A Pastoral Letter to the Captives, and other works: Selected hostage accounts from the Barbary Pirates era [Paperback]

Vicki Claudio (Author), Wyatt J. McIntyre (Cover Design), Joi Weaver (Assistant), Ed Boston (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2009

Since its earliest days as a colony, America has found itself at war with Islamic Extremists who have used terror and fear. In A Pastoral Letter to the Captives, and Other Works, you will read personal accounts from those taken captive and an anthology of the works by Cotton Mather preaching to the captives during the Barbary Pirate Era. These historical works take you step by step through the trials and plights of those taken and those left behind, and offer a fresh take on the world around us. A particularly relevant book at a time when America once again struggles overseas with terrorists and an upturn in pirate activities, A Pastoral Letter offers readers a comprehensive, sometimes forgotten look at the issues we are facing through the eyes of history and faith.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vicki Claudio founded Pray for the Hostages in 2008, after writing about piracy and hostage issues for several years. She has a B.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Central Florida and is pursuing a graduate degree in History from UCF. Ms. Claudio presently serves as Editorial Director for the As A Matter of Faith online ministry. She is married with four children, and lives in Orlando, Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (May 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441417931
• ISBN-13: 978-1441417930
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,244,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prayer and Piracy, June 9, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Joy Weaver "Joi Weaver" (Brea, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Pastoral Letter to the Captives, and other works: Selected hostage accounts from the Barbary Pirates era (Paperback)

Since the release of the wildly successful Pirates of the Caribbean movies, it seems that Americans have gone pirate-mad. Despite the attention currently given to a decidedly romantic view of piracy, very few of the pirate aficionados know much about the history of piracy.

But piracy is nothing new. In fact, one of the greatest concerns of the American colonists and early American government were the Barbary pirates, who endangered commerce and travel.

This book seeks to present several documents from the era of the Barbary Pirates to a contemporary audience; it presents Cotton Mather's Pastoral Letter to the Captives along with several other relevant documents. The original texts are presented with very few changes; the language is occasionally updated for clarity to the modern reader, but the changes are minor and the book is highly readable.

The Pastoral Letter, addressed to Christians held captive in predominantly Muslim lands, encourages them to hold fast to their faith, and to pursue their Christian life, even in captivity. Mather puts his famous eloquence to use, exhorting his distant audience to greater faith, greater prayer, and greater goodness.

Another section of the book is devoted to the first-hand account of Thomas Phelps, a sailor whose ship was boarded by pirates. He and his fellow sailors were pressed into slavery and forced labor. Phelps, who was chained to two other men, persuaded them to escape with him. They made their way towards the coast, dodging patrols and wild animals; Phelps came down with a debilitating case of gout, which forced him to spend a few days in rest rather than travel. Just when his companions were about to desert him and continue their escape, the gout disappeared; Phelps gave thanks to God for the healing and continued on his way. His account of escape and rescue is both thrilling and profoundly moving.

This book gives a glimpse into the concerns of Christians far removed from us in time, but close to our own situation in many ways. The exhortation to trust in God, pray fervently, and pursue goodness is as relevant today as it ever was, and stories like Phelps are a poignant reminder of God's providence, even when all hope seems gone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timely book, July 2, 2009

By 

Shane R. Borgess "Evrviglnt" (Irvine, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Pastoral Letter to the Captives, and other works: Selected hostage accounts from the Barbary Pirates era (Paperback)

What attracted me to this book were the accounts of piracy on the high seas in the late seventeenth century. Author Vicki Claudio's research offers first hand accounts of enslavement and hopelessness so many endured as Christian slaves, and the writings of Cotton Mather are fascinating for their fury and, ultimately, joy. The writing is excellent, and the subject really does relate to the horrendous stories of kidnapping and hijacking we're hearing so much about these days.

The author also has a website where she delivers news on current hostages around the world - Not Ready For My Burqua ([...]). The book and the site are worth taking the time to read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a timely document, June 20, 2009

By 

Charles A. Ringer - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Pastoral Letter to the Captives, and other works: Selected hostage accounts from the Barbary Pirates era (Paperback)

some things never change. a look at ancient islamic extremeists, and hostage taking, tempered with the strong influence of deep faith....a poignant picture....a great read.