Customer Reviews

Blackbeard: A Tale of Villainy and Murder in Colonial America

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although the legend of Blackbeard, the most notorious of pirates, has survived for almost 300 years, this is the first novel that takes a look at a man and not a legend. With captivating dialogue and historically accurate descriptions, Margaret Hoffman arrests our attention and ensnares us in the intrigue of the last years of Blackbeard's life. Hoffman also breathes life into the characters of Governor Eden, who becomes Blackbeard's nemesis, and Mary Ormond, who becomes his guiding light. With a caste of characters, who are depicted with human traits, and not the traits of mythical beings, Hoffman paints a picture of life in Colonial America that is both fascinating and informative.

Blackbeard is a novel of action and romance that rings true historically and will satisfy any adventure fan. In the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter and Tarzan, Hoffman has delivered a manly character whose lust for life, adventure and fortune is balanced by an equally ardent passion for love. The plot is tight and compelling, the characters well-conceived, and the fast-paced action sequences lend directly to the story. The title character, Blackbeard, is convincing and multi-dimensional. Hoffman deftly delivers a portrait of Blackbeard that satisfies expectations and surprises the reader with a clear picture of the deeply emotional, sometimes savage, but always real man behind the tall tales.

There is plenty of "villainy and murder" as promised in the title of Ms. Hoffman's riveting pirate novel, but they are only tastes of the overall sensuous feast of love and death in "Blackbeard." The author has successfully blended historical accuracy with the pirate mythos in a consistently intriguing story. Blackbeard's love interest and the subtle and thrilling erotic bond between the pirate and his lady are filled with the longing and romance found in many great adventures. Hoffman's novel follows in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter and Tarzan series, presenting a robust, manly character whose lust for action is matched by his passion for love. An exciting and satisfying read!

This is one of the best books about Colonial America I've read; especially the history of North Carolina. Margaret Hoffman molds Blackbeard into a romantic and likeable fellow. Relying on authentic documents along with some fictional accounts, she has written a very readable book about the famous pirate who, still today, is a legend along the Carolina coast. For anyone who enjoys reading about the history of the original colonies along with it's notorious characters, this is excellent reading. From Governors Eden and Spotswood to poor little Anne Hassell (Eden's "pawn"), the author has brought everyone into real life. If this is indeed her first book, as the dust jacket implies, I'm looking forward to reading her future novels.

After I finished this book, I could not wait too read more! It was a very well written publication about one of history's most feared yet respected pirates of all time. The last 6 chapters seemed to be read in minutes as the story became more intriging by the word. This is a MUST read for any pirate fanatic!

All I can say is that I couldn't put this book down. Hoffman dives right into the story, and what a story it is! I was incredulous the entire time about the things these characters were doing; I was surprised and burst out laughing several times. Hoffman's style of writing made it easy to imagine what the characters looked like and what they were doing; I can see Charles Eden's twisted smile or Blackbeard's cabin as I write this. Blackbeard is a fascinating love/adventure story that is a must-read for anyone. Even more amazing is that it's based on a true story. Amazing--you'll know what I mean when you read it.

I read this book because I was looking for an action-packed adventure
story about the greatest pirate of all time, Blackbeard. Even the
title makes the book sound exciting. However, the book was very
disappointing. Most of it centers around Blackbeard falling in love
with a local girl. The author portrays Blackbeard as a gentleman who
is really kind-hearted on the inside but happens to be in the
profession of piracy. This is an incredibly sappy romance novel with a
little bit of history thrown in for kicks. The...imagery is severely
lacking.