TERROR OF THE SPANISH MAIN: Sir Henry Morgan and His Buccaneers

by Albert Martin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1999

The pirate tactics of the 17th century would be considered terrorism today, but that didn't prevent governments of the time from hiring Henry Morgan (1635-1688) and his ilk to pillage on their behalf; Morgan received a royal commission, at age 33, to learn whether Spain really intended to invade Jamaica and was ultimately rewarded with a knighthood. As usual, Martin (Empires Lost and Won, 1997, etc.) writes vividly, lacing the high-seas excitement with lucid, exacting descriptions of the economic and political factors of the era, as well as likely--and dreadful, involving vermin, disease, starvation--conditions aboard ships. Most surprising is the depiction of Morgan's civic role, as governor of Port Royal, Jamaica (1680-1682), which benefitted not only from the buccaneer's ill-gotten gold, but a thriving slave market as well.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1999

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 236

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1998

Categories: CHILDREN'S