Customer Reviews

Wars of the Barbary Pirates: To the shores of Tripoli: the birth of the US Navy and Marines (Essential Histories)

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A current interest in the War of 1812 led me to this book by Gregory Fremont-Barnes, who holds a doctorate in history from Oxford University. The very long title for a relatively small book tells you exactly what to expect from it. Its 95 pages are so well presented, so succinct yet so full of information, that it is a pleasure to read. Illustrations on every page -- maps, reproductions of historical paintings and line drawings are indeed worth thousands of words. The two-column pages offer a journalistic feel -- that current news is being presented by top reporters.

A three-page chronology summarizes the contents of the book for those who want to find facts instantly. The Introduction is also all-encompassing -- it tells all that the book contains. A "Further Reading" list at the end leads readers and researchers to other sources on this fascinating subject. An index pinpoints all the events, people, places and shipping vessels found in the book.

I was seeking information on the USS Epervier, the ill-fated ship that was lost at sea returning to America from North Africa bearing the Treaty of Ghent which formalized the end of the War of 1812 between the British and the Americans. I also wanted information on Stephen Decatur and other prominent commodores and captains of US ships of that era. This book far exceeded my expectations. I am so very pleased that Google pointed me to it and Amazon.com had it in stock. I love this book, and recommend it without reservation to anyone wanting a palatible source of information on this pivotal period of our history that is so woefully lacking in below-college-level schools.

Thus far a good read and insight into the mentality of the pirates and leadership that still haunts that area of the world.

In general, this is a well written book with a lot of information. The maps are uncluttered and the author did an excellent job of showing where each ship was stationed during a particular battle. The book contains a multitude of color and black and white drawings. These illustrations provide the reader with an excellent visual image of the various engagements. The book, however, also has some shortcomings.

First, the author expends five pages on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Osprey books are intentionally short and space is a precious commodity. This narrative is found in the chapter on the "World Around War." One page on Lewis and Clark might be appropriate but five pages was a waste of space. This expedition had noting to do with the Barbary Wars.

Second, the author did not spend enough time on William Eaton. His march across the African desert and capture of Derna was a major event. This was the first instance of US covert action taken to overthrow a foreign government. This was also the first time the US flag was planted on foreign soil after combat. Shamefully, the logistical support provided to Eaton was so negligible that it is a miracle he survived, much less succeeded. This entire event is covered in minimal detail. The author also presents a biased view of the peace treaty made by Tobias Lear. Tobias Lear is given credit for a peace treaty but no mention is made of its humiliating hidden clauses. Lear was more interested in making a name for himself than in achieving an honorable peace. All of this history is left out.

Finally, the author wasted too much space in the chapter on "Conclusions and Consequences" by philosophizing over slavery. He discussed the hypocritical attitude of America, which opposed white slavery, but proceeded to enslave thousands of black Africans. Although the author makes an interesting point, this book is not the place for such commentary.

The best part of the book is found in the chapter on the war's ending. This chapter covers the Algerine Wars of 1815. After the War of 1812, The US Navy returned to the Mediterranean under Commodore Stephen Decatur. Decatur achieved a true honorable peace with the Barbary nations. Soon afterward, the British Royal Navy under 1st Viscount Exmouth put a complete end to Mediterranean piracy when he bombarded Algiers in 1816. This chapter ends with a discussion of the French invasion of Algeria in 1830 which led to the subsequent colonization of that country.

Bottom line: this is a pretty good book. On the down side, the author wasted space on unrelated topics and omitted relevant aspects of the War. On the up side, this book does a great job of discussing how the U.S. and Royal navies eventually put an end to Barbary piracy a decade after the war's end. Despite these shortcomings, the reader will still find this an enjoyable and informative book.

This is a terrific book about the long forgotten Naval war against the Islamic pirates of North Africa. It recalls our Navy's first heroes, particularly Stephen Decatur. It should remind everyone that the history of conflict between the civilized world and Islam goes back many centuries. The book documents conflicts between those who recognize the situation for what it is and seek to end it by force, and the diplomats who seek to appease the Barbary pirates. Not surprisingly, then as now, the Navalists were right. Altogether, this is a well-told, well-documented book about the conflict of civilized nations, with one of the world's longest running pathologies.

The author does a fine job covering details of the military conflicts that took place between the United States and the Islamic Barbary states. It was, in fact, the United States' first war on terror.

However, the author fails to connect the "pirates" making war on nations (i.e. the United States) who had done them no harm with the teachings of Islam to make war on the infidels, the unbelievers, in other words all non-Muslims. He also failed to mention the exchange between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who in 1786, went to negotiate with Tripoli's ambassador to England Sidi Haji Abdrahaman. When the two Americans asked him why they make war on countries who had done them no injury Abdrahaman replied, "It was written in the Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise." So he misses the Islamic influence and connection altogether.

President Obama, in his Cairo speech, referenced a quote from John Adams in 1796 that "the USA has in itself no enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims" he also ignored the quote from the Tripolitan ambassador. It isn't that we have enmity toward them but that they have perpetual enmity towards us, the unbelievers of Islam.

Also, on page 63 it states that Stephen Decatur was born January 5, 1799 when actually he was born in 1779.