The Colonial's Reviews > The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines & the Secret Mission of 1805

With already one phenomenal book under his belt following piracy near American waters, Richard Zacks has brilliantly scored again—this time covering the United States policy towards the Barbary Pirates and the powers that be on the African coast. There is not a moment of boredom or drudgery to be found, as the reader follows the daunting adventures of William Eaton and his crew as they race the clock to free American captives on the USS Philadelphia from the grip of the sitting Pasha and nation of Tripoli. They embark on their journey from Washington City, and from there Zacks takes his audience through the trials and tribulations that led to the capture of the USS Philadelphia—all the while highlighting exciting events like Stephen Decatur’s daring raid.

The book features a cast of men who would eventually become both famous as well as infamous including the likes of Commodore Preble, William Bainbridge, David Porter, Presley O’Bannon, and Tobias Lear. Upon rooting for one of Eaton’s approaching victories, the reader will not necessarily find themselves comfortable—as events can take a turn for the worst in so sudden a fashion—and without any clear purpose from the directions and actions of those higher in authority. Zacks shows the hesitance and reluctance of Thomas Jefferson as President— traits that would come to dog him and repeat all throughout his failed Second Term—and humorously shows the ineptitude, greed, and egotistical ambition of his appointed consul to the Barbary powers, Tobias Lear:

Lear was also quite impressed with Bashaw Yussef Karamanli. (His note to Fanny has an awed schoolgirl tone.) The American diplomat showed no outrage at this ruler who had enslaved Americans. “He paid me many compliments and expressed himself on the peace with much manliness,” Lear wrote. “He is a man of very good presence, manly & dignified and has not in his appearance so much of the tyrant as he has been represented to be.”

Full of twists, epic raids, and explosive land and sea battles, the reader cannot help but compare William Eaton to the likes of Lawrence of Arabia— recognizing his fine moral compass and extreme devotion to his Tripolian allies’ cause for justice. Zacks’ engaging writing style and his talent for drafting from thoroughly researched notes comfortably captures the audience’s attention from the very first pages and onward. The Pirate Coast appropriately leaves the reader wanting to follow up on the numerous minor players discovered throughout the history of the Barbary Wars—where a helpful Cast of Characters, illustrations, and maps are found inside as well.

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