The Pirate Queen: The Story of Grace O'Malley, Irish Pirate [Mass Market Paperback]

Alan Gold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2006

Grace O'Malley commanded a dozen ships and the obedience of thousands of men. Her empire stretched from Connaught on the Irish coast to the cobalt aters of Africa. Through the daring of her piracy, Grace nearly bankrupted the English treasury-and her outright defiance brought embarrassment to Elizabeth I. Yet the lives of these two amazing women were inextricably intertwined-and their eventual meeting during the most brilliant and romantic era that Europe has ever known would shock the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gold celebrates the bravura of "a woman in a man's world" with his swashbuckling second novel (after Warrior Queen) about a 16th-century Irish buccaneer as gorgeous as she was dauntless. Set against the backdrop of Ireland and England from 1544 to 1588, the novel tracks Grace O'Malley's career from girlhood to middle age, with the occasional chapter cutting away to Queen Elizabeth I, an equally red-haired, resourceful and outspoken heroine. The daughter of a chieftain and merchantman–cum–pirate, Grace takes up her father's trade and commands a merchant fleet by age 30. An astute trader, ruthless pirate and Irish patriot, she plunders the ships of the Dutch, French, Spanish and Turks—and with particular relish stymies the oppressive English. She also achieves two marriages, four children and many amorous liaisons. Grace's story meets Queen Elizabeth's toward the novel's end, when the English kidnap Grace's youngest son. The Irishwoman courageously calls on the queen to ask for her son's return, and the two kindred spirits spend a remarkable night together of shared confidences and political wheeling and dealing. This fantastical yarn will satisfy readers looking to root for a strong woman with a sharp sword and even more pointed tongue. (Jan.)
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About the Author

Alan Gold began his career as a journalist, working in the UK, Europe, and Israel. In 1970, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, Eva, and now lives in St. Ives, Sydney, where he divides his time between writing novels and running his award-winning marketing consultancy.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (January 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451217446
• ISBN-13: 978-0451217448
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,997 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE PIRATE QUEEN Rules the High Seas!, March 7, 2007

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pirate Queen: The Story of Grace O'Malley, Irish Pirate (Mass Market Paperback)

Grace O'Malley led a long and adventurous life. Not always an easy one but one with never a dull moment. From the moment of her first marriage she would not be tamed into a life of a subservient wife. She had a mind of her own and wouldn't let any man, let alone Queen Elizabeth I of England, subdue her.

In Grace's career as a pirate she nearly bankrupted the English treasury, had a few husbands and lovers with very diverse backgrounds and heritages, made herself a fortune and was mother to four children. She also had a unique but amicable relationship with Queen Elizabeth I after much discussion between them concerning their lives and whatever else came to their minds.

This is an exciting, swashbuckling tale about a little known historical Irish persona in the 16th century. Her life is the stuff legends are made of and I only wish there were as many historical fictions novel about Grace O'Malley as there are about Elizabeth I, Queen of England. There are two historical fiction novels by Morgan Llywelyn concerning Grace O'Malley, I've read both and they are very excellent reads as well as this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another "missing" woman of history..., January 3, 2007

By 

Jason Frost "RubiconReader" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Pirate Queen: The Story of Grace O'Malley, Irish Pirate (Mass Market Paperback)

I became a fan after I read 'Warrior Queen' and had to go out and get this one. This book isn't as bloody and brutal as 'Warrior Queen' but it's still good. Having to tell the story of a great woman like this in only 356 pages is tough and there were some areas where I felt the author was jumping around to cover everything.

I wasn't as enthralled with the Queen of England part(s)of this book either, but since her and Grace were friends there probably wasn't anyway around it. This book will make you spend time online finding out more about Grace and her life, I know I will. I do like Mr. Gold's work because he does tell a good story and doesn't hold back on the brutality when the story calls for it. This book is definately worth your time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Major Disappointment, June 25, 2007

By 

L. Hession "Boleyn fanatic" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pirate Queen: The Story of Grace O'Malley, Irish Pirate (Paperback)

I struggled to finish this book contrary to my obsession with this time period and love of strong female figures in history. It was poorly written, I thought at first I had maybe strolled into the young adult section in the book store. It was more of a bad romance novel than a historical fiction.