Cover image for Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy!: The Trials of William Rotch By Sarah Crabtree and Art by Melissa Philley

Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy!

The Trials of William Rotch

Sarah Crabtree, Art by Melissa Philley

Coming in March

$79.99 | Hardcover Edition
ISBN: 978-0-271-10151-4
Coming in March

$24.99 | Paperback Edition
ISBN: 978-0-271-10152-1
Coming in March

124 pages
6" × 9"
5 b&w illustrations
2026

Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy!

The Trials of William Rotch

Sarah Crabtree, Art by Melissa Philley

“In art and text, Crabtree gives us a brilliant demonstration of the power of comics to illuminate the journey of the historian, the contingencies of narrative, and the motivations of humans.”

 

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“In art and text, Crabtree gives us a brilliant demonstration of the power of comics to illuminate the journey of the historian, the contingencies of narrative, and the motivations of humans.”
Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! shows how serious research, graphic art, and reflections on history can create fun and free-spirited learning for students and general readers alike.”
“Skillfully navigating the treacherous terrain between historical truth and relativism, Whaler, Traitor, Coward, Spy! is ideal for introducing students to how professional historians grapple with the problem of knowing the past.”
“Crabtree’s graphic history is both novel and compelling. Through the story of brothers William and Francis Rotch, Crabtree guides readers into the world of the historian, where conclusions can and do change. This innovative and important work is a reminder that historians research, reconstruct, and represent the past in multifaceted ways.”