The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found

The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found

by Martin W. Sandler

Narrated by Jeff Cummings

Unabridged — 3 hours, 22 minutes

The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found

The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found

by Martin W. Sandler

Narrated by Jeff Cummings

Unabridged — 3 hours, 22 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

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Overview

A 2018 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist

The exciting true story of the captaincy, wreck, and discovery of the Whydah — the only pirate ship ever found — and the incredible mysteries it revealed.

The 1650s to the 1730s marked the golden age of piracy, when fearsome pirates like Blackbeard ruled the waves, seeking not only treasure but also large and fast ships to carry it. The Whydah was just such a ship, built to ply the Triangular Trade route, which it did until one of the greediest pirates of all, Black Sam Bellamy, commandeered it. Filling the ship to capacity with treasure, Bellamy hoped to retire with his bounty — but in 1717 the ship sank in a storm off Cape Cod. For more than two hundred years, the wreck of the Whydah (and the riches that went down with it) eluded treasure seekers, until the ship was finally found in 1984 by marine archaeologists. The artifacts brought up from the ocean floor are priceless, both in value and in the picture they reveal of life in that much-mythologized era, changing much of what we know about pirates.


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Sandler’s approach to the Whydah and other submerged ships as “sunken time capsules” is an interesting angle that is sure to resonate with aspiring archaeologists. A captivating read on pirates, with insights into contemporary underwater research techniques. Considering the popularity of the subject, this volume will likely not sit on shelves long.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Sandler offers an insightful look at how different the realities of pirate life were compared to how it has been mythologized in popular culture...A fascinating, vivid look at what one shipwreck reveals about the realities of the "Golden Age of Piracy."
—Kirkus Reviews

This book brings to life...The account of the challenges Clifford and his crew had to face to find the Whydah is very thorough.
—School Library Connection

Sandler’s broad research and his evident fascination with the subject result in a multifaceted story that many readers will find rewarding.
—Booklist

Sandler keeps the multiple threads of Whydah’s story running smoothly, even integrating legends about Bellamy and the haunted wreckage seamlessly into the factual information...Weighing in well under two hundred pages, this quick high interest read is an ideal recommendation for kids who “have to read a nonfiction book,” and pirate and archaeology enthusiasts will certainly be thrilled.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Sandler enlivens the historical narrative by fleshing out the biographical details of the cast of characters, sharing (and occasionally debunking) various myths and legends, providing an overview of the relevant social and economic factors of the day, and spotlighting the work of excavating the shipwreck site. Useful photographs, maps, and sidebars are interspersed throughout, while source notes, bibliography, and index are appended.
—The Horn Book

Fast-paced, thorough, and fascinating, this choice is certain to especially hold the interest of any pirate lover and treasure hunter.
—Reading Eagle (from Kendal Rautzhan's "Books to Borrow")

School Library Journal

★ 02/01/2017
Gr 6 Up—Sandler dispels many popular pirate-related myths and offers a more realistic and factual view of the era of piracy in the New World. Instead of living in abject poverty at the mercy of kings and nobles, many men embraced piracy as a means to support their families and live a comfortable life, though one often filled with barbarous acts. The author weaves a fascinating story about piracy and the legendary 18th-century pirate ship Whydah, which sunk off the coast of Cape Cod on April 24, 1717, during a perfect storm. He delves into the fates of the few survivors, early salvage attempts by poor locals and wealthy governors alike, and the long-term work of explorer Barry Clifford to find the sunken ship. In 1985, Clifford and his crew discovered the inscribed galley bell of the Whydah, and for 30 years, divers, marine historians, and archaeologists have continued to retrieve artifacts from the ocean depths. Occasional sidebars on specific topics, such as the mythic origins of the Jolly Roger flag and artifact restoration, break up the narrative flow but do contain valuable information. Sandler's approach to the Whydah and other submerged ships as "sunken time capsules" is an interesting angle that is sure to resonate with aspiring archaeologists. VERDICT A captivating read on pirates, with insights into contemporary underwater research techniques. Considering the popularity of the subject, this volume will likely not sit on shelves long.—Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Jeff Cummings uses a matter-of-fact tone to share the history of The Whydah, a pirate ship that was recovered from the depths of the deep off Cape Cod, where it sank centuries ago. Cummings keeps listeners on edge by maintaining a quick pace while describing the day-to-day operations of the ship, the politics that ruled the sea, and the adventurers who chose this unique way of life. Fun facts and theories about famous symbols such as the Jolly Roger are sprinkled throughout the narrative, adding interest and wonderment that will inspire listeners to learn more. History fans and pirate enthusiasts alike will enjoy hearing the true story of an infamous pirate ship and its crew. M.D. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2016-12-26
Sandler tells the exciting true story of the only wrecked pirate ship ever found and the mysteries it revealed. Commissioned in 1715 in London and christened the Whydah after the West African slave-trading kingdom of Ouidah, the vessel was a galley ship configured as a heavily armed trading and transport ship for the Atlantic slave trade. In February 1717, the Whydah was attacked by pirates under the command of "Black Sam" Bellamy, who made the vessel his flagship. Bellamy and his newly captured ship menaced the coastlines of Colonial America until it was wrecked two months after capture in a nor'easter along the shoals of Cape Cod. The treasure-laden wreck was found in 1984 by marine archaeologists, and Sandler explains that 30 years of expeditions have "resulted in the discovery and retrieval of thousands of artifacts that increase our knowledge of the Whydah's history and dramatically alter our perception of pirates and their way of life." Sandler offers an insightful look at how different the realities of pirate life were compared to how it has been mythologized in popular culture. Instead of finding eye patches, wooden legs, rum bottles, and parrot remains, archaeologists discovered artifacts such as medical syringes, surprising for "an age when medical knowledge and practice were primitive at best." A fascinating, vivid look at what one shipwreck reveals about the realities of the "Golden Age of Piracy." (maps, photos, source notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Product Details

BN ID: 2940172639869
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication date: 03/12/2019
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: 10 - 13 Years
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