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Pirate Women

The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas

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Pirate Women

By: Laura Sook Duncombe
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
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About this listen

In the first-ever history of the world's female buccaneers, Pirate Women: the Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas tells the story of women, both real and legendary, who through the ages sailed alongside - and sometimes in command of - their male counterparts. These women came from all walks of life but had one thing in common: a desire for freedom. History has largely ignored these female swashbucklers - until now. Here are their stories, from ancient Norse princess Alfhild and warrior Rusla to Sayyida al-Hurra of the Barbary corsairs; from Grace O'Malley, who terrorized shipping operations around the British Isles during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, to Cheng I Sao, who commanded a fleet of 400 ships off China in the early 19th century. Author Laura Sook Duncombe also looks beyond the stories to the storytellers and mythmakers. What biases and agendas motivated them? What did they leave out? Pirate Women explores why and how these stories are told and passed down and how history changes depending on who is recording it. It's the most comprehensive overview of women pirates in one volume and chock-full of swashbuckling adventures that pull these unique women from the shadows into the spotlight that they deserve.

©2017 Laura Sook Duncombe (P)2017 Tantor
Engineering Gender Studies Maritime History & Piracy Royalty Social Sciences Women World Adventure Pirate United Kingdom Imperialism Middle Ages British Empire

Critic Reviews

"Duncombe's well-researched account will appeal to history and women's studies aficionados, lovers of myth and lore, and all interested in viewing the past through a new lens." ( Booklist)
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At first I thought I couldn’t listen to this book I found the narrator dull and almost robotic, it seemed more like a droning lecture then an exciting book about female pirates. So I changed the speed to 1.25x and bam not so dull, the narrator seemed to have more inflection in her voice and I’m glad I persevered as it is a good book.

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