Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 1/30/2013 + 2574 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

Actually, I disagree with the other reviewers, I didn't find this dry at all. I thought it was an exciting read. I suspect the other reviewers anticipated another kind of book about pirates.

But for those interested in real history or political science, be prepared to discover that what you learned in school about the U.S. cry of "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" was not quite what happened.

This book just further increases the contempt I have been developing for the "great" Thomas Jefferson. We had the Barbary pirates "on the ropes" and then we surrendered and paid the ransom. And the government just covered it all up.

And what happened to the American agent who could have beaten the pirates for us once and for all? Well, history proves once again that it doesn't pay to be a whistle-blower.

Highly recommended.

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