Award-winning Stephen Puleo is the author of Voyage of Mercy,
American Treasures, The Caning, A City So Grand, The Boston Italians,
Due to Enemy Action, and Dark Tide.

Announcing my next book (number 8)!
The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner’s Fight for a More Perfect Union

I'm thrilled to announce the topic of my next book (my eighth!) – the first full biography of Charles Sumner, abolitionist U.S. senator from Massachusetts, in more than 50 years. Now, with the research and writing completed, and with The Great Abolitionist on the way to publication, I feel as if I know Sumner as well as anyone, and I feel confident in saying this: Charles Sumner is among a handful of the most influential non-Presidents in American history (and far more influential than many presidents) – standing alongside Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Susan B. Anthony.

Discover The Great Abolitionist →

Events

    • May 30
    • Voyage of Mercy
    • Walpole (MA) Public Library
      143 School St.
      7:30 p.m.
    • October 27
    • Due to Enemy Action
    • Great Island Community
      Overlook Clubhouse
      149 Great Island Road
      Plymouth, MA
      7:00 p.m.
      (This is a private event.)
    • November 1
    • Voyage of Mercy
    • Norwood, MA
      Morrill Memorial Library
      33 Walpole St.
      Simoni Room (2nd floor)
      7:00 p.m.
  • See complete calendar

Wall Street Journal Review of Voyage of Mercy
By Terry Golway

Americans have grown accustomed to seeing their fellow citizens providing food, medicine, and logistical assistance at disaster sites around the globe. It’s not by any means an exceptionally American tradition, but a tradition it surely is. According to Stephen Puleo, the nation’s impulse to aid the afflicted beyond its borders can be traced to the journey of a warship bound from Boston to Ireland at the height of the island’s potato famine. Its mission was not conquest but relief, for in its hold were 8,000 barrels of food donated by the young republic 3,000 miles away from Ireland’s misery.

Read the full WSJ review

<i>Voyage of Mercy</i>

Voyage of Mercy

Steve Puleo's seventh book, Voyage of Mercy, is the story of the Irish famine and the remarkable story of America's first humanitarian mission. Released in hardcover in March 2020, the paperback edition was made available in May 2021.

Learn more →

Breaking News
New Blogs and Other Writing!

I hope you’ll check in frequently to read my blogs and other writing — including excerpts from my books — that will give you a sense of what I’m interested in and excited about. If you have thoughts and opinions, or ideas about a future blog topic, feel free to share with me at spuleo@aol.com.

Read latest blog entry here

Thanks for Spreading the Word!

I hope that you and your friends are already members of my mailing list or have connected with me on social media. If not, all you need to do is give me your email at a presentation, contact me at spuleo@aol.com, or fill in the email box below. Once you receive my newsletter, feel free to forward it to your friends, connect with me by email or on my socials, and visit this website to learn more about my books, events, and other interesting information, like how readers respond to my writing.

What Readers Are Saying

Workshop at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham MA

More than 250 high school students studying history, language arts, religion, and other subjects at this all-girls Catholic school in Hingham MA, participated in a primary sources workshop over two days and seven class sessions. We reviewed and analyzed multiple primary source documents to learn more about the people we study in history, and to draw lessons on leadership.

More School News Here

Paul Revere House and Dark Tide

I recently signed copies of my book, Dark Tide, at the Paul Revere House as part of their Winter Book Fair. I spent an enjoyable afternoon meeting readers and tourists who visited one of Boston's most historic venues and there are now plenty of autographed copies in the PRH gift shop. Plus, it is amazing to me that Dark Tide turns 20 years old this year! It was first published in hardcover in September of 2003.

Read More Highlights Here