Jules Verne 
Blockade Runners 

Combining romance and adventure, ‘The Blockade Runners’ is set in both Scotland and the south of America, as the American Civil War looks to become a reality. Scottish entrepreneur, Captain James Playfair, sets out on a daring mission to acquire cotton from the southern states. However, there’s more to one of his travelling companions than meets the eye and Playfair quickly finds himself facing a whole new set of challenges. A rollicking read, Verne peppers this short story with vivid details about each of the destinations our protagonist encounters. —