Burning Gates

It is 1901 when ten-year old Basil finally grows weary of the poverty and tragedy that have transformed him into an orphan, and an unloved, unwanted part of his only relative’s household. His frustration and desire for a better life fuels a fire in him to pursue more than the wretched life he has led in the rocky reaches of the central hills of Peloponnesian Greece. Driven by his inner voice and unflinching ambition, Basil stows away on a tramp steamer where he is soon befriended by an Englishman who changes his world forever. As Basil learns the English language, he and his new friend develop a trusted relationship boosted by their mutual love of telling stories and similar life experiences. While the steamer moves from port to port on its long voyage to America, Basil’s coming-of-age journey becomes a series of unfolding adventures filled with excitement and curiosity. But Basil has no idea that his decision to board the ship is just the first step in attaining more than he ever imagined. In this historical novel, a Greek orphan born into poverty stows away on a ship that takes him to America and a new beginning.