Nicholas KinseyWhite Slaves: 15 Years a Barbary Slave: The shocking abduction of the citizens of Baltimore, Ireland by the famous Dutch corsair and pirate Murad Reis and the horror of the Barbary slave trade.

More people should know about these events that occurred around our coast

It was OK. I finished the book but overall I found it rather dull.

My wife bought me this book at Christmas and I've found it really interesting especially with it being based on a true story .

Amongst my books that are to be read.

What a fantastic novel, so insightful and informative, historical fiction at its Best!In June of 1631 Corsair pirates raided a Baltimore harbour village in Ireland, kidnapped over a hundred of its men, women and children, then shipped them to Algiers where they were enslaved.Against that shocking and grim factual context, author Nicholas Kinsey has created an enthralling fictional narrative. He has in the process, provided us with a treasure trove of information on the little known slave trade which existed at the time.This remarkable book is smooth flowing, easy to read and brilliantly mixed with the right amount of excitement, truth and fiction, so as to make a dismal historical event and its aftermath easy to absorb. A real eye-opener, it infuses social and cultural dynamics with human, historical, geographic and economical aspects. The events, actions, values and outcomes seem realistic and surmise what the characters’ situations could have been. They are well balanced, complement each other and move the story along to make the read thoroughly energizing.The various settings in this novel are so extraordinarily covered. The 38 day voyage along the Celtic and Atlantic seas, the plunders and escapades alongside the rivers, bays, estuaries, inlets and villages bordering the coasts of France, Spain & Portugal, are so incredibly portrayed. Challenges from formidable sailing vessels and dangers encountered, all these come alive as we move from chapter to chapter.Through fascinating word imagery, we find ourselves immersed in the misery and harsh conditions on deck and in the ship’s hold. We feel the brutality, agony, fear and the myriad of emotions the captives experienced during that horrible journey. The intense manner in which the Pirate Captain dealt with his responsibilities and applied his nautical experience is mind-boggling. Each part of the voyage required skilful and careful planning. Everyone on board had to be fed; order and stability had to be maintained. How all that was accomplished is so dramatically depicted.The indignities which the captives endured after arrival in Algiers, the slave market, the estrangement from their families, the struggles they faced and their resilience, are quite effectively detailed in the second segment of this paperback. Each character’s riveting story is told in dedicated chapters. Using captivating prose, the author has painted for us a compelling picture of the victims’ destinies, fortunes and misfortunes, how they adjusted to their particular circumstances and how they survived during the next 15 years. So amazing to discover what their mindsets and perspectives were thereafter, when ransoms were eventually arranged.Reading this impressive book was an educational experience for me. I learned so much in trying to comprehend the maritime terminology used, the meaning and significance of words like janissary, xebec, polacre and many more. My knowledge and vocabulary have certainly grown and expanded a great deal. Thanks to the author for this outstanding piece of literature.

This book stated facts, I was brain washed previously thinking black people were the only slaves. It made me want to know more about slave history and I found out the truth.