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A carregar... The Pirates' Pact: The Secret Alliances Between History's Most Notorious Buccaneers and Colonial Americapor Douglas R. Burgess Jr.
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The Secret Alliances Between History's Most Notorious Buccaneers and Colonial America Was classical piracy an earlier version of state-sponsored terrorism? Here's the story of how almost every well-known buccaneer of the "Golden Age of Piracy" enjoyed active sponsorship from England's governors in the American colonies- setting a pattern of official disobedience to the Crown that would ultimately contribute to the American push for independence. Relying on rare primary sources discovered in government archives in England, the Carolinas, Rhode Island, Jamaica, and elsewhere, Burgess combines true tales of derring-do with groundbreaking research in this fascinating history. Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
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Google Books — A carregar... GénerosSistema Decimal de Melvil (DDC)910.45History and Geography Geography and Travel Geography and Travel Accounts of travel and facilities for travellers Ocean voyages, piratesClassificação da Biblioteca do Congresso dos EUA (LCC)AvaliaçãoMédia:
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It's interesting stuff, and Burgess has certainly done his research. He's made ample use of his primary sources, and often quotes directly from the papers at his disposal, including privateering commissions and private correspondence, to bolster his claims. He also brings in many points of law, drawn directly from the courts of the time and heavily informed by his own knowledge of the subject. The result is a detailed, informative piece of research.
But, as is so often the case with academic texts, it's not entirely readable. It's very fact-heavy, and Burgess displays little love for or interest in the material. (I mean, of course he's interested in it - in fact, he's considered one of the world's foremost authorities on piracy - but it doesn't show). It's often dry, and sometimes reads like a simple collection of facts. This governor did this, then that governor did that, then a pirate did something else entirely. Then another governor came along...
That's not to say that the book isn't worthwhile. If you need information about the role sponsorship and judicial process played in seventeenth century piracy, you want a copy of this book. You can bet I'm keeping mine. If you're looking for a piece of engaging nonfiction, however, you'd do better to look elsewhere.
(This review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina. Review copy provided by the publisher). ( )