Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious F

by Edward Kritzler

Book Overview

At the end of the fifteenth century, the Spanish Inquisition forced many Jews to flee the country. The most adventurous among them took to the high seas as freewheeling outlaws. In ships bearing names... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767919521
• ISBN13: 9780767919524
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom--and RevengeThis was the most amazing book detailing a piece of history that is mostly skipped in the history books. We always hear that the Jews were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition but we rarely hear what happened to them. This is that story. There are a lot of dates given at the beginning, but if you don't get bogged down in them (there is a chronology of dates and events in the back of the book as well as a chapter summary at the end of each chapter), the story is fascinating!!

Who Knew?

I really enjoyed this book. I have read many histories of the period (16th and 17th centuries), and the Jews generally get an historical footnote, if anything at all. What fun to read this previously unknown history of an important period in the development of Jewish identify and independence, and how the actions of a significant group of heroic Jews eventually led to full acceptance and legal recognition of the Jewish people in both the old and new worlds. Of course, it's a source of pride to learn of the important role my fellow religionists played in the development of the western hemisphere's culture and economy. You don't learn this stuff in school, and every person of a particular ethnic persuasion looks for "heroes" to look up to. So this was not only an informative and fun read, but has contributed to my sense of ethnic pride.

Passionate and new

The writing style for this book perfectly matches the topic. It is clear bold direct simple and modest, with a hidden passion. The excitement comes because the author knows and so does the reader, that this is all secret buried history, coming to light for the first time in this book. It is what makes it breathtaking

Great Book, one I actually lived through...

I can't believe how great is Ed Kritzler's book. Why you wonder? Reader, I married him long ago. He worked so hard on this book and it's wonderful, readable, a must for anyone interested in Jewish history. As his ex-wife you might find it strange that I think so highly of it. But Eddie, as we call him, deserves every bit of praise he is getting. Because do you know anyone who worked over 25 years on a book? I don't! And the result? He's got a winner and his daughter Eliza and I couldn't be more proud of this book, if he won a Pulitzer. Now, there's an idea! Thanks Eddie for never never giving up. Wendy

Informative and entertaining

One couldn't ask for a more fascinating read. This book is clearly a labor of deep research and, no doubt, love of the subject.