Empire of Blue Water Audiobook By Stephan Talty cover art

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

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Empire of Blue Water

By: Stephan Talty
Narrated by: John H. Mayer
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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
Americas Caribbean & West Indies Expeditions & Discoveries Royalty True Crime World Pirate Caribbean Latin America Imperialism British Empire Sailing Middle Ages

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)

Well-researched History • Engaging Narrative • Vivid Historical Figures • Vivid Descriptions • Balanced Storytelling
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I'm obsessed. This story was great. It was filled with all the glorious tidbits I'd hoped it would be and more! The narrator is perfect. I'm sad my pirate story has ended :(

I love Pirate history

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The true story of Captain Morgan (the man, not the rum) and piracy in the Caribbean. Morgan was one of the truly successful buccaneers, who not only captured lots of loot but also lived to retire, enjoy his riches...and turn on the bretheren. It is also the story of Port Royal, Jamaica, which was one of Britain's earliest footholds in the Caribbean and an interesting tale in its own right.

If you enjoy this book, you may find "The Pirate Hunter" by Richard Zacks (the story of Capt. Kidd) an interesting complement.

Generally Enjoyable

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An excellent historical account told in a way that brings it to life. highly recommended.

History Come to Life

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This book was everything I never knew about the Privateers.
I enjoy the historical narrative that comes directly from memoirs and writers contemporary with the story. The book held me for hours at a time and the narration was wonderful.
I recommend the book and will probably listen to it again

Great story and narration

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I appreciated the details of this book, I always prefer Biographies that go from the beginning to the end of the subjects life. The brutal nature of Morgan speaks to his undeveloped humanity, lack of human empathy, empty and meaningless desires for wealth and power. The end of Port Royal was a rare bit of instant karma. It is also a study in the concept, "any publicity is good publicity".

How psychopaths still end up being praised

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I enjoyed this book. the pirates in this book is like any pirate story with a lot of action.

pirates in the book

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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.

Informative and Exciting

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

Adventure wrapped with History

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

Now I have to visit Jamaica!

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

Great narrative

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