Blackbeard's Legacy - Softcover

McLennan, Barbara N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0998087327 ISBN 13: 9780998087320

Verlag: Barbara McLennan, 2017

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"What Virginian can resist the story of Blackbeard the pirate? He sailed his mighty fleet of vessels along the Atlantic Coast, sending shivers down the spines of ship captains and crews. Most surrendered when his black skeleton flag came into view, giving up their precious cargo without a fight. This tall, lean man, his pockets full of daggers, knives and guns, wreaked havoc in the early 1700s.

This book is his story, along with an illustrious history of Virginia and other American colonies between 1710 and 1722. Blackbeard, better known as Captain Thatch, commanded a 300-ton frigate called Queen Anne's Revenge with power and grace. The ship was built by the Dutch and sailed by the French until Blackbeard seized her and her 40 cannons.

She had been a slave ship, but Blackbeard freed the slaves as he always did. She was now part of his 30 ships manned by more than 300 crew. He spied a small ship in the distance. He orders the flag raised and a warning shot to be fired. The ship tilts, rights itself, the crew screams for mercy and is taken by Blackbeard.

The small ship, the Betty, belonged to Sarah Blair of Williamsburg. Will he have to make amends to her for sinking her ship?

This fiction novel is full of historical characters such as Alexander Spotswood, who arrived to govern Virginia in 1710. He saw himself as the king of a new territory. There is Reverend Blair, husband of Sarah and the president of William and Mary College; Robert Carter, who was known as King Carter; and Benjamin Harrison, who was a member of the Governor's Council.

This book is the continuing story that began with two previous books by the author, Barbara N. McLennan. "The Wealth of Jamestown" and "The Wealth of Virginia" began the story of the settlement of Jamestown and Williamsburg. These three books discuss international trade, which began when the colonies were first settled. Blackbeard was part of this trade, which was based on the free flow of goods across international waters, making the new colonies economically sound.

McLennan has published seven books, as well as many magazine and journal articles on politics, economics and historical events. She is currently the docent at Jamestown Settlement and a Williamsburg resident." -- Vicky Coiner, #HRBooks contributor, Daily Press, June 22, 2017, Copyright (c) 2017

"Its not often you get to re-live a childhood fantasy and learn something new and exciting at the same time. But Barbara McLennan's Blackbeard's Legacy allows you to do just that! Her third in a series of critically acclaimed historical novels takes us once again into the drama-filled world of early Virginia and rivets us there with engaging facts and colorful dialogue, but this time riding the waves with Blackbeard.

Who among us as a child hadn't fashioned themselves a pirate and sailed the bounding main in search of gold? Blackbeard's Legacy is a chance to do it again, only this time with an adult's appreciation of a great story, well told!

It was always with a tinge of sheepishness that I played the role of Blackbeard in childhood games because of the myth of him as a scoundrel and a rogue. What we learn in this exciting new telling of his bigger than life story is that Blackbeard is also a consummate entrepreneur and international trader who amassed a fleet of forty ships, and figuratively "crossed swords" with the leading bankers, politicians and judges of his day.

McLennan must have had fun writing about Blackbeard because it shines through on every page. Sign on as a hand on the Queen Anne's Revenge, and sail through an exciting trip with this pirate of fame and fortune. It won't make you a kid again, but it's the next best thing!" -- Dr. Rick Oliver, President, American Sentinal University

Reseña del editor

Blackbeard and his fleet sail the Atlantic coast and Caribbean capturing many ships and enriching themselves. Andrew Morgan from Virginia, Blackbeard’s gunner, invests his shares with a banker in Philadelphia. Andrew visits friends in Virginia and agrees to bring along young Benjamin Harrison on one of his spring voyages. Ben, raised as nephew to Sarah Harrison Blair, is eighteen, has just completed his studies, and has been promised in marriage to a daughter of King Carter of Virginia.

Ben witnesses Blackbeard’s election as captain and impresses Blackbeard with his education and family background. Blackbeard allows him to become assistant navigator on his ship and Ben is included, along with the navigator, in meetings of the ship’s officers. When they get to the Bahamas, Ben, who has made enemies, duels with the previous assistant navigator. He also meets the governor of Jamaica and becomes aware of the dangers awaiting Blackbeard and other privateers.

Upon their return to the mainland Andrew marries his banker’s daughter and is present when Blackbeard blockades Charles Towne harbor. Ben, who has received a small ship from Blackbeard for his hard work at sea, returns to Virginia and is elected burgess.

Ben meets Governor Spotswood and participates in Spotswood’s fall in Virginia politics. Ben also learns of Spotswood’s plan to murder Blackbeard and travels to Ocracoke trying to warn the captain. There, from another ship, he witnesses Blackbeard’s assassination at the hands of Spotswood’s hired killers.

Andrew and Ben live through the aftermath: trials, executions, political recrimination from London and North Carolina, Spotswood’s seizure of large tracts of property, and Spotswood's eventual replacement as governor. This is followed by marriages, new families, new businesses, the growth of trade and manufacturing, and fond memories of Blackbeard.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: Barbara McLennan
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0998087327
• ISBN 13: 9780998087320
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Anzahl der Seiten: 264