The Pirate Hunter

By: Richard Zacks

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Captain Kidd has gone down in history as America's most ruthless buccaneer. However, Captain William Kidd was no career cut-throat; he was a tough, successful New York sea captain who was hired to chase pirates. His three year odyssey pitted him against arrogant Royal Navy commanders, jealous East India Company captains, storms, starvation, angry natives, and above all, flesh-and-blood pirates. Across the oceans of the world, the pirate hunter, Kidd, pursued the pirate, Culliford. One man would hang in the harbor; the other would walk away with the treasure. The Pirate Hunter is both a masterpiece of historical detective work and a page-turner.

©2002 Richard Zacks (P)2003 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Entertaining, richly detailed, and authoritatively narrated, Zacks's account of the life of legendary seaman William Kidd delivers a first-rate story....Zacks' book is a treasure, indeed." (Publishers Weeekly)
"Zacks fills our minds with the sights, sounds, and even the smells of the seventeenth century, and he rescues William Kidd from eternal damnation. A lively, educational, thoroughly spellbinding trip back in time." (Booklist)
"Enthralling....rich and riotous." (Time)

good

I Like history. I like pirate storys.

I started reading this book and had a little trouble really getting into it. (I always found a reason to read something else) so I decided to listen to it. What a good idea. I liked the book. I got the history lesson I wanted and I didn't fall asleep doing it.

The narrator was fine.

These Pirates REALLY have a double header

Sometimes history is more interesting than fiction. This is one of those times. I gained a greater understand of just exactly was going on at this time in history. If this book was required reading in my high school (class of '65) I'd be a historian right now. HIstory???? this is an adventure tale. Take the time to enrich your today with a greater understanding of your yesterdays. Enchanting story

WOW!

Hats off to this author i enjoyed this book from start to finish. Rick B.

Good for Pirate Enthusiast boring for everyone els

Any additional comments?

This is the first Audible audiobook that I may walk away from before finishing it. It is a VERY detailed account of the voyages of Kidd and his rival Culliford. I greatly respect the author and his effort, as it is clear that he extensively researched numerous period sources and that he genuinely enjoys what he is writing about. He tries to draw a picture for the listener/reader of what it was like for Kidd and his men, what motivated them and the kind of person Kidd was. However, despite all that, I find this book to be boring. Hours are spent describing Kidd's last, multi-year voyage around the waters of the British empire, with similar losses, near-misses and attempted mutinies presenting themselves again and again and again. This just does not make for interesting listening, at least not after the first hour or two. I would like to know more about how Kidd is captured and tried and the way in which the evidence was presented and manipulated in order to ultimately condemn him so I may stick it out until the end. However, it has gotten to the point where I would rather listen to just about anything other than this tedious tale. Narration is good and Michael Prichard gets into the story, but he can't do a Scottish accent to save his soul, which is distracting because there are extensive quotations from the diary of a Scotsman held captive by pirates.

An excellent nonfiction work

Very well read, and always engaging, this will appeal to anyone interested in the 16-17th centuries, sea travel, pirates, or just a good, fast-moving historical drama.

Great story. Unbearable performance & production.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Someone needs to edit the voice work on this book. Listening to the apparently "out-of-breath" narrator gasp for air every sentence makes listening to this book painful. I am amazed that this was released in a pre-production state.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the fact that the author did so much research in making this, what I can only assume, is a historically accurate book.

What didn’t you like about Michael Prichard’s performance?

Listening to him gasp for air every other sentence, and sometimes not even every OTHER sentence. It is painful to listen to!

Was The Pirate Hunter worth the listening time?

Not in it's current state. Somebody needs to spend a few days editing the air-gasps out! HORRIFIC!

Very informative, but questionable conclusion

A very informative book about maritime practices of the time. Unfortunately, the author's desire to exonerate Captain Kidd from all wrongdoing is often belaboured, unconvincing and distracting from the historical story.

Very Interesting Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you enjoy historical books, this is a great and indepth look at the life at sea of a pirate in the 1690's - with lots of back stories and insights into life during this era. Contrary to what you see on TV about pirates, this book goes into great detail about life on the high seas.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Pirate Hunter?

The betrayal of Capt. Kidd by his financial backers - and the presentation of charges against him for piracy.

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is soothing and calm throughout. I enjoyed his narration of this historical book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No - it was not that type of story.

How Little Government Has Changed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend. I shows how the English nobility stabbed this poor, decent Scot in the back who in all probably was innocent of the charges brought against him.

What did you like best about this story?

What I appreciate most about this story is the author's research that points so strongly to Captain Kidd's innocence and to the willingness of corrupt nobles and government officials to murder an innocent man to serve their own selfish interests.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story shows that when a government wants to murder someone it will find a way by hook or crook. This is still true today.

Good history lesson

What a great story. Not only do you learn all about Captain Kidd, but you get to see a lot about daily life in the 17th century.