Corsair

I'm not left wanting to read more in the series.

In historical fact, in 1677, some Barbary Corsairs sacked Baltimore in West Cork, Ireland and took most of the inhabitants into slavery in the Middle East, this follows one of those people, Hector Lynch, who is sold in Algiers and follows his adventures as slave (several times) and more as he tries to discover what happened to his sister, Elizabeth and to survive all the complex politics in the world of the time.

The complicated politics are interesting but sometimes it felt like the author had a lot of historical detail that he wanted to share with the reader, sometimes at the expense of story. Not bad but I wanted more.

In 1677, Hector Lynch is abducted from a small Irish village by Barbary pirates. He is taken back to the Barbary Coast where he is soon sold as a slave at auction. But intelligent young Hector is irrepressible - and lucky in his friends, including the Miskito Indian Dan. He soon becomes indispensable to his seafaring master Turgut Reis. After converting to Islam, the ship Hector is on is captured - and Hector once again enters a life of servitude onboard a French galley.

The novel reads more like an adventure novel than the historicals I usually read. But despite the more adventurous tone, there was remarkably little time spent in actual adventures or in peril. The entire story seems relatively superficial, and that combined with the show more lack of perilous action scenes means that Corsair isn't a very engrossing read - though it does have a fascinating setting.

More posted at my blog. show less

Corsair is a ripping yarn in the best swashbuckling tradition, however the details that Severin weaves into the tale provide a fascinatingly different perspective on the 17th century, one that is more centered on the North African and Islamic world in both location and outlook.

Actually listened to this from audible.com; the reading is brilliantly delivered by Rupert Farley. Highly recommended.

More on this and hand drawn maps(!) at http://pratalife.blogspot.com/2009/04/hand-drawn-maps-corsair.html

Corsair is a ripping yarn in the best swashbuckling tradition, however the details that Severin weaves into the tale provide a fascinatingly different perspective on the 17th century, one that is more centered on the North African and Islamic world in both location and outlook.

Actually listened to this from audible.com; the reading is brilliantly delivered by Rupert Farley. Highly recommended.

More on this and hand drawn maps(!) at http://pratalife.blogspot.com/2009/04/hand-drawn-maps-corsair.html

Corsair - Tim Severin ****

This in the first book in a trilogy following the trials and tribulations of Hector Lynch. Set in the 17th Century it is a historical adventure novel. He is abducted from his home, along with his sister, in Ireland by a Corsair, then sold off as a slave.

In order to be treated more fairly in his role as a slave he decides (with a friend called Dan) to take the turban and convert from christianity to islam. However when he takes to the sea in a robbing spree his ship is attacked and he becomes once again a slave, this time however to the Christians.

Joined by 3 friends (a french burglar, a fellow slave & a mutilated christian) we follow his life from country to country and enslaver to enslaver.

Not a bad book, but show more occasionally read like a school textbook with the author seeming more intent on facts than plot. I was bordering on 3 or 4 stars for the book, but I think I learnt a few new facts along the journey so gave it a 4l

Would I read the rest of the trilogy? I'm not sure, but you never know....... show less

First in a trilogy. Felt like regurgitated research strung together as fiction. Having just read 'Bring up the bodies' it felt less than literary.

Suitable for teen readers as no swearing/gratuitous violence/sex. the adventure might be a pull for them and the language & story arc are straightforward.

Enjoyable, but not enough to chase the sequels.

Good book. Well documented, easy to read.