Book Review: Pirate Freedom by Gene Wolfe

Finally, the final review of a Christmas present,

Pirate Freedom by Gene Wolfe.

For those of you who have read Gene Wolfe, you won't be surprised that there is a bit of time-bending by the main character of this book, for those of you who haven't don't be surprised that there's time-bending in this book. That said, Gene Wolfe has created a very entertaining adventure story chopped full of historical facts artfully intermingled with high-seas adventure.

The main character, Christopher, whose name changes based on which language is being spoken at the time is swept away by the currents of romance, the promise of riches and the deep and visceral pull of the sea.

Wolfe's portrayal of bucaneering on Hispanola and his artful portrayal of the many layers of Spanish colonialism. The interplay between factions in the Caribbean is intriguing and often humorous.

The most telling thing about Wolfe's settings for me was the inclusion of little details, like anyone who has spent time in the Caribbean, he's aware of the omnipresence of mosquitoes. They're so annoying and they don't go away, and they don't go away in the book. I hate mosquitoes, they're at best disease carrying parasites that cause me nothing but pain and horrid, horrid itching; but that only made the book more charming for me.

Four out of Five Hooks!

Book Review: A General History of The Pyrates

A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson (Daniel Defoe)

The first edition of this tome was published in 1724 and is considered one of the most valuable accounts of buccaneering available because it is thought to be written by famed author Daniel Defoe. Defoe was not only the author of literary classics like Robinson Crusoe but an expert on all things maritime.

This two volume opus contains fantastic biographies of early 18th century pirates including, Kidd, Teach, Rackham, Bellamy and many, many others. It also contains many instances of policies and governments aboard ship.

Of course, its historical relevance is only part of its appeal, Daniel Defoe tells a great story with extremely colorful setting and description. If you enjoy literature you will enjoy A General History of Pirates.

Five out of Five Hooks

Book Review: A Short and Bloody History of Pirates

A Short and Bloody History of Pirates by John Farman

This is a great introduction to pirateology for the young swabby just putting to sea (an nine or ten year old would LOVE this book). There are copious pictures and anecdotes as well as delightfully horrifying descriptions of pirate "food" and methods of torture.

It's truly adorable. But that said, it doesn't pull that many punches, there are topics on disgusting disease, cross-dressing, cannibalism and untimely deaths in graphic detail.

Here's an excerpt from Page 36:

"Dysentery
Dysentery is a horrible disease and almost too yucky to talk about. You get it when a lot of people are crowded together and don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, and then handle food. On a pirate ship, not only did they not have proper toilets... but the water was far too precious to be used for washing. Actually, pirates were a filthy bunch who wouldn't have washed their hands anyway.

Symptoms
Don't worry, you'll soon know if you've got it: severe bouts of blood-filled diarrhea, followed by severe stomach pains, followed by a severe thirst, followed by, if you're a bit unlucky severe death. Severely not to be recommended.

Medical Tip
If you've got dysentery, don't, for God's sake, confuse it with scurvy for, if you rush for the fruit bowl, it'll more than likely make it much worse."

Four out of Five hooks

Book Review: Pirate Utopias

Pirate Utopias: Moorish Corsairs and European Renegadoes
by Peter Lamborn Wilson

I simply cannot get enough of this book. Wilson is a renowned resource on Sufism and the Muslim World and in this tome he takes a stab at Barbary Corsairs, Early Democracy and the interplay between Islam and Christianity in 11th century Europe.

An excellent entry point into the concept of Temporary Autonomous Zones, Wilson finds ways to incorporate the beauty and majesty of Islamic poetry and the sensuous feeling of Moroccan culture and the excitement of the freedom and cacophony of the Barbary Capitals: Libertalia, Tunis, Algiers, Salee.

A few years ago I was able to see Peter Lamborn Wilson speak at a party for a New York City Secession Movement. His charming style and command of his subject matter kept the audience rapt and I found this book to have a similar highly entertaining, often funny voice. A non-fiction book that you can't put down is a rare bird indeed and I felt as soon as I'd opened it I was transported to a time of possibility and hardship, when men were carving political power out of raw chaos and a new religion was drawing the dregs of Europe and forging the basis for modern governments.

Five out of Five Hooks
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An Essential Part of any Pirate Library