Gideon's Band: A Tale of the Mississippi by George Washington Cable

(7 User reviews)   4868
By Charlotte Girard Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925 Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925
English
Ever wonder what it was like on a riverboat in the 1850s? Forget the glamour. George Washington Cable's 'Gideon's Band' throws you onto the steamboat 'Pontiac,' where a tense race between rival captains is just the beginning. The real story unfolds in the cramped cabins and grand saloon, where a young girl, a mysterious passenger, and the shadow of slavery create a powder keg of secrets and social tension. It's less about the destination and more about the dangerous, fascinating world afloat. If you love historical fiction that feels alive with real people and real problems, this hidden gem is your next read.
Share

Read "Gideon's Band: A Tale of the Mississippi by George Washington Cable" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

Late Rector of Bucknell, Oxon; Editor of the Fourth Edition of Dr. Scrivener’s “Plain Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament”; and Author of “A Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament” Πᾶσι Τοῖς Ἁγίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ PHIL. i. 1 London George Bell And Sons Cambridge: Deighton, Bell and Co. 1896 CONTENTS Preface. Introduction. Chapter I. Preliminary Grounds. Chapter II. Principles. Chapter III. The Seven Notes Of Truth. Chapter IV. The Vatican And Sinaitic Manuscripts. Chapter V. The Antiquity of the Traditional Text. I. Witness of the Early Fathers. Chapter VI. The Antiquity Of The Traditional Text. II. Witness of the Early Syriac Versions. Chapter VII. The Antiquity Of The Traditional Text. III. Witness of the Western or Syrio-Low-Latin Text. Chapter VIII. Alexandria and Caesarea. Chapter IX. The Old Uncials. The Influence Of Origen. Chapter X. The Old Uncials. Codex D. Chapter XI. The Later Uncials And The Cursives. Chapter XII. Conclusion. Appendix I. Honeycomb—ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου. Appendix II. Ὄξος—Vinegar. Appendix III. The Rich Young Man. Appendix IV. St. Mark i. 1. Appendix V. The Sceptical Character Of B And א. Appendix VI. The Peshitto And Curetonian. Appendix VII. The Last Twelve Verses Of St. Mark’s Gospel. Appendix VIII. New Editions Of The Peshitto-Syriac And The Harkleian-Syriac Versions. General Index. Index II. Passages Of The New Testament Commented On. Footnotes “Tenet ecclesia nostra, tenuitque semper firmam illam et immotam Tertulliani regulam ‘Id verius quod prius, id prius quod ab initio.’ Quo propius ad veritatis fontem accedimus, eo purior decurrit Catholicae doctrinae rivus.”—CAVE’S _Proleg._ p. xliv. “Interrogate de semitis antiquis quae sit via bona, et ambulate in eâ.”—Jerem. vi. 16. “In summa, si constat id verius quod prius, id prius quod ab initio, id ab initio quod ab Apostolis; pariter utique constabit, id esse ab Apostolis traditum, quod apud Ecclesias Apostolorum fuerit sacrosanctum.”—TERTULL. _adv. Marc._ l. iv. c. 5. PREFACE. The death of Dean Burgon in 1888, lamented by a large number of people on the other side of the Atlantic as well as on this, cut him off in the early part of a task for which he had made preparations during more than thirty years. He laid the foundations of his system with much care and caution, discussing it with his friends, such as the late Earl of Selborne to whom he inscribed The Last Twelve Verses, and the present Earl of Cranbrook to whom he dedicated The Revision Revised, for the purpose of sounding the depths of the subject, and of being sure that he was resting upon firm rock. In order to enlarge the general basis of Sacred Textual Criticism, and to treat of the principles of it scientifically and comprehensively, he examined manuscripts widely, making many discoveries at home and in foreign libraries; collated some himself and got many collated by other scholars; encouraged new and critical editions of some of the chief Versions; and above all, he devised and superintended a collection of quotations from the New Testament to be found in the works of the Fathers and in other ecclesiastical writings, going far beyond ordinary indexes, which may be found in sixteen thick volumes amongst the treasures of the British Museum. Various events led him during his life-time to dip into and publish some of his stores, such as in his Last Twelve Verses of St. Mark, his famous Letters to Dr. Scrivener in the _Guardian_ Newspaper, and in The Revision Revised. But he sedulously amassed materials for the greater treatise up to the time of his death. He was then deeply impressed with the incomplete state of his...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

George Washington Cable, drawing from his own New Orleans upbringing, gives us a front-row seat to the rough-and-tumble world of Mississippi riverboats. This isn't a dry history lesson; it's a story that moves with the current.

The Story

The plot centers on a high-stakes race between two steamboat captains, Gideon Hayle and his rival. Their competition fuels the engine, but the heart of the book is below deck. We follow a young woman, Joyce, who boards the 'Pontiac' and gets tangled in the ship's complex social web. Her interactions with a guarded stranger and her observations of the crew and passengers—including the stark reality of enslaved people on board—create a tight, simmering drama. The race provides the thrill, but the human conflicts provide the soul.

Why You Should Read It

Cable doesn't just describe a setting; he resurrects it. You can almost smell the river mud and hear the steam whistle. His characters feel authentic, not like props in a historical diorama. Joyce is a compelling lens—smart, observant, and often caught in uncomfortable situations that reveal the era's deep social divides. The book's quiet power comes from how it shows a society in microcosm, floating down the river, unable to escape its own tensions.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love immersive historical fiction that prioritizes character and atmosphere over sword fights and court intrigue. If you enjoyed the river-bound mood of Twain's life on the Mississippi but want a story with more pointed social observation, you'll find a lot to love here. It's a slower, richer burn than a modern thriller, but it offers a genuinely transporting experience.



⚖️ Usage Rights

This historical work is free of copyright protections. It serves as a testament to our shared literary heritage.

Margaret Jones
1 year ago

After finishing this book, the depth of research presented here is truly commendable. I will read more from this author.

Amanda Wilson
7 months ago

The index links actually work, which is rare!

Paul King
10 months ago

I had low expectations initially, however the character development leaves a lasting impact. I learned so much from this.

Linda Robinson
1 year ago

Solid story.

Edward Williams
9 months ago

Comprehensive and well-researched.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (7 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in


Related eBooks