"Homeward Bound; Or, the Chase: A Tale of the Sea" by James Fenimore Cooper starts with a chase. When a young man owes money to his new father-in-law, rather than pay up, he flees England. Unwilling to let the husband of his daughter get away, the in-law pursues him, even once the chase leaves land and takes to the seas. Adventures riding the waves and the desire to go home make this book a thrilling, yet humorous and entertaining read even for modern readers.