The Water-Witch, or the Skimmer of the Seas. A Tale, in Two Volumes

Two volume set. " The Water-Witch is an 1830 novel by James Fenimore Cooper. Set in 17th century New York and the surrounding sea, the novel depicts the abduction of a woman, Alida de Barbérie, by the pirate captain of the brigantine Water-Witch, and the subsequent pursuit of that elusive ship by her suitor, Captain Ludlow.[1] Cooper wrote the novel, while on an extended tour of Europe, during his stay in the villa Palazzu detta del Tasso near Naples.[1] Cooper tried to print the novel while he was in Italy in 1829 but Papal censors forbade its publication in Italy.[1] Cooper was then able to print the novel in Dresden, before also sending copies to his publishers in the US and England.[1] Critic Allan Axelrod describes the novel as heavily influenced by the Italian context of its writing, noting that it even compares the landscapes of New York with that of Italy.[2] Waterwitch, New Jersey is named after the novel.[3]"--Wikipedia