Book
Captain Bayley’s Heir
First published 1889
Frank Norris is a Westminster schoolboy and one of the possible heirs of his wealthy uncle, Captain Bayley. When Frank is falsely accused of theft, he leaves England rather than live under suspicion and travels to America. His journey takes him through New Orleans, the Mississippi and the overland route west before he reaches the California goldfields.
Hard work, danger and unexpected friendships allow Frank to build an independent life while events in England continue to reshape Captain Bayley’s family. The adventure eventually connects the Californian search for fortune with the mystery of a missing heir and the evidence needed to clear Frank’s name, turning a schoolboy disgrace into a story of migration, inheritance and self-reliance.
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