Kate Bonnet: The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter

by Frank R. Stockton

After abandoning the family, Kate Bonnet sets out to find and reprimand her pirate father, Stede, who is being targeted by multiple figures including Blackbeard. She meets various people along her journey who help make the trek worth her while.

Kate Bonnet is the fictional daughter of the renowned pirate, Stede Bonnet. In Stockton's interpretation, she's a steadfast young woman whose father left the family to fend for themselves. Despite personal objections, Kate travels to find Stede and bring him back home. Throughout her venture, she encounters many people some of whom become traveling companions. She also crosses paths with a Naval officer who plans to capture Stede and barter his freedom for Kate's hand in marriage.

Kate Bonnet: The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter is an entertaining mix of historical fiction. Despite the title, the story is not a traditional romance. The heroine has agency and ideals that go beyond courtship and marriage. She's dedicated to her family and righting her father's many wrongs.

With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Kate Bonnet: The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter is both modern and readable.

Genres: Classics, Pirates

244 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Frank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century. Stockton avoided the didactic moralizing common to children's stories of the time, instead using clever humor to poke at greed, violence, abuse of power and other human foibles, describing his fantastic characters' adventures in a charming, matter-of-fact way.

Reviews

[Kate Marigold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up purely because the main character’s full name is almost my full name (one letter different). It was a delightfully ridiculous hot mess.

[Kissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming piece of fiction taking place during the Golden Age of Piracy. Although the book's title implies a focus primarily on Kate Bonnet, in truth she is written more like a side character who is just the catalyst for the interactions of the various men who have come to know of her. The story starts off a bit slow and seems to have no clear direction until Stede Bonnet (Kate's father) and Blackbeard meet. Overall, an engaging Shakespearean-like tale about piracy, family, and romance. Fans of Our Flag Means Death will enjoy this book as the author's portrayal of Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard can be easily compared to the versions seen in the show.