New Book by Richard Zacks
Did anyone catch the Imus interview with author Richard Zacks this week? He was promoting his latest book, The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805. I caught the radio appearance by chance while on my way to work. It caught my attention because I had corresponded with the author briefly during some of my research and found him to be a very helpful and amiable guy. In his last communication he indicated that he had the new book coming out and would soon be out plugging it.
Zacks' last book, The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd, was critically acclaimed and truly a masterful work of detailed research. The newest book is the story of the development of the US Marines and their first major covert engagement, at a time when our country was still in its fledgling stages. Here is a promotional quote from Hyperion's website:
A real-life thriller from acclaimed historian and author of The Pirate Hunter, Richard Zacks -- the true story of the unheralded American who brought the Barbary Pirates to their knees.
In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary Pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out in 1805 on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. The operation was sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson, but at the last moment he grew wary of "intermeddling" in a foreign government, and Eaton set off without proper national support.
Short on supplies, given very little money and only a few men, Eaton and his mission seemed doomed from the start. But against all odds, he improbably triumphed, recruiting a band of European mercenaries in Alexandria, along with some Arab cavalry and Bedouin fighters, and leading them on a march across the Libyan Desert. Once in Tripoli, the ragtag army defeated the local troops and successfully captured Derne, laying the groundwork for the demise of the Barbary Pirates. The success of the event is immortalized in the Marines' Hymn, but Jefferson never allowed Eaton the fame he craved. Now, Richard Zacks brings this important story from our nation's history to life.
I highly recommend The Pirate Hunter and look forward to reviewing The Pirate Coast soon. I'm sure there are some interesting comparisons to make between the international politics of Jefferson's time and those of our current period. In the meantime, let me know if aany of you have read Zacks' latest, or any of his other works.
Zacks' last book, The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd, was critically acclaimed and truly a masterful work of detailed research. The newest book is the story of the development of the US Marines and their first major covert engagement, at a time when our country was still in its fledgling stages. Here is a promotional quote from Hyperion's website:
A real-life thriller from acclaimed historian and author of The Pirate Hunter, Richard Zacks -- the true story of the unheralded American who brought the Barbary Pirates to their knees.
In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary Pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out in 1805 on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. The operation was sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson, but at the last moment he grew wary of "intermeddling" in a foreign government, and Eaton set off without proper national support.
Short on supplies, given very little money and only a few men, Eaton and his mission seemed doomed from the start. But against all odds, he improbably triumphed, recruiting a band of European mercenaries in Alexandria, along with some Arab cavalry and Bedouin fighters, and leading them on a march across the Libyan Desert. Once in Tripoli, the ragtag army defeated the local troops and successfully captured Derne, laying the groundwork for the demise of the Barbary Pirates. The success of the event is immortalized in the Marines' Hymn, but Jefferson never allowed Eaton the fame he craved. Now, Richard Zacks brings this important story from our nation's history to life.
I highly recommend The Pirate Hunter and look forward to reviewing The Pirate Coast soon. I'm sure there are some interesting comparisons to make between the international politics of Jefferson's time and those of our current period. In the meantime, let me know if aany of you have read Zacks' latest, or any of his other works.
posted by Cornelius Quick | 11:33 PM
1 Comments:
Sounds great! I have not read any of his stuff but will look for it the next time I'm looking. I have a list of things on my "To read" list so it may be a while.
It looks like it would read like fiction, which certainly makes it more marketable. Does it, or is that the way the preview is written? "Can't judge a book..." by the editor's press release is more like it.
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