
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates
The Forgotten War That Changed American History
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Narrated by:
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Brian Kilmeade
About this listen
"The challenges we face today are not so different from Jefferson's, and we've much to learn from his boldness and from the courage of the marines and sailors who died to protect their country." (Brian Kilmeade)
This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America's third president decided to stand up to intimidation.
When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary Coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford.
Over the previous 15 years, as a diplomat and then as secretary of state, Jefferson had tried to work with the Barbary states (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco). Unfortunately, he found it impossible to negotiate with people who believed their religion justified the plunder and enslavement of non-Muslims. These rogue states would show no mercy - at least not while easy money could be made by extorting America, France, England, and other powers. So President Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the US Navy's new warships and a detachment of marines to blockade Tripoli - launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America's journey toward future superpower status.
As they did in their previous best seller, George Washington's Secret Six, Kilmeade and Yaeger have transformed a nearly forgotten slice of history into a dramatic story that will keep you listening to find out what happens next.
©2015 Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger (P)2015 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Thomas Jefferson. Pirates. And national security. This is how you make history exciting. I dare you to put this book down.” (Brad Meltzer, best-selling author of The President’s Shadow)
“Reads like a fast-paced thriller but is actually a thoughtful account of America’s first foray into what has become a complex part of the world.” (General Stanley McChrystal (ret.), author of Team of Teams)
“A riveting book of history that reads as though it were ripped from today’s headlines, and a must read for anyone seeking an understanding of the roots of U.S. foreign policy.” (Admiral James Stavridis (ret.), former supreme allied commander at NATO; dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University)
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- Privateering in the American Revolution
- By: Eric Jay Dolin
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The heroic story of the founding of the US Navy during the Revolution has been told many times, yet largely missing from maritime histories of America's first war is the ragtag fleet of private vessels that truly revealed the new nation's character. In Rebels at Sea, Eric Jay Dolin corrects that significant omission, and contends that privateers, as they were called, were in fact critical to the American victory. Privateers were privately owned vessels that were granted permission by the new government to seize British merchantmen and men of war.
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If you can get over the narrator...
- By Toby Everett on 09-20-22
By: Eric Jay Dolin
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The Shores of Tripoli
- Lieutenant Putnam and the Barbary Pirates
- By: James L. Haley
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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It is 1801, and President Thomas Jefferson has assembled a deep-water navy to fight the growing threat of piracy, as American civilians are regularly kidnapped by Islamist brigands and held for ransom, enslaved, or killed, all at their captors' whim. The Berber States of North Africa, especially Tripoli, claimed their faith gave them the right to pillage anyone who did not submit to their religion.
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Listen to the sample
- By Mike on 10-30-18
By: James L. Haley
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The Pirate Coast
- Thomas Jefferson, The First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805
- By: Richard Zacks
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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After Tripoli declared war on the United States in 1801, Barbary pirates captured 300 U.S. sailors and marines. President Jefferson sent navy squadrons to the Mediterranean, but he also authorized a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. He chose an unlikely diplomat, William Eaton, to lead the mission, but before Eaton departed, Jefferson grew wary of the affair and withdrew his support.
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Excellent Account
- By John on 07-11-05
By: Richard Zacks
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The Pirate Menace
- Uncovering the Golden Age of Piracy
- By: Angus Konstam
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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The growth of piracy led to a major surge in attacks in the Caribbean and along North America’s Atlantic seaboard. With the fragile maritime economy of the Americas threatened with collapse, major ports were threatened and trade brought to a standstill, the British government finally declared war on the pirates. The Pirate Menace draws on extensive research, as well as a wide range of first-hand accounts, to produce a new history of the heyday of historical piracy.
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1st rate.
- By DucatiRacer M.D. on 11-23-24
By: Angus Konstam
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Washington's Spies
- The Story of America's First Spy Ring
- By: Alexander Rose
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian Alexander Rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and deep into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed men who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all.
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Kinda boring
- By Randall on 07-10-19
By: Alexander Rose
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Who Can Hold the Sea
- The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960
- By: James D. Hornfischer
- Narrated by: Christopher Newton, Sharon Hornfischer
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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This landmark account of the U.S. Navy in the Cold War, Who Can Hold the Sea combines narrative history with scenes of stirring adventure on—and under—the high seas. In 1945, at the end of World War II, the victorious Navy sends its sailors home and decommissions most of its warships. But this peaceful interlude is short-lived, as Stalin, America’s former ally, makes aggressive moves in Europe and the Far East.
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James D. Hornfisher's last work
- By JWHayn4563 on 05-05-22
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The President and the Freedom Fighter
- Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Their Battle to Save America's Soul
- By: Brian Kilmeade
- Narrated by: Brian Kilmeade
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The New York Times best-selling author of George Washington's Secret Six and Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates turns to two other heroes of the nation: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In The President and the Freedom Fighter, Brian Kilmeade tells the little-known story of how two American heroes moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history.
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Great Story and Research
- By Marla O'Halloran on 11-06-21
By: Brian Kilmeade
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Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
- By: Jon Meacham
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Jon Meacham
- Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In this magnificent biography, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power gives us Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era.
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A Man and Biography Relevant to Our Day
- By Darwin8u on 11-14-12
By: Jon Meacham
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Teddy and Booker T.
- How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality
- By: Brian Kilmeade
- Narrated by: Brian Kilmeade
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
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When President Theodore Roosevelt welcomed the country’s most visible Black man, Booker T. Washington, into his circle of counselors in 1901, the two confronted a shocking and violent wave of racist outrage. In the previous decade, Jim Crow laws had legalized discrimination in the South, eroding social and economic gains for former slaves. Lynching was on the rise, and Black Americans faced new barriers to voting. Slavery had been abolished, but if newly freed citizens were condemned to lives as share croppers, how much improvement would their lives really see?
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the similarities of these men
- By jeanette falker on 03-09-25
By: Brian Kilmeade
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Born to Be Hanged
- The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune
- By: Keith Thomson
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The year is 1680, in the heart of the Golden Age of Piracy, and more than 300 daring, hardened pirates—a potent mix of low-life scallywags and a rare breed of gentlemen buccaneers—gather on a remote Caribbean island. The plan: to wreak havoc on the Pacific coastline, raiding cities, mines, and merchant ships. The booty: the bright gleam of Spanish gold and the chance to become a legend. So begins one of the greatest piratical adventures of the era—a story not given its full due until now.
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Fascinating tale of 17th Piracy in the Americas
- By Xmeromotu on 07-11-22
By: Keith Thomson
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The Republic of Pirates
- Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down
- By: Colin Woodard
- Narrated by: Lewis Grenville
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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In the early 18th century, the Pirate Republic was home to some of the great pirate captains, including Blackbeard, "Black Sam" Bellamy, and Charles Vane. Along with their fellow pirates - former sailors, indentured servants, and runaway slaves - this "Flying Gang" established a crude but distinctive democracy in the Bahamas, carving out their own zone of freedom in which servants were free, Blacks could be equal citizens, and leaders were chosen or deposed by a vote.
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Audible is better
- By CaptainRavick on 01-19-16
By: Colin Woodard
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The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
- The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- By: James D. Hornfischer
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Told from the point of view of the men who waged this steel-shattering battle, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors captures Navy pilots attacking enemy battleships with makeshift weapons and sacrificial valor, a veteran commander improvising tactics never taught in Annapolis, and young crews from across America rising to an impossible challenge.
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Outstanding
- By John on 04-17-04
What listeners say about Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates
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- CJF
- 12-08-15
Interesting history - terrible narrator
My husband & I enjoy listening to non-fiction when we travel. We especially enjoy historical accounts. The story here is an interesting one, but I would NEVER listen to this narrator again. His voice grates. He speaks way too fast and everything is made to sound exciting and over the top. Not our cup of tea.
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34 people found this helpful
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- Kapok
- 08-21-20
Poorly Narrated
I absolutely loved the story of Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates. Unfortunately, I found Brian Kilmeade’s narration grating. The reading was not smooth or consistent. Instead, I found it to be choppy. The narration was rapid and emphatic, almost agressive, throughout the entire production. His tone and inflection often did not match the action/inaction of the story. I know this sounds terrible, but listening to Brian read was like listening to that one person in middle school who was so bad at reading that when he was called on to read a passage out loud in English class, every student groaned under their breath.
I will not purchase another audible production narrated by Brian Kilmeade. If his other books are as well-written and captivating as this story was, he really should splurge on a professional narrator. Until he does, I’ll have to pass on any of his other, or future, Audible books.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Ken Larsen
- 12-05-15
Riveting
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would and I have . . . history recounted in an intriguing way.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates?
How Jefferson refused to follow France and England's example of appeasing the Ottoman Empire by paying huge ransoms for safe passage and instead stood up to the most powerful force on earth . . . and won!
What about Brian Kilmeade’s performance did you like?
Passionate . . . inspiring!
It was less of a reading and more of someone telling a story. Great job.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
TJ gives birth to the purely American quality of standing up against bullies . . . no matter the odds.
Any additional comments?
Kilmeade and Yeager do it again!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Timothy A. Fisher
- 02-08-17
Great story. Poorly read
The authors speech pattern is one of the most annoying I have ever heard. It was almost as if he doesn't recognize the punctuation that I'm sure he wrote within his text. Commas can't be your friend, both in writing and in reading aloud. Too bad.
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- Stephanie L. Usrey
- 04-09-16
Important history every American needs to know!
What did you love best about Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates?
Detailed history of the lives of the American historical figures coming together to deal a huge blow to the progression of Islam. This method worked then, I think it will work now if God gives us the courage and will to fight and His blessing to win.
What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?
Brain Kilmeade reads kinda fast sometimes and it can get annoying where he puts emphasis.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, we listened as a family on a long drive across the country.
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- William Hooper
- 11-23-16
Great Historical Read
This book kept me going. I didn't want to turn it off. It's amazing how politics has remained the same over the years.
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- MDY
- 02-28-16
Great Story! But read way too fast!
I loved the actual story. I knew little about this part of our history so I was quite enlightened by Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates. I listened to it twice so I could assimilate the information better. My only complaint is the narrator read too quickly. He gave new meaning to the "New York Minute". Even so, I feel it would be a worthy listen despite of the quick reading by the narrator.
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- S-Gee
- 11-30-16
Wonderfully written...
This historical account is indeed written as a fast-paced thriller! Unfortunately it is read by Mr. Kilmeade in a fast-paced manner that does make it difficult to follow in the audio version by myself and my husband. Fortunately We were given a paper back copy with which we were able to read, study the maps and enjoy the illustrations!
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- James
- 01-02-17
Brian, stick to your day job
A compelling bit of history that is instructive for the situation the civilized world finds itself in today. However, Brian Kilmeade's narration was way too rushed for my ears. This works on Fox & Friends when time is constrained, but I prefer a little more relaxed pace when listening to a book. He sounds Iike he's rushing through chapters so he can take a bathroom break!
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- Mary Jane Hicks
- 01-05-18
Could not put it down!
Great story; compelling story telling! History comes alive with the telling! Thank you! Thank you!
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