What a cool book. I was totally invested in Mary Ann's (and Joshua's) story, especially once we got to the meat of the book. Some of the stuff in the early chapters bogged down the narrative a bit (like the exact ages of everyone's siblings and what their grandparents did for work, etc) and I think if that had been pared back a bit so we hit the exciting parts sooner, this would have been 5 stars. I love ship stories like this, age of sail mutinies and disasters, etc, but this is the first one that features a woman at the helm and I can't believe it's not a more well-known tale. It's absolutely fascinating and I hope this book spreads Mary Ann Patten's legendary account far and wide. I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really like books that delve into little known areas of history so this story was right up my alley. For the most part the narrative was captivating, it did drag at times for me. I enjoyed the family history and all the work to set this story in to context of its time.

A Horror About the First Female Captain’s Mistakes of Inexperience
Tilar J. Mazzeo, The Sea Captain’s Wife: A True Story of Mutiny, Love, and Adventure at the Bottom of the World (New York: St. Martin’s Press, December 9, 2025). Hardcover: $30: 288pp. ISBN: 978-1-250352-58-3.
***
“The… first female captain of a merchant ship and her treacherous navigation of Antarctica’s deadly waters… Summer, 1856. Nineteen-year-old Mary Ann Patten and her husband, Joshua… Both from New England seafaring families, they had already completed their first clipper-ship voyage around the world with Joshua as captain. If they could win the race to San Francisco that year, their dream of building a farm and a family might be within reach… And the price of that freedom was one last dangerous transit—into the most treacherous waters in the world. As their ship, Neptune’s Car, left New York Harbor and sailed down the jagged coast of South America, Joshua fell deathly ill and was confined to his bunk, delirious. The treacherous first mate, confined to the brig for insubordination, was agitating for mutiny.” As I searched inside to figure out what happened, I learned that the crew was expected to “mutiny” if given the chance. This rebellious spirit of partly hardened criminals as crew was one of the reasons Mary Ann had been isolated, only “permitted to speak with… four classes of people: her husband, their steward, the first mate, and any passengers.” Given this, it seems likely that Mary would have mistaken standard objections among a rough crew for an actual threat to mutiny. This is confirmed when William Keeler’s words are taken as “the first step towards mutiny”. She is afraid of “glances”. She assumes that if Keeler takes command she will be murdered by him. No actual violence has taken place. The mere fact that she addresses the crew is “extraordinary”, and she tells them that Keeler is to be imprisoned as her first order. Nobody writes down what she said to the crew. This is a horrific account of a woman taking charge of a ship with no experience, and taking the worst possible decisions from the outset. This is not a feminist story.
“With no obvious option for a new captain and heartbroken about her husband, Mary Ann stepped into the breach and convinced the crew to support her, just as they slammed into a gale that would last 18 days. Determined to save the ship, the crew, and their future, she faces down the deadly waters of Drake’s Passage…” That’s it. All she did was imprison the second-in-command, and told the crew to steer into a storm, and this ship managed to survive despite all manner of bad-judgement… A horror-story, as opposed to a heroine-story. “Mazzeo draws on new archival research from nineteenth-century women’s maritime journals and on her own expedition to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica in search of Mary Ann’s route…”
This is a very scary story indeed, and it is told from a strange perspective, as if the author has as little experience at-sea as the character. This story will horrify anybody who has read or researched sea-travel (for all the wrong reasons).
--Pennsylvania Literary Journal: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-summer-2025/

Mary Ann Patten took over command of her husband's ship when he became ill and while she was pregnant. Having already sailed the world with him for more than a year, she put down a mutiny and brought one of the world's fastest clipper ships into harbor with its cargo. Hers is a great, fascinating story, but this book manages to focus on her family history and that of her husband and their property rather than her competence and abilities at sea, and does it in a tedious way. It's really a shame, because the research is seems meticulous and the story one that deserves better telling.

This is an extraordinary book about a very ordinary couple who were recognized for doing an impossible job under very trying circumstances. The narrative centers around Mary Ann Patten and her husband Joshua, a young sea captain who was building a reputation as a trustworthy sea captain with a promising future.

Mary comes from an immigrant family living in Boston when she marries young, at a mere 19, and falls deeply in love with her husband who has a dream of building a future in Maine. The goal is to save money, build a house where his family is from, and produce children and enjoy life.

Being a sea captain was a well-paying job that has enormous responsibility and a lot of variables. The challenges included weather, crew, owners and even the ship. Despite all these variables and unpredictability, a captain could make money by delivering passengers, cargo and even some personal cargo. This is where our story gets into the real story of what happened to Mary Ann and her husband Joshua as they sailed the Neptune’s Car from New York to their first leg in San Francisco.

The story keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is thrilling, exciting, and brings them against almost unfathomable circumstances. These are facts, not fiction, which adds to the enjoyment because this story would otherwise be mostly forgotten. I would highly recommend reading this book as the reader has a lot to learn. I had no knowledge of ships or did I know that women were sometimes on the great clipper ships so they could be close to their husbands.

Thanks for the advance read. I enjoyed the story and always enjoy a new author. Good luck with the book

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; it was highly informative. I will certainly recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

In 1856, and while her sea-captain husband was deathly ill, Mary Ann Patten, age 19 and pregnant, navigated the merchant ship, Neptune’s Car, through treacherous waters during their voyage from New York to San Francisco. Elected by the crew as their captain after her husband was bed-ridden, she was the first women to hold this position, shepherding the ship through an 18-day gale and around the perilous coast of Antarctica. Includes interesting review of maritime history during the 1800s.

Wow! This is an amazing book full of adventure on the high seas. I was immediately hooked from the very first paragraph. The ship is called Neptune's Car and its journey is not an easy one.

There is so much rich and wonderful history in this book! I enjoyed getting to know the Patten and Peabody family. Their lives were tied to the sea from the very beginning. I appreciate all of the research that the author put into this book. I look forward to reading more books by her!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness! Thank you, Sara, for suggesting this title to me; it blew me away. Beautifully written, meticulously cited, and a page-turner that I ate up in a few days.
Most women in Mary Ann's position, 19 years old, newly wed, and with no sailing experience whatsoever, would have chosen to stay comfortably at home with her family while her husband, Joshua takes on an epic journey. Instead, she agrees to accompany her husband on a voyage from Boston to San Francisco, and on to China after that. Unfortunately, Joshua falls deathly ill just before they're preparing to round Cape Horn, at the tip of South America, Loyal to the man she loves, and wanting to salvage the trip they hope will earn them money to build a future together, Mary Ann takes over as captain, earning the respect of a mutinous crew. Oh, and she's pregnant.
Incredible story! One that you wish you didn't whip through so quickly. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This tells the true life story of the first merchant female sea captain and her journey through the dangerous waters of Antarctica. She and her husband end up sailing across the world gaining a chance of freedom as they plan to one day own a farm and raise a family. Competing in a clipper run they will soon run into trouble as her husband becomes seriously ill as he is confined to their cabin. She has no choice but to take chare since the first mate is locked up for treason. It focuses on her ability not only to survive and protect the safety of her crew and husband.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!!

This is a really cool, if harrowing, story about an inspiring figure. Learning more about the journey of the first female merchant captain and the circumstances that led her to be the first was remarkable to understand. I really enjoy when authors dig into historical research like this and showcase a type of voice that hasn’t often been heard in our history books

I have just enjoyed 2 of the best true stories I have ever read, and they were back-to-back, oh what a summer prize! Running Deep and now The Sea Captain’s Wife.
First off, when you first pick this up, be prepared for the best book opening that will set the stage for your next adventure, Ms. Mazzeo grabs you in the first 3 pages. For the following chapter, read it through and do not give up, keep on going, the background was a bit overwhelming, doesn’t last long and then the true harrowing and exciting trip begins. And what an adventure it is.
This author has done her research and following in her father’s footsteps, she is a sea storyteller. I am so glad I was introduced to Mary Ann and Joshua Patten. I felt like I was on Neptune’s Car with them. I could see the sails bellowing, feel the squalls and the waves overpowering the ship. This is the best 1800’s ship voyage I have read. Mary Ann is an inspiration for all women, past and present. Enough said, giving the highest 5 stars I can give. Pick this one and enjoy the tale. Kudo’s Ms. Mazzeo.
This is my own opinion expressed in this review. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.