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Sam Wright is an old man, silent and mysterious in the nursing home he lives in. No one knows his story or his past. He is nicknamed "Old Union" because of his tattoo: an anchor with the chain intertwined around the shank and flukes with the words "Bound by Unity." We soon learn the meaning behind this and of Sam's past.
Sam as a young boy in 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression, longs for a life on the seas. After his mother's death, he runs away from his abusive father and treks 550 miles to Sydney, Australia. Along his journey, he survives on the charity of others, following bridges and creeks until he finally reaches Sydney. There he joins the ship, Colac, as a deck boy and begins to learn and live the life of a seaman. He is taught the values and power of unions, a heavily debated topic in the political discourse. Sam also falls in love with and marries the beautiful, but delicate, Emily Knight. Together, they strive to settle down and make a life with each other while struggling through the difficult and volatile political climate of Australia and Europe.
Wayne Ward offers a coming of age novel that is perfect for history lovers. Stretching across the historical and political landscape of Australia, we see through the eyes of young Sam the divided political beliefs, the seaman's strike, struggles of the working class, war and the looming, dark shadow of "the madman in Germany." While at times heavy on the politics and characters tend to speak and gives answers that are a little too spot on, Ward's story does offer a unique glimpse into Australia's emergence from the Great Depression. History lovers searching for a political and sweeping historical novel will appreciate and sink their teeth into this tale of war, politics, and romance.