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

What an eye opener. As a retired officer of Marines, I can truly say that I was completely surprised by the apparent inaccuracy of the legend and lore that exists today of U.S. Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon with regard to his acquisition of the "Mamaluke" sword. I'll say no more on that as it would be a spoiler for other Marines who will yet read this book. The fact of that matter does not detract in the least from the outstanding and courageous performance and behavior of the U.S. Marines involved in this operation.

This is a thoroughly researched and well-written piece of historical fiction, albeit, there appears to be little fiction to it except for that necessary to fill those ever-occurring gaps in all good historical fiction that must be covered by the author's imagination to provide for richer character development and viable continuity to the stories of the events. Striking, at least to me, are the many close parallels of yesteryear's politics to today's politics... and for the most part, I find them equally disgusting. From my current perspective, now somewhat better informed, Thomas Jefferson was not really the man or the President I thought he was. And to my way of thinking, Tobias Lear should have been tried, convicted, and jailed for his role in this whole Tripoli/Barbary Coast affair. Again, enough said so as not to interject spoilers into this review.

Anyone interested in early North African history, the Barbary pirates, and Naval history in the Mediterranean will enjoy this very focused narrative on those very subjects. As earlier implied, however, be prepared to find the politics of the era just as unsettling as the politics of today.