Customer Reviews

Lafitte the Pirate

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Saxon provides an decent overview of the life of Jean Lafitte (somtimes spelled Laffite) that is suitable for siting as a secondary resource of information. Although not a scholarly work in itself, the book should provide a most suitable platform or "guide book" from which more in-depth study can be done. While the author's own research is solid enough, the writing is not hampered by an academic, stiff style and his recounting of this fascinating figue carries merit for the recreational reading of amature history enthusiasts. Of the adult level, book length literature in print on the subject, this work could easily be considered as the cornersone of study for anyone interested in Jean Lafitte.

This is probably the most widely read biography of Jean Laffite, as substantiated by the fact that this work was first published in 1930. However, it mixes fact with mythology and ends up with enough fiction to leave the reader with a false report on the man and his life. For probably the best and most thorough scholarly work on Laffite, see the very recently published "The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf" by William C. Davis' (Harcourt, May 2, 2005) Amongst several revelations: The contributions of Laffite and his men to the 1815 Battle of New Orleans were likely only negligible at best, and of honor he had little to none. However, what is lost to romantic fiction is offset by rare insights into a place and period of transition in American history, the Louisiana Purchase and its early aftermath. (Come to New Orleans for awhile and you'll find that the transition still isn't complete, and if luck prevails, it never will be.)

If you are looking to carefully separate fact from fiction in the story of Lafitte, this is not the first place to turn. If you want a copiously footnoted, modern, scholarly study, look elsewhere. But if you want an intelligent, clearly written introduction to Lafitte, this old classic is not bad.

Saxon has a tendency to accept the most Romantic aspects of the Lafitte mythology. But he tells the story in a clear style, with a lively sense of narrative. The illustrations don't add much to the picture, but they do serve to break up the text.

At $14 don't expect the printing to be stellar. But it held up to a full reading, is decent, and is printed locally.

Anyone who wants to understand the complexities of contemporary New Orleans, and why it remains more European and Caribbean than American, will do well to look at the colorful figure of Lafitte. In many ways, he represents spirit of the city.

This is my favorite privateer!! According to the El Lago Historical Society, Lafitte used to come to our neighborhood to hide from our first Navy Ship and/or to repair their ship after a damaging fight. Very interesting character!! Was NOT a pirate actually, but a gentleman privateer and smuggler of goods into LA when the US stopped allowing goods going into LA in hopes that they would buckle down and join the United States. Jean Lafitte was a war hero of The War of 1812 in New Orleans; then the current US Governor of LA following the war thanked them for their service and then immediately arrested as many as possible to hang them as pirates!! That's when Lafitte and what was left of his crew came to Galveston Island, TX. I have seen the remnants of his house's (or should say Fortress?) foundation and it's front steps. The Governor placed a price on Lafitte's head; Lafitte then placed a much higher fee on the Governor's head!! Gotta love him!