Empire of Blue Water

The pirates of the Caribbean made history in those waters as Spain, England, and Portugal fought to control the islands and their commerce in the 1700s. True tales of pitched battles with outlaws trying capture ships filled with gold, silver, and jewels make for as much excitement as any novel or Disney movie. Listeners will find two pleasures in John Mayer's performance. First, his relaxed pace allows one to absorb the details in a story rich with history, and second, his avuncular voice builds an enjoyable atmosphere that propels a long audiobook to the last word. Mayer only abandons a normal reading voice to become a little gruff for the bad guys, but the action has enough color to want little more from the narrator. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Starred review from July 30, 2007
Henry Morgan was a Welsh-born sailor who traveled to the Caribbean as a privateer—a “licensed marauder of the sea”—on behalf of the British Empire. But before his career was over, he had become one of the most notorious pirates ever to sail the Spanish Main. Talty focuses the story on Morgan's most exciting exploits, including the tale of what is perhaps Morgan's most infamous act: the unauthorized sacking of Panama. Mayer reads in a rich, resonant voice; it's perfectly suited to the grim and gritty subject matter, and would not be out of place narrating a History Channel documentary. The abridgment is flawless; the listener would never know this production was abridged if not for the cover copy. The only legitimate complaint to make is that this audio was abridged at all—Mayer and Talty could have kept listeners enthralled for an audiobook at twice the length. Filled with riveting and astonishing details, this audio satisfies on every level, sure to please not only serious scholars but casual fans of pirate lore as well. Simultaneous release with the Crown hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 5).