Empire of Blue Water

Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe that Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign

By: Stephan Talty

Narrated by: John H. Mayer

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

He challenged the greatest empire on earth with a ragtag bunch of renegades - and brought it to its knees. Empire of Blue Water is the real story of the pirates of the Caribbean.

Henry Morgan, a 20-year-old Welshman, crossed the Atlantic in 1655, hell-bent on making his fortune. Over the next three decades, his exploits in the Caribbean in the service of the English became legendary. His daring attacks on the mighty Spanish Empire on land and at sea determined the fates of kings and queens, and his victories helped shape the destiny of the New World.

Morgan gathered disaffected European sailors and soldiers, hard-bitten adventurers, runaway slaves, and vicious cutthroats, and turned them into the most feared army in the Western Hemisphere. Sailing out from the English stronghold of Port Royal, Jamaica, “the wickedest city in the New World,” Morgan and his men terrorized Spanish merchant ships and devastated the cities where great riches in silver, gold, and gems lay waiting. His last raid, a daring assault on the fabled city of Panama, helped break Spain’s hold on the Americas forever. Awash with bloody battles, political intrigues, natural disaster, and a cast of characters more compelling, bizarre, and memorable than any found in a Hollywood including the notorious pirate L’Ollonais, the soul-tortured King Philip IV of Spain, and Thomas Modyford, the crafty English governor of Jamaica - Empire of Blue Water brilliantly re-creates the passions and the violence of the age of exploration and empire.

©2007 Stephan Talty (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Before he became rum, Cap'n Morgan humbled the Spanish Empire....Talty's well-researched account weaves together myriad political and financial interests in the New World." (Booklist)

"Talty strips away the legend to recreate a pivotal era in this accessible portrait of the pirates of the Caribbean." (Publishers Weekly)

“Talty’s vigorous history of seventeenth-century pirates of the Caribbean will sate even fickle Jack Sparrow fans....A pleasure to read from bow to stern.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Legendary Buccaneers

Henry Morgan was only 20 when he came to the Caribbean, and in his lifetime saw—and led—the rise of piracy that terrorized the Spanish Empire and shaped the future of the New World, and then collapsed as quickly as it appeared.

Stephan Talty’s highly approachable history is peppered with surprises. The buccaneers called themselves “The Brethren,” and more often than not fought their battles on land like a terrestrial army. Ships were for transportation, often including canoes and small fishing boats, while engagements at sea like those in the movies were the exception.

They were a vicious lot of drunks and murderers who, inspired by techniques of the Spanish Inquisition, were also inventive practitioners of torture. They lived to plunder, squander their money on debauchery, and return to the hunt. There were also generous benefits, including a share of the loot plus bonuses for sustaining injuries, or for exceptional bravery.

But they never aspired to colonize what they conquered. “As soon as the dream of great riches evaporated, the buccaneer army atomized into a thousand separate pieces. The pirates would never threaten the systems they destabilized with a nation-state of their own. Because they had no faith, no laws, no institutions that would hold them together beyond the next raid.”

They were very, very good at the business of raiding.

John H. Mayer is a pro who delivers a warm narration with an audible twinkle in his eye. I was expecting something more like an adventure novel, but this history quickly grew on me.

Informative and Exciting

I was woefully ignorant of the times and life of Henry Morgan. This book is a pleasant cure. The author delves into the political aspects of the privateers(or pirates) of Port Royal, somewhat of a surprise how important these characters were beyond the Carribean. Morgan was clearly a colorful and charismatic leader. The author presents the material in an exciting and informative manner. If you enjoy history, this book brings it alive. The reader is above average.

Adventure wrapped with History

If your looking to get lost in adventure, this will get you there. Great read or listen. I would reccomend it for any vacation.

Now I have to visit Jamaica!

Realising that the story has a romanticised nature, my previously unknown fascination with pirates has been stirred!

Great narrative

Strays a little at times but remains interesting throughout. Nice detail on Morgan's land battles.

Good non-fiction

Both the story and the narration were excellent. Maybe the only negative was that the book started bit slowly, but I think quite many books do.

Strange History of Lawlessness

The narrator is top shelf. Much detail about this period of history conveyed in articulate and expressive voice. Who knew what impact this violent Welshman, Henry Morgan, and his relatively small army of “brethren” had on World events and the shaping of the Americas.

Great for a trip to Caribbean

I got this story for a trip to the Caribbean. It was great to listen to sitting on the beach. Also, I hadn't ever read a history of the region or the pirates. It was enjoyable. Good mix of adventure, politics and history.

Excellent in every way

One of the rare books that left me kind of sad to finish it. Now I need to book a trip to the Caribbean!

Very Interesting Story

Story is well done and the information is not too dry, yet there is plenty for those into details. As is always the case with an oral history, the geography details are a bit challenging. But thoroughly enjoyed this book.