The Barbary Pirates

by William Dietrich

Book Overview

"William Dietrich is a born stylist, moving characters around on an historical chessboard with the assured hand of a master novelist firing on all cylinders. Ethan Gage is a wiry, battle-scarred hero,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061567965
• ISBN13: 9780061567964
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Mesmeric!

Through four highly frenetic novels, William Dietrich has breathed into life the magnificent character of Ethan Gage. Ethan is an American adventurer who has befriended both the British and Napoleon's French army to suit whatever particular alliance he needs at the moment while continuing to keep America close to his heart. He is a crazed hybrid of Captain Jack Sparrow and Indiana Jones with the same tendency to get into and out of one hair-raising situation after another. THE BARBARY PIRATES begins in 1802 and finds Ethan amidst a group of famous international savants --- Frenchman Georges Cuvier, a prominent zoologist and paleontologist; Englishman William Smith, the father of English geology; and fellow American Robert Fulton, the tireless inventor of several items, most notably the submarine known as the Nautilus that is put to use during the novel's climax. Ethan begins as merely being their tour guide, but ends up getting them smack in the middle of an international dilemma. Ethan is initially on a mission to protect a U.S. ship from the infamous Barbary Pirates while heading to Paris in an effort to meet with Napoleon and persuade him to accept President Thomas Jefferson's offer in what would come to be known as the Louisiana Purchase. Napoleon seems swayed by Ethan's pitch, but asks a favor in return. Long a student of ancient warfare, Napoleon has heard the tale about the legendary mirror of Archimedes that allegedly burned the Roman fleet during ancient battles and is supposedly hidden on the isle of Thira. Ethan had actually seen the words "Thira" and "Og" written on a piece of foil during his previous adventure, documented in THE DAKOTA CIPHER. Both of these words spark Napoleon's interest and prompt his move to make a deal that will send Ethan and the savants across the Mediterranean in search of Archimedes' mirror. Do Ethan and his group locate the mirror? Yes, but not after a series of chases and traps that find them stranded in an underground series of tunnels that may have been created by the Knights Templar themselves. Notice of their famous discovery travels quickly, and they soon find out that the shipman for hire was actually a member of the infamous Barbary Pirates. To make matters that much worse, this band of Pirates are in league with the evil vixen Aurora Somerset of the Egyptian Rite, who still has a serious score to settle with Ethan following their run-in during THE DAKOTA CIPHER. To further complicate matters, and to assure Ethan's cooperation, Aurora brings forth his long-lost and feared departed love, Astiza. The jaw-dropping moments don't end there as Astiza introduces Ethan to his three-year-old son, Horus. Aurora threatens to throw Astiza into a brothel where she will be forced to live a life of seedy prostitution, and even doubles the threat by indicating that his newly discovered son Horus --- or "Harry," as Ethan calls him --- will be handed over to a group of pederasts who will defile him in unspeakable

The Latest Adventure of an 19th Century American Indiana Jones

Now Ethan Gage is beset by old loves, new loves, Barbary pirates, and Napoleon as he quests for the Mirror of Archimedes.

A thrill ride front to back!

I had my teen son pretty much moaning from happiness reading this book! It is increadibly entertaining, fast pased and well written. I love historical fiction, so maybe I am partial here, but what a great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Captivating Read

Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (03/10) I found "The Barbary Pirates" by William Dietrich to be an attention grabbing tale. This book is the author's most recent work and features Ethan Gage in yet another adventure. I enjoyed the read so much I will be making a point to read more of Dietrich's books in the future. Honestly, I had difficulty setting the book down. When I was sitting in court waiting to find out if I was going to be selected for jury duty I was very thankful to have brought it with me. Ethan Gage, the book's dashing hero, seems to be part ladies man extraordinaire and part unwitting spy. He is forever winding up in the wrong place at the wrong time and in the company of the wrong people. His character reminds me of a humorous mix of an 18th century James Bond meets Mr. Bean meets MacGyver and let's just throw in Captain Jack Sparrow for good measure since some of his adventures happen on the high seas. Gage's usually innocent escapades have a way of landing both himself and his companions in hot water, wherever they travel, and more often than not they barely escape by the seat of their pants. Of course it is never Gage's fault; trouble just seems to follow him around as intently as Wile E. Coyote followed the roadrunner. Like all good heroes Gage must battle countless bad guys. These heinous villains are only concerned with world domination and he must attempt to stay one step ahead of them. This challenge is made even more difficult once he discovers he must also rescue his former lover Astiza and a three-year-old son he never knew he had. "The Barbary Pirates" is an extremely well written book. The story is entertaining and believable since Dietrich seems to recount the historical aspects in it with the same ease and familiarity of someone who had lived and experienced it several hundred years ago. It is a definite "must read" for anyone who enjoys action and adventure stories. I would even go so far as to say I feel Dietrich's work belongs on the shelf right next to Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels. Sit down; prop your feet up and enjoy the read!

A wonderful, rollicking adventure . . .

I'll get right to the point. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is the latest in a series of novels featuring "Ethan Gage" but only the first one I've read. Believe me, I intend to go back and read the entire series. While Gage is a fictional character -- indeed, a fictional protege of Benjamin Franklin, the novel is peopled with real-life characters -- not only political figures like Jefferson and Napoleon, but also historians and scientists as well. The action is non-stop (albeit quite improbable at times -- think "Indiana Jones" at the turn of the 19th century) and the storyline involves a part of history that, frankly, most people know very little about. WHILE DELIBERATELY GIVING NO SPOILERS . . . I will say that the book ended in a most satisfactory way -- and readers of previous "Ethan Gage" novels will, I suspect, not be disappointed. Okay -- maybe this isn't "high literature" -- but it's a ripping good yarn as good as any in the "action/adventure" genre -- and better than most. Highly recommended!