nineteenth-century Devon. Written by the renowned author John Masefield, this timeless tale follows the exploits of a young boy who accidentally discovers the secret world of the "Night Riders"-a notorious band of smugglers operating in the shadows of the Napoleonic Wars.

When young Jim Davis is kidnapped by the charismatic but dangerous leader of the smugglers, he is thrust into a life of peril on the high seas. Forced to assist the outlaws in their illicit trade, Jim must navigate a world of secret caves, midnight raids, and narrow escapes from the authorities. As he struggles to find a way back to his quiet life, he experiences the harsh realities of the smuggler's trade and the complex bonds of loyalty and courage formed in the heat of danger.

Characterized by its vivid atmosphere and rhythmic prose, "Jim Davis" remains a classic of juvenile historical fiction. It offers a thrilling exploration of moral ambiguity and the loss of innocence, capturing the spirit of maritime adventure that defined Masefield's literary career. This evocative story continues to captivate readers with its blend of suspense, historical detail, and the enduring quest for freedom.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025335074
• ISBN13: 9781025335070
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.5" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Traditional English high adventure literature

If you like Robert Louis Stevenson, you will thoroughly enjoy Masefield's Jim Davis. I first read this at age 14 (with some vocab help from dear old dad) and it remains one of the best books I have read in a long while. Being a history major and an english minor I found the prose of this book delightful and the historical significance astounding. If you are an adult who has read and re-read Stevenson too much and want the same genre but a different author/plot Jim Davis is the novel for you. If you have a child whom you wish to turn onto fine literature Jim Davis will grab your child's imagination and illustrate a grand adventure of pirates, smugglers, soldiers and gypsies for it. Any child (old or young) can relate to the stories narrator, this is a jewel of English literature. Another great Stevenson alternate is J. Meade Falkner's Moonfleet, it is a bit of an easier read than Jim Davis, but contains just as much adventure.

A Boy's Adventures Along the Devon Coast

This story is set in early 19th century Devon, during the Napoleonic Wars. The narrator is a boy in his early teens, who by chance and high spirits falls in with a gang of smugglers bringing contraband by sea from France to England. It's a fast-moving story, in the tradition of R. L. Stevenson, and a good look at the history of the period along England's south coast too.

This is a very good book.

It is appropriate for anyone who loves action and adventure