Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 14

A Turn of the Tide by Kelley Armstrong -- A Review

A Turn of the Tide by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Adventure is Miranda Hastings’s middle name. Unfortunately, she lives in a time when nineteenth-century women are supposed to be prim and proper, not crave dangerous undertakings, which is why her novels are published under a man’s name. She has long desired one particular experience – to pass through the secret time stitch in Thorne Manor, an estate near the Yorkshire fishing village of Hood’s Bay. Her intent is to travel into the future; instead, she finds herself in 1790, where she confronts a man whose ghost has long haunted her visions.

Nicholas “Nico” Dupuis never intended to become a legend. Circumstances just aligned to make him one. He left his Caribbean home to study medicine in France, but the British Royal Navy stopped his ship and pressed him into service. He escaped and joined a band of privateers/smugglers. He was ashore tending sick villagers during an epidemic when his captain and crew were seized, charged with piracy, found guilty, and hanged. With a warrant out for Nico’s arrest, the townspeople keep him safe despite the danger to themselves. In return, Nico abets the smuggling that helps them survive from the nefarious local lord. Nico’s efforts become legendary, earning him the alias Robin Hood of the Bay.

Ever since Nico first appeared to her, Miranda has witnessed his death over and over. Clues tell her that she has arrived on the exact day of his imminent demise, but he neither believes her nor wants her assistance. Tricked into thinking otherwise, she changes into male attire only to discover that he has locked her in the room and gone to his secret rendezvous. It seems the only way to prove that he is walking into an ambush is to escape and prevent it herself. She just never considers what that good deed might cost – her life and her heart.

This treasure trove of betrayal, corruption, secrets, prejudice, malice, and murder is the third entry in Armstrong’s A Stitch in Time series. It is rife with double entendres and unexpected twists. Ghosts add a bit of spice to the mix. Several tense and poignant scenes take place aboard a ship that soon becomes a dangerous shipwreck. Readers will delight in this romantic adventure that is reminiscent of swashbuckling tales of yore.

(This review was originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Armstrong....)



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The Ballycotton Job by Tom Mahon -- A Review

The Ballycotton Job by Thomas G Mahon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Before 1922, Royal Navy ships frequently docked at Queenstown, Ireland (known as Cobh today) for repairs and to take on supplies. This began to change in January of that year when the Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified. Instead of overseeing naval operations, Admiral Sir Ernest Gaunt started shutting down British naval bases and arranging for soldiers to be evacuated. Normally unshakable, disciplined, and logical, he was now unduly tense and thoroughly despised Ireland. He believed those who supported Irish independence, particularly the Irish Republican Army (IRA), were simpleminded killers who lacked the ability to plan and execute military operations.

About eight miles to the northwest lay Cork, a major port for merchant and passenger ships. The city was the home of Seán O’Hegarty, commander of the Cork No. 1 Brigade, a large and highly efficient unit within the IRA. Contrary to Gaunt’s belief, O’Hegarty was quite adept at arranging ambushes and skirmishes with great success and minimal losses. He showed no fear, cared little for his own well-being, and led from the front. Ruthless, clever, and resolute, he had a single goal: Irish independence. If that meant provoking war, so be it.

With the dismantling of the naval bases, there were untried opportunities for O’Hegarty to launch a pivotal attack. He settled on a bold plan that involved kidnapping and piracy, even though the key participants possessed little, if any, knowledge of ships and the sea. “Any reasonable and rational commander would have dismissed the undertaking as foolhardy in the extreme. Not only was the underlying premise overly optimistic, but the project entailed an elaborate sequence of actions, each dependent on the other and should one component fail then the whole operation would fail.” (129-130) Not one to back down, O’Hegarty refused to be dissuaded and the isolated village of Ballycotton became the “X” on the treasure map.

This is the astounding story of how O’Hegarty seized a navy transport, laden with ammunition, explosives, and weapons, on 30 March 1922. Mahon skillfully answers questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how in a manner that reads more like an adventure novel than a recitation of facts. To enhance the reading experience, he delves into a variety of interrelated subtopics (such as violence, prejudice, and colonialism) and discusses the aftermath of the incident and what became of the people involved in or affected by it. Also included are maps, a glossary, notes and references, and a bibliography. The Ballycotton Job is a must-read for anyone wishing to know about the turbulent struggle for Ireland and the Irish to be free of British rule in the early twentieth century.

(This review was originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Mahon.html)




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In the Wake of the Gods

In the Wake of the Gods: A cruising companion to the world of the Greek myths by Sam Jefferson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Who hasn’t heard of Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, or any of the other gods and goddesses who dwell on Mount Olympus? What of such heroes as Herakles, Perseus, Thesus, Jason, Achilles, and Odysseus? We study these and other figures of Greek mythology in school, but what if we could visit the places where their tales take place? This is one goal behind Sam Jefferson’s In the Wake of the Gods, which shows how and where sailors can voyage to various islands in the Ionian Sea and Saronic Gulf to visit the world of Ancient Greece, as well as modern Greece, and learn about the Titans and Olympians.

He begins his journey with a brief introduction to the original gods, the twelve Titans, and how they were superseded by the fourteen gods and goddesses known collectively as Olympians. What readers quickly learn is that humans often crossed paths with these mythological creatures, finding themselves tormented or defiled. Jefferson includes short biographies of all these and then explains how the heroes mentioned above evolved. His tour begins on Ithaca and progresses from there to Othoni, Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos, Ammoudia, Lefkas, Cephalonia, Zakynthos, Strofades, Pylos, Kardamyli, Cape Tainaron, Kythira, Cranae, Cape Maleas, Learna (now Myloi), Argos, Nafplio, Tiryns, Cape Skili, Troezen, Poros, Aegina, Agistri, Corinth, Megara, Eleusis, and ending at Athens and Cape Sounion. The author also provides information about sailing in these waters and suggests tips on mooring when you stop to visit the islands. In addition to an index, there is a section on the ruins of Greek temples that can be visited throughout the region.

The narrative is laced with humor (sometimes dry wit and other times tongue-in-cheek, usually always geared toward adults), which sometimes makes learning about the gods and goddesses far more interesting than they were in school. The book is beautifully illustrated with paintings and photographs. Passages from early retellings of the myths are woven into the text to allow readers the chance to learn the stories from other perspectives. Where actual landmarks pertaining to the myths exist, he provides information on where they can be found and where to moor while visiting them. The myths that are recounted are sometimes gruesome, but definitely show that the gods weren’t perfect and liked to act in mischievous ways. Heroes were equally flawed. Jefferson’s storytelling captivates, entertains, and enlightens without getting bogged down in detail.

This is an intriguing guidebook for those seeking to create their own itinerary for a voyage around the Greek isles. One cautionary note is that the book does not include any information about crime and dangers, other than those involved in the actual sailing and mooring of vessels. Readers are left to their own devices to find that type of information. The only drawback is that on a few pages the small black print against the blue sky may be difficult to read. Aside from that, this book is reminiscent of coffee-table books of old, but at a more reasonable price.


(This review was originally published at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)



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Colonial Virginia's War Against Piracy

Colonial Virginia's War Against Piracy: The Governor the Buccaneer by Jeremy R. Moss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mention Virginia and fighting pirates and most readers think of Governor Alexander Spotswood and his determination to bring down Blackbeard. But two decades earlier, another Virginian wages war against pirates and even takes part in the final battle that results in the capture of a notorious buccaneer.

In December 1698, Colonel Francis Nicholson set foot in Jamestown as Virginia’s new governor. It wasn’t his first stint as a colonial administrator. He had served as the colony’s lieutenant governor until stepping down in 1692. He spent the next six years governing Maryland. No matter where he served, he tended to make both friends and enemies. The former saw his as a protector, a devout defender of the colony and the church. The latter abhorred his temper and thought him arbitrary and overbearing. Moderation was a word that was absent from his vocabulary; its absence showed in his hatred of piracy and his determination to enforce the law, even though turning a blind eye to illicit trade was the norm among Britain’s American colonies.

In 1699, Louis Guittar came to piracy as a victim. He was one of the original buccaneers, a hunter who had skills that the pirates needed. For this reason, they forced him to become not just a fellow pirate but also their captain. His successes eventually garnered him a crew of 125. In the battle that brought about his downfall, the government expended a massive amount of gunpowder and shot.

Moss also discusses other pirates who preyed in Virginian waters. One of these accounts concerns a pirate who claimed to be William Kidd (he was not) and whose treasure amounted to £3,000,000. More importantly, he captured vital intelligence from a navy ship that helped further his piratical adventures.

Whenever possible, Moss relies on original source material to recount the story of Nicholson and Guittar, and he incorporates snippets from these primary documents throughout the narrative. Also included are maps, illustrations, end notes, and an index (although the last isn’t as detailed as some researchers might prefer). He contrasts Nicholson’s handling of pirates with two governors who colluded with them. Moss also explains how three buccaneers ended up funding the College of William and Mary in greater detail than is often found in pirate histories.

What sets this short volume of pirate history apart from others is its coverage of two men rarely mentioned in piratical accounts. Moss presents the information in a compelling way and incorporates details that expand on episodes that usually receive scant coverage. The fact that Nicholson actually participated to bring down Guittar, rather than sitting on the sidelines and having others do the hunting for him, is both fascinating and a rarity in piratical history. Colonial Virginia’s War Against Piracy is a welcome and enlightening addition to collections that focus on the buccaneering era of piracy.


(This review was originally published at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/JMoss.html...)



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Pirates Don't Dance!

Pirates Don't Dance by Shawna J.C. Tenney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Captain Squinty Eye seeks new apprentices. Jack has always dreamed of being a pirate, so right away he signs aboard. There’s just one problem. No matter what he does, he always ends up dancing – a clear violation of the captain’s number one rule: PIRATES DON’T DANCE!

Learning to fight with swords causes all sorts of challenges for the trainees. Even hunting for treasure goes by the wayside . . . except for Jack. But how in the world can he be a tough, fiercesome pirate if he keeps breaking that rule?

All appears lost when Jack spies another pirate ship. This one belongs to Captain Crooked Beard, and he and his crew are spoiling for a fight. No way can inexperienced newbies win against veteran pirates adept at doing battle! Or is there?

The colorful, expressive illustrations combine with the engaging words to quickly capture the attention of young pirates, who will want to imitate Jack’s moves. This is a fun story that combines brawn with brains and shows that even tough guys can learn a thing or two from pirates who love to dance.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Tenney.html)



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A Pirate Christmas

A Pirate Christmas! by Random House

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), Santiago Montes, his sister Tina, his cousin Tómas, friend Lorelai, and Kiko (Santiago’s pet frog) have a campout to await Santa’s arrival. All should go well, but Santiago’s magic compass warns that Santa needs their help.

Enrique Réal de Palacios has had enough. He’s tired of being on Santa’s naughty list. He wants to get presents just like the other children. And this Christmas Eve, he makes that wish come true. He stops Santa’s sleigh and steals all the presents, taking them back to his ice castle.

Santiago and his friends must intervene and save Christmas. At the same time, perhaps Enrique will discover the true meaning of the holiday.

This is a sturdy board book for children, that serves either as an introduction to Nickelodeon’s Santiago of the Seas animated series or as a treasure for when fans can’t get enough. The pictures are boldly colorful and expressive. They easily encapsulate the tale even if young pirates haven’t yet mastered reading on their own. The text combines English and Spanish, as well as Hispanic culture. Unfortunately, the story is told more than shown, but for young pirates this won’t matter much. It includes many of the tropes from the show, although this time their vehicle is Santa’s magic sleigh rather than a pirate ship. A Pirate Christmas is a simple tale that teaches valuable lessons in a fun way.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/childrens1...)



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(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/childrens1...)

Review of Jamie Goodall's Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay

Pirates & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay by Jamie L H Goodall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In the late seventeenth century, if a pirate needed protection, one official was happy to oblige. His name was Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, and he was the governor of New York. One pirate who sought his assistance was Samuel Burgess, who originally served under Captain William Kidd until William Mason absconded with the Blessed William and turned to piracy. Burgess went along for the ride, but circumstances didn’t turn out exactly as he hoped, so he jumped ship in Madagascar, where he stayed until sailing to New York in 1693 to seek Fletcher’s help. And the governor willingly complied, but Burgess eventually returned to pirating.

One might think that Fletcher’s collaboration with pirates was unusual. The fact is, as Goodall shows, the opposite was true. A number of governors and colonists associated with these scoundrels, because they supplied necessities and luxuries that lined pockets and coffers with money. As a result, piracy became a major element in the colonies’ economy during the golden age of piracy. This is what Goodall examines in the first half of this book. She discusses New York history, Kidd’s ties to the colony, his association with Frederick Philipse (the richest man in New York and a prominent merchant), Adam Baldridge (Philipse’s storekeeper in Madagascar who bartered with pirates), the slave trade, Fletcher’s collusion with pirates as well as that of Governor Markham of Pennsylvania, the antipiracy efforts of the Earl of Bellomont and Jeremiah Basse, and colonial ties with Blackbeard and Thomas Tew, as well as supposed associations with Bartholomew Roberts.

As piracy declined and wars erupted in Europe, privateers take center stage in the second half of the book. Of particular interest here are those associated with King George’s War (1744-48) and the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Privateering successes bring abundance to the colonies, especially New York. As a result, the booming economy leads to job growth. Among the topics Goodall covers in this section are what happened to the privateers who were captured, effects on maritime insurance rates and prices of imports, and the impact on Black privateers. Two privateers whom she highlights are the audacious William Reen and persevering Patrick Dennis, who was captured and enslaved, but escaped only to sign aboard another privateering venture.

Corruption, of course, is a main theme throughout the book, and while some information can be found elsewhere, much of it is not only particular to the regions of Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay, but is also rarely discussed in other volumes. For example, one place where pirated goods were resold in legitimate markets was Hamburg, Germany. In the six years in which Governor Fletcher served, his income amounted to £30,000, an amount far beyond his yearly salary. Also, the great influx of money brought to the colonies by the pirates resulted in silversmiths being more plentiful than lawyers, in part because the silversmiths served as the sea marauders’ fences. In addition to notes, a bibliography, and an index, Goodall includes maps and illustrations as well as quotes from period documents. This is a worthwhile addition to pirate history and incorporates a lot of information in a small volume at a reasonable price.

(Review originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Goodall.ht...)




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Review of Lauren Smith's In Like Flynn

In Like Flynn by Lauren Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


1721. A shipwrecked galleon on the brink of sinking. An honorable pirate, Thomas Buck and his men go aboard to rescue survivors and claim any treasure. What he finds is unexpected. A newborn babe and a signet ring, the only clue to her parents’ identity. Captivated by the little girl, he vows to raise her as his own and protect her always.

(Fade to black)

1741. Brianna Holland walks the streets of Port Royal, Jamaica, dressed as a man. The disguise is a necessity in a town rife with Royal Marines and Navy men. After all she is a pirate captain and daughter of the most-wanted man in the Caribbean, the Shadow King. Getting supplies should be simple, until she spots a wanted poster bearing the likeness of her companion and a British patrol. Her diversion plan that allows him to escape leads to her own capture by a cruel captain whose eyes promise she will rue the day their paths crossed. Her only saving grace is that he thinks her a young lad named Bryan Holland, but all pirates, regardless of age, face only one outcome when caught – the hangman’s noose.

Since Holland was seen in the company of one of the Shadow King’s men, there’s a good chance the lad can lead the navy to the nefarious pirate’s lair and who better to achieve this goal than Lieutenant Nicholas Flynn? A trusted man. An honest man. A man who knows pirates since his best friend used to be one. Tossed into Holland’s cell as a fellow pirate, Nicholas is on the brink of connecting with the lad when the Marine captain appears, intent on getting information from Holland. Instinct warns Nicholas to protect the lad, which leads to a flogging that even the admiral can’t prevent unless they want their plan to go awry.

During his recovery, Nicholas realizes that Bryan isn’t really a lad, which only strengthens his resolve to protect her. With the admiral’s help, he devises a convincing plan that will allow them to escape. And put as much distance as possible between the Marine captain and Brianna. The only problem is that the more time Nicholas spends in her company the more he questions the wisdom of his assignment.

Brianna owes Flynn her life, but already the gallows awaits them. She nurses him back to health while trying to come up with an escape plan. She can get off the island, but not out of the fortress. Nicholas’s suggestion may work, if she’s willing to trust him. He did sacrifice himself for her, an act few others have done. Perhaps it’s a small enough risk that she can take a chance. After all, once she’s back aboard the Sea Serpent, she can always toss him overboard if he lies.

This second installment in the Pirates of King’s Landing series reunites characters from book one with new characters that further flesh out the Shadow King’s pirate realm. Smith skillfully interlaces humor with solemnity. Unexpected twists, including a mutiny stoked by jealousy and a merciless villain, provide a riveting roller-coaster of love versus duty and trust versus betrayal. Equally compelling is the underlying subplot that explores the enduring bonds between a parent and child. In Like Flynn is a true pirate treasure that combines seductive romance and the pragmatic realities of pirate life.*



*In the interest of full disclosure, I read and commented on an early draft of the manuscript. My review, however, is based on the published book, which I did not see or read until after publication.




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Review of Jane Glatt's Captains & Conspiracies

Captains & Conspiracies by Jane Glatt

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Trouble brews in Nurmi. Clan Freeholder Timonis has his own agenda. Instead of truly looking out for his people, he abets the pirates who freely plunder and wreak havoc throughout the town and he’s shifted the town’s food supplies to an unknown location. There are still a few months left of winter. The townspeople fear they will starve.

The Intelligencers are spread thin, working in pairs to help keep the citizens of the Fair Seas Treaty Alliance alive. Food has been carefully rationed and evenly distributed. Ice fishing supplements their stores and, occasionally, Dagrun Lund manages to bring additional items from distant lands, but danger lies in navigating frozen and treacherous waters. If not for her trait of being able to detect unseen danger, these voyages would be impossible.

This means, however, that she and Calder Rahmson rarely see each other, because he seeks one of the fiends who have caused problems not only for the Alliance but also other places. Pinho is a ruthless tyrant who has one goal – to amass an army to attack Calder’s mother’s land in order to control the timber trade. The wood is extremely precious now because it is needed to rebuild the shipping fleets that pirates destroyed during their rampage against the Alliance. Luck – Calder’s trait – leads him to Zelesso, where Pinho and his pirates are engaged in terrorizing the town into allying with him. Calder, with the help of family and townspeople, is determined to stop them.

Master Intelligencer Nadez has her own worries. Someone meticulous and organized has been stealing the food supplies from the warehouses. Not small bits from each one, but the entire contents of whole buildings. So far three have been emptied and, this time, four guards are missing. She’s certain she knows who is behind the thefts, but she can neither prove who is guilty nor find the missing foodstuffs. Her suspicious are confirmed when he miraculously finds and returns the goods. But why?

Pia, a novice Intelligencer, travels here and there gathering information. She is able to sift out the important details from what she learns and concentrate on how these fit together. She and Gustav Gunnarson are working together when they cross paths with a stranger who calls himself Hakon. Her trait of concentration warns her that he is a dangerous man, perhaps one who shouldn’t be trusted, but they need each other’s help. Hakon will take care of the pirates in Nurmi if Pia and Gustav will take him to the Intelligencer who unmakes things. Who Hakon really is and what his true intentions are remain a mystery – one that Pia is determined to decipher even if it jeopardizes her newfound acceptance as an Intelligencer.

The battle pitting Calder against Pinho is an action-packed confrontation on water. How the pirates, at least the fiendish ones, are defeated is unexpected but provocative. Once in a while the tension doesn’t quite measure up to expectations, and readers new to the series may have trouble following what’s happening and who’s who. Fans familiar with the series will enjoy the satisfying conclusion of this fifth and final book in The Intelligencer series. Loose ends are tied up with some unexpected twists and turns that are sure to please.



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Review of Nicholas Guyatt's The Hated Cage

The Hated Cage: An American Tragedy in Britain's Most Terrifying Prison by Nicholas Guyatt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


6 April 1815. The War of 1812 is over, yet many American prisoners of war remain confined within the granite walls of Dartmoor Prison. The POWs are in the yard when a fight breaks out. Eventually, British guards open fire. Those who attempt to flee inside the prison blocks find the doors locked. When peace returns, nine are dead and more than thirty suffer from serious wounds.

This incident, which opens The Hated Cage, is perhaps the only aspect of the most feared prison in the world that is remembered today. Like the war itself, few Americans know much about this enormous detention facility or the 6,553 Americans who lived within its confines between 1813 and 1815. The few remnants of their memory are either vague references in history books, or the 271 graves where bodies of these citizens are buried. All this is in spite of the fact that indelible records of these people, the majority of whom were privateers, do exist and Guyatt delved into archival records about and personal memoirs and journals from these POWs to change these deficits. He also shines a light on the men of color, of which there were nearly 1,000 yet not one left a written account of his time spent in America’s first racially segregated prison. One of these, a man history remembers as King Dick, serves as the nucleus around which the POW experience unfolds, because much of what has been written about him is steeped in mythology. Within these pages, the truth about Richard Crafus, the prison, life as a POW, and the massacre are explored.

Prior to 1809, the British incarcerated POWs in prison hulks (ships) and repurposed buildings. A change in social thinking and the large numbers of prisoners – a result of fighting with the French and the Americans in two separate conflicts – necessitated a change. Thomas Tyrwhitt, private secretary to the prince, decided to build a purpose-built prison and received permission to do so on a foggy, barren moor in the middle of nowhere. Dartmoor was designed by Daniel Asher Alexander. Bordered by a granite wall nearly a mile round, the northern portion of the prison consisted of large dormitories arrayed like wheel spokes where the POWs would reside. South of these structures were the other buildings needed to care for the captives and house those who oversaw and guarded them.

The most notorious of the blocks was Prison Four. It became the domain of the men of color, although all prisoners spent time there, spending money and whiling away idle time in pursuits such as staging plays or gaming. Supposedly, this was where King Dick reigned.

To reach Dartmoor, POWs walked from Plymouth in all types of weather. Once inside, each man had to dress in a yellow uniform sporting a diagonal arrow. The first man to enter its gates, over which was chiselled “Spare the Vanquished,” was a Frenchman named Etienne Pagert on 22 May 1809. The oldest prisoner was born in England in 1745; his name was Edward Johnstone. The youngest Black POW was James Johnson, a lad of thirteen who was aboard a privateer when it was taken by the British in February 1814. The first agent (warden) to oversee these men was Isaac Cotgrave; when he retired, Thomas Shortland took his place and oversaw the refurbishing of the prison before it began to house only American POWs beginning halfway through 1814. Frank Palmer, who wrote about his captivity, served aboard a privateer for less than a day before he was taken prisoner; he remained such for 545 days, some of which were spent in this prison.

Throughout the pages of this book, readers learn what it was like to be a POW both physically and emotionally. Also discussed are the problems encountered by both the POWs and the agents. This includes the original inhabitants of Prison Four who were collectively known as Romans, feral men who never wore clothes except a blanket if they went elsewhere in the prison. Daily life, prejudices, published narratives, escape attempts, the massacre and its aftermath, reasons as to why the POWs remained incarcerated for so long, and how some individuals came to be residents of Dartmoor are discussed, as are what became of these people after they returned home and how the prison was repurposed to house hardened criminals, which it continues to do until it closes in 2023.

The Hated Cage is an eye-opening and absorbing history of Dartmoor and the POWs, both French and American, who resided within its walls. Guyatt provides a wealth of details that clearly show the differences between expectations and realities. Although he includes the surprising detail that women and children (camp followers and captives) lived within Dartmoor’s walls, he doesn’t share much about these people. He does provide vivid imagery about what it was like to live within the prison blocks without many of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect. This is a must read for anyone with a general interest in the War of 1812 and those with a specific interest in privateering. It is not only a compelling account of what happened to those men who didn’t return from successful ventures, but it provides a more comprehensive and detailed experience than recent titles on privateering.



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