Michael Preston

I've read that there's a difference between buccaneer vs pirate vs privateer. But what if someone has been all three?! After serving in the Royal Navy, he made his way to Port Royal, joined loggers in the Bay of Campeachy, survived a hurricane, and joined a group of buccaneers in Hispaniola, all before the age of 30! In 1678 he arrived back in England, married a lady-in-waiting named Judith but set out a year later to seek his fortune. It's not very clear what drove Dampier's wandering ways, but what certainly sets him apart is his skill as a naturalist. He diligently kept a journal and later wrote an autobiography, in which he describes native culture, the weather, animals etc. He was the first to describe an avocado in English! His first circumnavigation began in Virginia with privateer John Cook and ended in England via the Cape of Good Hope. His second from Ireland to Panama and round again from 1704-1707, during which he was arrested as a pirate. Finally, he joined Woodes Rogers, later Gov. of the Bahamas, to Cape Horn to Batavia and back again! His story is incredible! Blackbeard and Kidd have nothing on Dampier!

Honestly there are no complaints for this one. It's a thorough, well constructed biography of William Dampier! Even though Dampier spent a considerable amount of time in South America, I'm glad the author didn't decide to skip any significant portions in the timeline. It's all about the journey you know? Between understandably hostile natives, severe malnutrition and thirst, exhaustion, the Spaniards, and natural dangers, there's not one part that is truly boring. It was fascinating to see Dampier evolve from crewman to navigator to commander!. The authors have an engaging narrative style that isn't simply reciting his memoir, and they didn't romanticize him either. I'll be reading his memoir later and this is a useful guide!… (altro)

I looked for and read this book because I am reading [b:Viet Nam: A History from Earliest Times to the Present|12781033|Viet Nam A History from Earliest Times to the Present|Ben Kiernan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481145095l/12781033._SY75_.jpg|17927532] by [a:Ben Kiernan|34255|Ben Kiernan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]. Reference is made to Dampier and his descriptions of Tonquin (now Viet Nam) and it's people and culture on his visit their in the 1680s. I am also familiar with Dampier from Glyn Williams' excellent book, [b:Naturalists at Sea: Scientific Travellers from Dampier to Darwin|17802943|Naturalists at Sea Scientific Travellers from Dampier to Darwin|Glyn Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1366556143l/17802943._SX50_.jpg|24904614].

This is an excellent biography of Dampier and the authors have really done their homework into his life and experiences.

It is an entertaining and well-written book that I had no hesitation picking up every night. The only reason I did not finish it sooner is because I am splitting my time right now between a couple of 500 page books.… (altro)

A Pirate of Exquisite Mind says it all, Dampier straddled 16th century privateers like Francis Drake, and enlightened explorers of the 18th century like Captain Cook, a bit of both. This book was written by a husband and wife team who travelled the world in his footsteps, it feels like being there in exotic mostly tropical locations with lush descriptions of nature (since hugely degraded). It's hard to recapture the magic of landing on beaches and walking in forests as a European for the first time, the sense of infinite potential opening, but that does come across at times. Dampier live an action-filled life enough for 10 people. Remarkable life, times and book.… (altro)