In Sheldon Greene's Pursuit of Happiness, readers are taken on a ride through history and passion, adventure and surprising twists. The American Revolution is in its early stages, with the future of the army hanging by a thread. Joshua Rutledge, a Quaker and a member of the Rebellion's first spy organization, the Committee of Correspondence, is sent to the Caribbean to retrieve a desperately needed French arms shipment. When Rutledge meets Amelia Sayre, wife of a slave owner known for his brutality, the story races into new and gritty territory. From slave rebellion to Jewish life in the Caribbean, from French aid to the Revolution, to the formation of the U.S. Marines, Greene weaves a fascinating and fast-paced novel that delivers a powerful finale. Extended Description The American Revolution is near collapse and General George Washington is preparing for a surprise Christmas Eve attack on the Hessian forces at Trenton. Desperately in need of weapons, he turns to young Philadelphia Quaker and artist, Joshua Rutledge. After reporting on the Hessian defenses of Trenton, Rutledge sails to the Caribbean, to locate a shipment of French arms and persuade a Jewish ship owner to transport them back to America through the British blockade. He falls in love with Amelia Sayre, the unconventional wife of a pitiless slave owner. In this fast paced, rich story full of compelling, well drawn characters and vivid description, Greene weaves fiction and history into a spellbinding novel that never disappoints. Whether you are a history buff or a lover of a good thriller, this novel never falters. From Jewish life in the Caribbean to the birth of the Marine Corps, from slave rebellion to Benedict Arnold's seducer, the author delivers a gripping story about hardship and love, oppression and freedom. Sheldon Greene's Pursuit of Happiness is a rousing, richly detailed piece of historical fiction set during the American Revolution. Equal parts adventure and romance, and teeming with colorful characters, the novel tells the story of Joshua Rutledge, a Philadelphia Quaker and cooper's son, and Amelia Sayre, the beautiful wife of a cruel and domineering plantation owner named Duncan. When the novel opens, both Joshua and Amelia are leading lives of protected innocence; each longs for something more but doesn't know where (or how) to seek fulfillment. Soon the American Revolution impinges on them in ways neither could imagine. A childhood friend calls upon Joshua, an ardent pacifist, to join in the American war effort. George Washington's army has dwindled to a few thousand poorly outfitted men. Resistant at first, Joshua eventually accedes to his friend's appeal and soon finds himself involved in the war as a spy. Remarkably, he obtains the information that leads to Washington's rout of the British in the Battle of Trenton, a victory that breathes new life into the revolution. The success of Joshua's reconnaissance mission leads to another assignment: to find a large shipment of French arms and escort the cache back through a British blockade of American ports. The journey takes Joshua to Haiti via the fictional island of St. Catherine's. Along the way he meets Alexander Da Costa, the mixed-blood son of a Jewish merchant, and to whom Joshua entrusts half of the arms shipment. Moreover, in St. Catherine's, he falls in love with Amelia, whom he meets immediately upon his arrival. The narrative build-up to this meeting and the passionate affair that follows is wholly enjoyable. Unlike his first spy mission, however, this second mission proves only half-successful, since only Joshua, and not Alexander, is able to return to the colonies. But within this apparent "failure" lies Joshua's way back to St. Catherine's and Amelia, this time as a marine captain determined to find Alexander and a missing arms shipment that could mean the difference between victory and defeat for American patriots. As a work of historical fiction, Greene's novel is as meticulously researched as it is conceived and executed. The writer evokes the Revolutionary period, and the people and places of that time, with an artfulness and grace that makes for easy immersion in the novel. Although events seem almost too neatly interconnected at times, Greene's impeccable sense of novelistic pacing, characterization, and plot vividly demonstrates his skill as a literary craftsman, and creates an especially entertaining and memorable read. Pursuit of Happiness is as much a story of the colonial quest for independence as it is that of a young man finding his identity and place in the world. Maude Adjarian, Clarion Reviews --Maude Adjarian, Clarion Reviews I recommend this book to all fiction readers and some who prefer a little nonfiction thrown in for good measure. It is a real find and so enjoyable to read. Another treasure by Sheldon Greene. Mary Ligonor, Book Pleasures --Mary Lignor, Book Pleasures Historical novels have never been at the top of my list for choices in