In 1752, on a wave of optimism, the 'Liverpool Merchant' sets sail, her owner and her captain greedily anticipating the easy money to be had from the buying and selling of African slaves, her crew seduced by visions of Africa and the hot, lewd women awaiting them Once the trading is over, disease spreads through the cramped cargo, taking the profits with it This is a classic exploration of moral choices, the corruptions of greed and material gain and men's behaviour in extremis