Set
in Massachusetts in 1715-16, this is the story of Maria Hallett, a 15-year-old innocent
who—through a mistaken assumption—is deflowered by Captain Samuel Bellamy, an
adventurer who sails into Maria’s puritanical town looking for financial backers
for a treasure-hunting scheme.
After
ruining Maria, Sam thinks to marry her by her aunt, unaware of what happened,
won’t have it. Sam sails away to seek a fortune with the thought the money
might convince her aunt to let them marry. When he returns a year later, he is
changed. He has become the notorious pirate “Black Sam”.
Based
on the true story of the pirate ship Whydah
and an old Cape Cod legend about two ill-fated lovers, this was Harmon’s debut
novel, first published in 1992, now updated and re-edited.
The
story is well written and the dialog lively. There is action aplenty, including
swordfights and a violent storm aboard Sam’s ship. Maria is an admirable
heroine, handling the adversity life has thrown her with courage, but she wants
nothing to do with piracy and harps on Sam about it continuously even though
she had wanted to marry him. Sam never gives up, taking command of his life as
well as his crew. Shifting points of view and the narrator’s additions make it
an unusual read.
If
you like a pirate romance with real pirates, including Blackbeard, you’ll find
it in this story. An unlikely couple come together through very difficult
circumstances!
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