Review by Booklist Review
In chronicling seventeenth-century English pirate voyages, historian and novelist Thomson eloquently proves Mark Twain's oft-cited adage, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Thanks to lively writing and thorough research, Thomson's pirates burst from the pages as vividly and compellingly as those in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series rule the screen. These real-life buccaneers thrash their way through the jungles of the isthmus of Panama to rescue a Kuna princess. They attack two Spanish warships in a few frail canoes. They loot ships and settlements along the Pacific coast of South America. Their rampage finished, one band recrosses the isthmus, battling raging rivers and torrential downpours; another crew sails a fragile ship around the southern tip of South America, through the perilous Drake Passage. Thomson writes in punchy, short chapters, which often end with a cliffhanger, while black-and-white illustrations and maps help readers follow the voyages. The author also helpfully defines many arcane nautical terms, including a reveal about aargh and the origin of modern words like avocado and barbecue. The entertaining suspense and high energy continue to the very end.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Novelist Thompson (7 Grams of Lead) makes his nonfiction debut with this swashbuckling account of a 17th-century pirate raid on the Pacific coastline of Spanish South America. Drawing on contemporaneous diaries kept by several of the privateers, Thomson recounts how a group of 366 "Caribbean-based pirates" helped an Indigenous tribe rescue a chief's daughter who was being held captive by the Spanish on the Isthmus of Panama. After completing the mission, the group made a daring attack on Spanish ships guarding Panama City and raided settlements along the western coast of South America on their way to the Chilean town of Arica, where they hoped to find fabulous wealth. Though the fleet captured several galleons and enough plunder to make them rich, they were repelled at Arica and, after rounding Cape Horn and returning to the Caribbean, three of the pirates, including Capt. Bartholomew Sharp, were captured, brought to trial in England, and acquitted. Thomson unravels the complex relationship between piracy and colonial governments in the Americas, where England and Spain struggled for primacy, and describes local tribes and flora and fauna in meticulous detail. Readers will be swept along by this brisk and entertaining adventure story. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Thriller writer Thomson (Seven Grams of Lead) turns to nonfiction in this fun and entertaining listen featuring Feodor Chin's excellent narration. Chin has an amazingly clear and theatrical voice, which makes these historical figures' adventures seem even more wild and hilarious. The book has nonstop action from start to finish, like a summer blockbuster; even the bits of historical context are kept concise, while still being informative. One can definitely see how these buccaneers embodied the spirit of the "golden age of piracy," embracing the freedom that a life of pirating offered. They were adventurous, quick-thinking, adaptable, and rarely hesitant to seize opportunities--often quite literally. Some of the facts and details about these men's lives may not come as a surprise to readers who are familiar with pirate history, but this telling offers a new twist. VERDICT Highly recommended for any maritime and history collections.--Ammi Bui
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