Book Synopsis The spectacular, true story of a scrappy teenager from New Yorks Lower East Side who stowed away on the most remarkable feat of science and daring of the Jazz Age, The Stowaway is a thrilling adventure that captures not only the making of a man but of a nation (David Grann, bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon ). It was 1928: a time of illicit booze, of Gatsby and Babe Ruth, of freewheeling fun. The Great War was over and American optimism was higher than the stock market. What better moment to launch an expedition to Antarctica, the planets final frontier? Everyone wanted in on the adventure. Rockefellers and Vanderbilts begged to be taken along as mess boys, and newspapers across the globe covered the plannings every stage. And then, the night before the expeditions flagship set off, Billy Gawronski--a mischievous, first-generation New York City high schooler, desperate to escape a dreary future in the family upholstery business--jumped into the Hudson River and snuck aboard. Could he get away with it? From the soda shops of New Yorks Lower East Side to the dance halls of sultry Francophone Tahiti, all the way to Antarcticas blinding white and deadly freeze, author Laurie Gwen Shapiro narrates this period piece with gusto ( Los Angeles Times ), taking readers on the novelistic ( The New Yorker ) and unforgettable voyage of a plucky young stowaway who became a Roaring Twenties celebrity, a mascot for an up-by-your bootstraps era. Review Quotes How [Shapiro] conjures the atmosphere and hardships of seafaring life impresses... [and] Billy is a fascinating central character. -- New York Journal of Books The Stowaway proves that fact is stranger and funnier and more amazing than fiction. Laurie Gwen Shapiro artfully draws the reader into the tale of Billy Gawronski, a dreamer and adventurer. Through the wild story of his travels to Antarctica, we see history come vividly to life. -- Susan Orlean, bestselling author of Rin Tin Tin The Stowaway tells one of the most engaging, but forgotten, stories from the Age of Exploration. A fascinating and charming book--I highly recommend it! -- Douglas Preston, bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God A fascinating window into... the exuberant 1920s and the crushing Depression that followed.... A must-read. -- USA Today A gripping, gritty, mischievous tale from an age of exploration and wonder. The Stowaway makes real history read like a boys adventure novel. -- Kevin Baker, bestselling author of Paradise Alley A high-concept true story for the ages.... Shapiro narrates this period piece with gusto. -- Los Angeles Times A true life adventure that reads like something out of a novel. -- Amazon (A Best History Book of January 2018) An absorbing tale. -- Book Reporter An engaging story, engagingly told, that makes the reader root for Billy... [and] prompts one to ponder the effects of social class on fate, and the special qualities that make some people push themselves to the limit. -- The Wall Street Journal An inspiring, not-to-be missed story. The Stowaway is not only Gawronskis tale; it also highlights a time in our nations history when people thrilled to the excitement of exploration, and daring men and women... rose to unprecedented challenges. -- The Missourian Entertaining as hell. Theres no question that this is an adventure story for the ages. -- The Maine Edge Every now and then, history presents us with a life that seems almost impossible to believe. Such is the case with Billy Gavronski.... Shapiro offers a detailed look at... perhaps the last time an earthbound explorer was able to so dominate the publics interest. -- Barnes & Noble (A Best History Book of January 2018) I read nonfiction almost exclusively... and Ill be blunt: this has been a depressing year, filled with political works and stories of Americas decline and social disintegration. But Laurie Gwen Shapiros fascinating book saved my reading year, offering an incredible story, and a reminder that American Exceptionalism once had real meaning. -- Publishers Weekly If sheer gumption is a human trait as honorable as actual accomplishment, then we should build a statue to this bold immigrant son of an interior designer. In Shapiros splendid recount of Gawronskis most famous feat, were taken upon a magnificent journey from the vantage of the ultimate outsider. -- The Bowery Boys Inspired by [an] engrossing yet little-known case of derring-do, [ The Stowaway ] evokes the magic of early 20th-century New York. -- The New York Times Isnt this how history sometimes is best told, when a passing curiosity melds with diligent work? The Stowaway is a charming book, a glimpse of history that, by definition, fascinates and delights. -- Minneapolis Star-Tribune Laurie Gwen Shapiro wrote The Stowaway like a Jack London novel: with a sense of adventure, wonderful detail, a lineup of intriguing characters, and above all a great story. This is the best of nonfiction. -- Mark Kurlansky, bestselling author of Paper Laurie Gwen Shapiros The Stowaway is full of twists, turns, and moments of pure wonder--both joy to read and a surprisingly insightful tale of scientific exploration at its generous and courageous best. -- Deborah Blum, bestselling author of The Poisoners Handbook Shapiro has rescued from oblivion a wondrous tale of exploration. The Stowaway is a thrilling adventure that captures not only the making of a man but of a nation. -- David Grann, bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon Shapiro has revived the history of a once-celebrated stowaway to Antarctica in this well-wrought true tale of a young man who captured the hearts of millions and found adventure at sea. -- Booklist So much more enjoyable than watching the evening news. -- The Bismark Tribune The narrative reads like a yarn from that era... [and] ultimately reveals as much about a countrys changing values as it does about one boys pluck. -- Kirkus Reviews This fascinating and exciting story contrasts the optimism and sense of progress of the 1920s with the devastation of the 1930s. Readers... will find much to delight in here. -- Library Journal What has the world come to when sled dogs and short wave radio mix, when wooden sailing barks compete with aeroplanes, when Eskimos figuratively dance with flappers, and all of this is captured and disseminated by the first public relations hucksters? Laurie Gwen Shapiros The Stowaway is magnificent. -- Bob Drury & Tom Clavin, bestselling authors of The Heart of Everything That Is