Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Mysterious Press, 2015
Description
Captain John Rackham, called Calico Jack, a pirate who marauded the Caribbean seas, is wanted by the government on counts of piracy. He makes a surprise visit to the governor's residence and asks for pardon for his men. A deal is brokered, but the governor does not reveal that Jack,s beloved fiancee has become betrothed to the governor himself. Jack discovers he has been deceived and publicly threatens the governor, then locks swords with a notorious Frenchman. All seems lost until Anne Bonney, a buxom Irish woman, comes to his rescue and sets about planning one of the most audacious lootings in the Caribbean.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
First off: I have to admit, I haven't yet read anything else by George MacDonald Fraser, so those hoping for me to compare this book with his larger body of work must remain disappointed - sorry!
When I picked this up, I wasn't aware that this is actually Fraser's first novel, which remained
As one might guess from the title, this is a fictionalized account of the notorious Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonney. (it's quite a different take from the one currently being broadcast in 'Black Sails' - but I'd still recommend it to fans.)
My verdict? Well, as a story of pirate adventure, it does the job. It doesn't transcend the job, however. It's not a great work of literature, it's not full of great historical research or insights, and it does feel a little old-fashioned. It also ended a little abruptly, I thought. But if you're looking for a quick, fun read - with pirates - this may buckle your swash.
I've still got to get one of George MacDonald Fraser's more well-known and acclaimed works onto my reading list.
Many thanks to Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
When I picked this up, I wasn't aware that this is actually Fraser's first novel, which remained
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unpublished during his lifetime. I just knew that I'd heard the author's name around for quite some time, and that it was a pirate story. (Pirates are always a selling point, with me.)As one might guess from the title, this is a fictionalized account of the notorious Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonney. (it's quite a different take from the one currently being broadcast in 'Black Sails' - but I'd still recommend it to fans.)
My verdict? Well, as a story of pirate adventure, it does the job. It doesn't transcend the job, however. It's not a great work of literature, it's not full of great historical research or insights, and it does feel a little old-fashioned. It also ended a little abruptly, I thought. But if you're looking for a quick, fun read - with pirates - this may buckle your swash.
I've still got to get one of George MacDonald Fraser's more well-known and acclaimed works onto my reading list.
Many thanks to Mysterious Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
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LibraryThing member JBarringer
I won my copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This is a fun adventure story that reminds me of Alexander Dumas' novels, Horatio Hornblower books, and Ivanhoe. The female characters are not well developed, and the emphasis is on the story, not character development, overall. So, while
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this is not a very deep or insightful novel, it is a fast, fun read about pirates in Barbados and Jamaica under British rule. Show Less
LibraryThing member Novak
The whole concept of this book is marvelous. Hidden away in a box for all those years. Found by the author’s children and published posthumously complete with the original letters from the publishing houses of the day turning it down as not worth printing. OK, it is not Treasure Island, but it is
If GMF had changed the Mills and Boon type title and written in a midshipman named Flashman it would have been a huge success. I’m so glad that he didn’t and I’m sure he is too.
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good pirate yarn woven around real brigands from the Caribbean of that period and well worth reading. Anything the story lacks is more than compensated by the history of the manuscript and the way it eventually found it’s way into print in 2015. If GMF had changed the Mills and Boon type title and written in a midshipman named Flashman it would have been a huge success. I’m so glad that he didn’t and I’m sure he is too.
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LibraryThing member expatscot
It's fine, but you can see that it's not quite where he reached in due course.
Language
Original publication date
2015
ISBN
9780802124388
DDC/MDS
| Fic Adventure Sea |