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The Prince of Pirates: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Lots O'Loot
A historical fiction novel based on events from the life of Black Sam Bellamy.
Available on eBook April 17, 2024
Paperback and Hardback May 7, 2024
"Casteele spins a rousing debut tale about the infamous Prince of Pirates, Samuel Bellamy, narrated by a seasoned seaman named Loyd, speaking to his curious grandchildren, Clarissa and Charlie, as a tempest brews over present-day Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Drawing heavily from historical accounts, Casteele humanizes the legendary figure of Sam—from his tragic birth and his mother's subsequent death, his mischievous escapades with his ragtag crew of friends, The Scalawags, to his passionate love affair with the unconventional Maria Hallet, and his rise as the wealthiest pirate in the Golden Age of Piracy after a 12-year stint in the navy.
Brimming with energy and thrilling depiction of pirate life—racing with ships, battling storms, smuggling furs, linen, silver, gold, and other treasures, posing as faux traders, keelhauling, and enduring the stench of slaver ships—Casteele masterfully portrays the gritty reality of 18th-century naval life, when ships were the arteries for global trade, without romanticizing its unlawful glory. Sam is not ignorant that The Whydah Gally—his most coveted prize to prove himself worthy to Maria and her disapproving Puritan parents—originally served as a human cargo vessel for 600 slaves. Breaking the tradition of ruthless pirates, he treats his crew fairly and without prejudice, earning him the title of an honorable captain.
While the storytelling is slightly unrealistic—compressing a lengthy saga into a single stormy day—its strength lies in its sharp contrast to modern-day living. Readers, alongside Charlie and Clarissa, are transported to a time when families of seamen have no means of communication other than awaiting their return, people are commodified, and uncommon women are branded as witches "in league with the devil" and hanged. Casteele unearths unflinching truths of a bygone age, reminding us of the progress—and the pitfalls—of our own time, all while readers anticipate the curious end of Sam's voyage and his reunion with Maria.
Takeaway: Humanizing tale of history’s wealthiest pirate.
Comparable Titles: Angus Konstam's Blackbeard, Richard Zacks's The Pirate Hunter."
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- BookLife Reviews
Author E. H. Casteele’s The Prince of Pirates: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Lots o'Loot is the kind of pirate tale that makes you want to grab a bottle of rum and set sail—minus the actual danger, of course. The story within a story kicks off with Samuel Bellamy, a former Royal Navy sailor, who lands in America and immediately falls head over heels for Maria Hallett a young woman who’s unfortunately already promised to a rich neighbor. But love doesn’t care about arranged marriages. After a steamy romance that leads to an unplanned pregnancy, Samuel scrambles to find a way to secure the fortune needed to marry Maria. First, he tries to salvage a Spanish shipwreck. It doesn’t work. So, he does what any desperate man would do—he turns to piracy. He tells Maria he’ll be back in six months, but pirate life is very exciting, so he doesn’t show up for over a year. When he finally returns now as pirate Black Samuel Bellamy with his loot and a fancy ship, the Whydah Gally, a storm takes it all away, leaving him missing in action. Did he go down with the ship, or did he sneak off with Maria for a secret happy ending? It’s up to you to decide.
E. H. Casteele’s pirate story checks all the boxes—romance, adventure, a quest for riches, and a mysterious ending. The novel is engaging—a pirate captain trying to get back to the love of his life and the clever narration with the whole story-within-a-story concept breaking up the action just when you need a breather. The characters are very likable—you can’t help but root for Bellamy and his crew. Who doesn’t love a group of misfits sailing the high seas and trying to do the impossible? The author packs the story with lots of adventure, storms, pirate battles, and forbidden love. The colonial English feels authentic but it doesn’t make your brain hurt. For fans of young adult adventures and historical fiction readers, this novel is everything you want in a pirate adventure. Great plot, impressive characters, tons of action, and dialogue that sounds like it belongs in the 1700s with real history woven in. If you’re a fan of The Princess Bride or Pirates of the Caribbean, this book will definitely scratch that adventure itch. This would also make a fantastic audiobook with the right voice actors. I highly recommend this swashbuckling tale."
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- Reviewed By Christina H Benchoff for Readers' Favorite
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
My Story
E. H. Casteele was born and raised on a small farm in White House, Tennessee, and her dream was to travel the world as an award-winning archaeologist after she graduated in 1993. Then reality set in, and she decided to pursue a degree in American History. Always an avid reader, she was a frequent library patron and knew that someday she wanted to see a book she wrote on the shelves! She married her high school sweetheart in 1996, and then he joined the Air Force, where writing was challenging between stations in remote locations and eventually children.
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While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, she obtained her BS in American History/Secondary Social Studies and teaching certification in 2006. Her studies there gave her access to primary and secondary resources and a renewed longing to dig into the past and discover why people made decisions. Charleston was unique and rich in culture and pirate lore! She could take field trips and visit local areas of interest and history to build on her knowledge of the world where the pirates and their crew lived and played.
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Her husband retired from the Air Force in 2018 at their last duty station, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska, and they decided to stay in the frozen north even after their children graduated. Her three cats, two dogs, and multitude of fish keep her company as she writes in a remarkable and beautiful environment!
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