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Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution Audiobook, by Robert H. Patton Play Audiobook Sample

Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution Audiobook

Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution Audiobook, by Robert H. Patton Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Alan Sklar Publisher: Tantor Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: June 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781400176601

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

17

Longest Chapter Length:

51:57 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

03:53 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

36:49 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

1

Publisher Description

They were legalized pirates empowered by the Continental Congress to raid and plunder, at their own considerable risk, as much enemy trade as they could successfully haul back to America's shores. They played a decisive role in America's struggle for independence and later turned their seafaring talents to the slave trade, revealing the conflict between enterprise and morality central to American history.

In Patriot Pirates, Robert H. Patton, the grandson of the battlefield genius of World War II, writes how privateering engaged all levels of Revolutionary life, from the dockyards to the assembly halls; how it gave rise to wild speculation in purchased shares in privateer ventures, enabling sailors to make more money in a month than they might earn in a year; and how privateering created fortunes that survive to this day.

As one naval historian wrote, "The great battles of the American Revolution were fought on land, but independence was won at sea."

Patton writes how, in addition to its strategic and economic importance, privateering played a large political role in the Revolution. For example, Benjamin Franklin, from his diplomatic post in Paris, secretly encouraged skippers to sell their captured goods in French ports—a calculated effort on Franklin's part to break the neutrality agreements between France and Britain, bring the two countries to blows, and take the pressure off American fighters.

This is a sweeping tale of maritime rebel-entrepreneurs bent on personal profit and national freedom.

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"A little hard to read but a very fascinating view on the importance of pirates in the founding of the United States. It shows how many important issues pertaining to freedom were resolved with the aid and help of piracy. Very well worth reading...especially in today's political climate. "

— Robert (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Patton gives an absorbing exhumation of an undersung subject that will be of particular interest to Revolution buffs.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • Alan Sklar narrates with spirit and enthusiasm, bringing alive both the historic conflicts and the political atmosphere of the Revolution.

    — AudioFile
  • “This is a well-written examination of an obscure aspect of American military history.”

    — Booklist

Patriot Pirates Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.0833333333333335 out of 53.0833333333333335 out of 53.0833333333333335 out of 53.0833333333333335 out of 53.0833333333333335 out of 5 (3.08)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 4
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Wow! I never before learned about the Navy during the Revolution--or better yet the that many Patriots were pirates. The line between a Privateer and a pirate is very thin. "

    — Nance, 1/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I learned things about Benjamin Franklin, the Lee family and the Adams family that I never knew. "

    — Teresa, 10/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This may be the driest book with the word "Pirate" in the title that has ever been written. I couldn't finish it. I have read approximately 130 histories/biographies this year and I couldn't make it through half of this. "

    — David, 12/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A little hard to read but a very fascinating view on the importance of pirates in the founding of the United States. It shows how many important issues pertaining to freedom were resolved with the aid and help of piracy. Very well worth reading...especially in today's political climate. "

    — Robert, 9/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good story, not well written. "

    — Ted, 7/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good book about American Privateers in the revolutionary war. The was a little too detail about financial dealings and other side issues but it was still enjoyable. "

    — Joe, 5/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " very good so far about privateers' roles in american revolution "

    — Jim, 3/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A moderately interesting book on the history of privateers during the American Revolution. The chapters relating to Rhode Island were the most interesting to me - especially the burning of the Gaspee! "

    — Colin, 2/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Wow! I never before learned about the Navy during the Revolution--or better yet the that many Patriots were pirates. The line between a Privateer and a pirate is very thin. "

    — Nance, 8/21/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good book about American Privateers in the revolutionary war. The was a little too detail about financial dealings and other side issues but it was still enjoyable. "

    — Joe, 2/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " very good so far about privateers' roles in american revolution "

    — Jim, 9/2/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A moderately interesting book on the history of privateers during the American Revolution. The chapters relating to Rhode Island were the most interesting to me - especially the burning of the Gaspee! "

    — Gaius, 5/31/2008

About Robert H. Patton

Robert H. Patton, the grandson of General George S. Patton, is a novelist living in Darien, Connecticut. His books include The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family, Up, Down and Sideways, and Life Between Wars.

About Alan Sklar

Alan Sklar, a graduate of Dartmouth, has excelled in his career as a freelance voice actor. Named a Best Voice of 2009 by AudioFile magazine, his work has earned him several Earphones Awards, a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award (twice), a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and Audiobook of the Year by ForeWord magazine. He has also narrated thousands of corporate videos for clients such as NASA, Sikorsky Aircraft, IBM, Dannon, Pfizer, AT&T, and SONY.