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Available
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Publication
Sceptre (2004), Edition: First Edition, 336 pages
Description
This book reveals a disturbing and long forgotten chapter of history. In 1716, a Cornish cabin boy named Thomas Pellow and 51 comrades were captured at sea by the Barbary corsairs. Their captors--a network of Muslim slave traders--had declared war on Christendom. Thousands had been snatched from their homes in France, Spain, England and Italy and taken in chains to the great slave markets of Algiers, Tunis and Sal ̌in Morocco. Pellow and his shipmates were bought by the tyrannical sultan of Morocco, who was constructing a palace of such grandeur that it would surpass every other building in the world, built entirely by Christian slave labor. Resourceful, resilient, and quick-thinking, Pellow was selected by the sultan for special treatment, and was one of the fortunate few who survived to tell his tale.--From publisher description.… (more)
Media reviews
Drawing on letters, journals and manuscripts written by the slaves, as well as European padres and ambassadors, Milton has produced a disturbing account of the barbaric splendour of the imperial Moroccan court, which he brings to life with considerable panache.
User reviews
LibraryThing member MiaCulpa
A wonderful evocation of the white slave trade in Morocco during the 17th-19th centuries. Milton is a very good writer who brings the story of the slaves and their captors to life.
I had never heard of Moroccan ruler Sultan Moulay Ismail prior to this book but what a find! For his efforts in
As a chap who likes to think he knows his words, I was disconcerted to find a number of words in the opening pages that were completely new to me. However, once I had quietly referred to a dictionary and then pretended I knew the words all along, the page turning qualities of "White Gold" became apparent and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, although I'd caution that only those with strong stomachs should attempt any passages dealing with the Sultan's ingenious list of tortures.
I had never heard of Moroccan ruler Sultan Moulay Ismail prior to this book but what a find! For his efforts in
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devising truly eye popping forms of torture, the Sultan truly deserves a lifetime achievement award at the Dictator's Hall of Fame annual dinner.As a chap who likes to think he knows his words, I was disconcerted to find a number of words in the opening pages that were completely new to me. However, once I had quietly referred to a dictionary and then pretended I knew the words all along, the page turning qualities of "White Gold" became apparent and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, although I'd caution that only those with strong stomachs should attempt any passages dealing with the Sultan's ingenious list of tortures.
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LibraryThing member John_Vaughan
This story, through contemporary writing of the slave, Cornishman Thomas Pellow, describes the period of the original religious fundamentalism, and the Jihad of the Muslim against the Christian religions, with the corruption and avarice of the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail and the Barbary Corsairs,
This then, is the other side of the coin, the enslavers enslaved. But with incredible brutality, mindless bestiality, torture casual deaths, beheadings and driven by work so hard and unremitting that constant raiding and enslavement of more peoples from the European coast were required. Little intelligence here, none of the, sometimes self-interested and reluctant, care of their investment that modified the treatment of black slaves in the cruel plantations of the Americas. Beheadings by the Sultan himself were common, on his whim, whimsy and humour as he drove his millions of captured English, French, Portuguese and even American crews and villagers in constructing his huge city-of-palaces, Meknès-Tafilalet.
Having enjoyed Milton’s earlier work of scholarly research Nathaniel's Nutmeg it was no surprise to find such a detailed history of Pellow’s twenty three years of slavery. Towards the end of the book a thirst for revenge was satisfied in an ironic connection … it was a relative Sir Edward Pellew who, in 1816, destroyed the power of the Muslim slavers, releasing the slaves and bringing the ’white gold’ trade to an end.
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in raiding, capturing and enslaving their ’white gold’. It was estimated that over a million Europeans were enslaved throughout the Islamic regions with newly kidnapped victims being required at annual rates of twenty of thousands because of attrition through ill treatment, starvation, murder and disease.This then, is the other side of the coin, the enslavers enslaved. But with incredible brutality, mindless bestiality, torture casual deaths, beheadings and driven by work so hard and unremitting that constant raiding and enslavement of more peoples from the European coast were required. Little intelligence here, none of the, sometimes self-interested and reluctant, care of their investment that modified the treatment of black slaves in the cruel plantations of the Americas. Beheadings by the Sultan himself were common, on his whim, whimsy and humour as he drove his millions of captured English, French, Portuguese and even American crews and villagers in constructing his huge city-of-palaces, Meknès-Tafilalet.
Having enjoyed Milton’s earlier work of scholarly research Nathaniel's Nutmeg it was no surprise to find such a detailed history of Pellow’s twenty three years of slavery. Towards the end of the book a thirst for revenge was satisfied in an ironic connection … it was a relative Sir Edward Pellew who, in 1816, destroyed the power of the Muslim slavers, releasing the slaves and bringing the ’white gold’ trade to an end.
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LibraryThing member boazer
I really enjoyed this yarn! The story was engrossing and the book was hard to put down. This is the first I've read of white slavery and it didn't disappoint. With a nice balance of biography and broader history the story is told in a easy reading fashion. Originally I began the book half way
One minor gripe: North African geography and Islamic art and architectural terms are used without recourse to a glossary or definitions. But this doesn't effect the overall flow of a terrific story.
I'd love to reflect more in depth but time doesn't permit. Suffice to say I loved it.
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through - which is my wont for books I'm not sure I'll enjoy. But it was so good I forced myself to halt and begin again at the start and read again the earlier sections to ensure I didn't miss the flow. I imagine this book would be a good taster for those looking to be inspired to read further on this fascinating period.One minor gripe: North African geography and Islamic art and architectural terms are used without recourse to a glossary or definitions. But this doesn't effect the overall flow of a terrific story.
I'd love to reflect more in depth but time doesn't permit. Suffice to say I loved it.
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LibraryThing member DramMan
Fascinating account of the white slave trade in North Africa, in the 17th to 19th centuries, centering on the experiences of Cornishman Thomas Pellow who survived 23 years in captivity, returning to England to tell his tale. Giles Milton makes full use of his sources, telling the overarching story
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with due reference to Thomas Pellow. It sounds horrific, it was horrific but it is a rollicking good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Helenliz
This is a quite startling story about which I knew next to nothing. Barbary pirates raided the coasts and ships of the seafaring European powers for a couple of centuries, taking the sailors hostage and keeping them as slaves. This takes an account of Thomas Pellow, taken when he was 12 years old
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and remaining a slave for the next 20 plus years. At times it gets a bit sensational and repetitive, but that's not to say that this isn't a valuable story to tell. Show Less
LibraryThing member Newmans2001
Little know nor recognized history, likely very true but poorly written and repetitive un-sensational sensationalist propaganda. Truly wish the author had done better sportive research, can't get much more than half of it read and quit.
LibraryThing member nandadevi
A rather startling account of the fate of more than 40,000 Europeans captured by North African pirates and enslaved in Arab states, held to ransom, occasionally rising to positions of power, or more commonly being worked to death. That all this happened in the 1700's is no excuse for it having been
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lost as a story for so long. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
6.34 x 1.34 inches
ISBN
0340794690 / 9780340794692