Pirates!

McMillan does not overlook present day piracy, and even piracy of the future, in space, no less. Avast, ye mateys! Do not miss Pirates!

Jennifer Ward, soundcommentary.com

Are you or your kids into swashbuckling yarns of yore? Then look no further than Naxos’s Pirates! Told in boisterous, semi-humorous style, this audio book takes you from the outset of piracy in ancient times right up to date with the Somali scourge, regaling you with tales of the dastardly deeds and doings of those who sailed the seas in search of treasure that they could loot and pillage from the merchant navies of the world. Read with great relish and glee by the versatile actor Jasper Britton, who is well-known for his rendering of numerous parts in such great Shakespearean dramas as The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew, once you’ve started listening to this book, you won’t be able to stop. It’s just as good as, or perhaps even better than (seeing that you can listen to it in the comfort of your own home, without having to get all toffed up for the theatre) a night out on the town. Due to the vivid and gripping detail that the author, Roy McMillan, provides in his history of piracy, there’s no need for stage props, either! Not only are the pirates and privateers described in all their gruesome and gory detail (though you do receive adequate warning of the gorier bits in the form of ’Gruesome Alert!’), but the reasons for their wielding the power that they had (and, in some instances, continue to have) over the major shipping lanes of the world are explored with much insight, and even with empathy. The etymology of terms to do with piracy is clearly explained, as are their (surprisingly enough!) stringent rules of conduct, with the degrees of allowable mayhem and hard-won mercy being evenly tempered over all. From the more refined pirates, who even insisted on taking their private libraries on board, to the merciless and vengeful that tended to meet with as savage ends as they meted out to others, a host of piratical characters is shown at their very best and worst. And, even though it was very seldom indeed that women were allowed to join the throngs of the ’brethren’ of the sea, the odd occasions on which they did are shared as well. From the Atlantic seaboard to the South China Seas, McMillan reveals the role played by such seagoing adventurers as Jack ‘Birdy’ Ward, Sir Henry Morgan and Lai Choi San.   Jasper Britton has much in common with the rugged characters of whom he tells, and most likely he would love to give countless pieces of eight to be able to make some of his peers and critics walk the plank! His personal strength and vigor forcefully comes across in his declaration: ’I have very high standards for myself. I try my best to live up to them and I sort of require that other people do their best as well.’ That he shares his ethical stance with those who have been branded as some of the biggest brigands of all times might be surprising, but if you listen to Pirates! you’ll find out how and why this breed of (largely) men came to be. Would you rather opt for a high-flying life than mediocre longevity? If so, join the crew and hop aboard, my hearties, we’re bound for the Spanish Main!

Lois Henderson, Bookpleasures

Two more overtly family-friendly releases are […] Pirates! … Jasper Britton is a great fit for the latter’s colloquial style, making lightly amused work of a fact-packed history of piracy that includes true-life tales of cross-dressing female pirates.

Bella Todd, Time Out

Children from 9 upwards will love Pirates!. Julius Caesar was captured by them, Sir Francis Drake was a relatively nice one, and pirates are still around today. Mostly, they were very, very nasty. The facts here are just as exciting – and gory! – as any fiction.

Kati Nicholl, Daily Express