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Barbarians on an Ancient Sea
Published by McBooks Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
The night turned prematurely dark as the storm seemed to suck the light out of the day. Captain Nicholas Fallon and his crew aboard the British privateer Rascal stood to the monstrous seas hour after hour, their minds numb and their bodies bloodied from the fight.
Suddenly, a light.
Only the remarkable seamanship of Rascal’s indomitable first mate Beatrice McFarland can save a simple cod fisherman who brings aboard a fantastic tale of gold ransom, kidnapping, and the unimaginable cruelty of the Barbary pirates.
Thus begins a superbly written tale of heroism and greed, duplicity and cunning that will thrust Fallon and Beauty into the dangerous currents of American politics and British appeasement of a wicked ruler half a world away.
Barbarians on an Ancient Sea is awash in spectacular battle scenes so vivid and concussive that the smell of spent gunpowder hangs about the reader. Bahamian pirates work in tandem to attack salt ships convoyed by Rascal; a French frigate appears within a snow squall like a deadly apparition; a dead American lieutenant is found adrift in a ship’s boat, condemned to death by a ruthless pirate who must be lured from his lair and made to pay; and, finally, the armed galleys of the dey of Algiers attack Rascal on the high seas, searching for something more precious than the gold ransom she carries. Fallon’s cunning escape from an Algerian prison and the climactic battle against a vengeful Algerian admiral at the height of a sirocco rank with the best of historical naval fiction.
All Fallon’s courage and strategic brilliance are called into play in this exciting tale—a worthy follow-up to The Bermuda Privateer and The Black Ring. Author William Westbrook has a modern storyteller’s voice and a sure knowledge of the sea and the men and women who brave it.
Suddenly, a light.
Only the remarkable seamanship of Rascal’s indomitable first mate Beatrice McFarland can save a simple cod fisherman who brings aboard a fantastic tale of gold ransom, kidnapping, and the unimaginable cruelty of the Barbary pirates.
Thus begins a superbly written tale of heroism and greed, duplicity and cunning that will thrust Fallon and Beauty into the dangerous currents of American politics and British appeasement of a wicked ruler half a world away.
Barbarians on an Ancient Sea is awash in spectacular battle scenes so vivid and concussive that the smell of spent gunpowder hangs about the reader. Bahamian pirates work in tandem to attack salt ships convoyed by Rascal; a French frigate appears within a snow squall like a deadly apparition; a dead American lieutenant is found adrift in a ship’s boat, condemned to death by a ruthless pirate who must be lured from his lair and made to pay; and, finally, the armed galleys of the dey of Algiers attack Rascal on the high seas, searching for something more precious than the gold ransom she carries. Fallon’s cunning escape from an Algerian prison and the climactic battle against a vengeful Algerian admiral at the height of a sirocco rank with the best of historical naval fiction.
All Fallon’s courage and strategic brilliance are called into play in this exciting tale—a worthy follow-up to The Bermuda Privateer and The Black Ring. Author William Westbrook has a modern storyteller’s voice and a sure knowledge of the sea and the men and women who brave it.
Product Details
- Publisher: McBooks Press (February 24, 2020)
- Length: 296 pages
- ISBN13: 9781493051366
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Raves and Reviews
Bill Westbrook’s follow-up to The Bermuda Privateer is buoyed by details of history and seamanship that will delight any fan of saltwater yarns and explosive action.
– Broos Campbell, author of the Matty Graves Novels
William Westbrook hooks you from the first page with accurate detail, a fast-paced plot, intriguing characters, and a genuine understanding of sailors and the sea. No doubt about it, this is the stuff of a new Hornblower. Napoleon had best beware.
– Robert N. Macomber, author of the multi-award-winning Honor Series
All sea stories should tell you something new, and The Bermuda Privateer meets that criterion in spades. Fast paced and covering an area new to me; I was enthralled by the author's encyclopedic knowledge of the Caribbean. There are battles and conspiracies galore, with engaging characters and thrilling actions
– David Donachie, author of the John Pearce Adventures and the Privateersman Mysteries
Well done. An exciting tale.
– James L. Nelson, author of the Isaac Biddlecomb Novels
An action-packed insight into one of the most fascinating, deadly and captivating predators of the seas—the privateer. Nicholas Fallon promises to be an original and charismatic newcomer to the genre—and one of the most engaging.
– Seth Hunter, author of the Nathan Peake Novels
An Age of Nelson adventure, told from an unusual perspective, with authenticity.
– Joan Druett, author of Island of the Lost and the Wiki Coffin mysteries
Bill Westbrook takes you to sea, and puts you right in the middle of an emotional roller-coaster ride of a story. The narrative features America’s early entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of loyalty and the reliance on gut instinct to make vital decisions with unknown consequences. Once you start reading The Bermuda Privateer you won’t put it down. It would have been an honor to sail with these heroes who faced incredible odds at every turn.
– Gary Jobson, 1977 America's Cup winner
William Westbrook is not afraid of action, and he is not afraid of blood, history or politics. He is also prepared to tackle seamanship and geography, love and sex. The Bermuda Privateer has all these delights in plenty, and leaves the reader calling out for more. A great maiden voyage!
– Jan Needle, author of the William Bentley Sea Novels
The Bermuda Privateer is a rousing saga that kept me turning the pages. Finding treachery on land and blazing cannons at sea and also facing nature’s worst, Nicholas Fallon stands the test. William Westbrook has struck gold with his first release.
– Michael Aye, author of Pyrate and The Fighting Anthonys series
Like riding the high crests and deep troughs of a stormy sea, The Bermuda Privateer leaves readers gripping the edge of their seats with little time to catch their breath. From a secret alliance to treasure-laden ships bound for the enemy, Nicholas Fallon and his crew . . . battle a maniacal pirate and traitorous allies, while forging friendships in unlikely places.
– Pirates and Privateers
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