Ship's Champion is the story of a young man who lived in the mid-1700s. He was originally from a small town in Wales. The book follows his journeys from being forced onto a vessel captained by a man who walks a fine line between being a trader and a pirate, to where he learns how to survive in a dangerous world. The main character is able to become a successful champion among the underground fighting rings and eventually gains a degree of wealth and freedom. He returns home and then, he and his friend, begin a series of travels and adventures.