About book Seafaring Women: Adventures Of Pirate Queens, Female Stowaways & Sailors' Wives (2002)
This is a very dense book on the history of women and their connection with the sea. It's a pretty thorough book, covering a lot of angles- not just on the many roles of women but on the background and history. Those interested in maritime history would do well to include this book on their shelf. The stories of the women themselves cover a vast range. There are the heroes, such as Grace Darling, who, along with her father, a lighthouse keeper, rescued the passengers from the wrecked steam paddler Forfashire during a wicked storm; and Mary Patten, whose skill at navigation helped her take charge of her husband's ship, Neptune's Car, when her husband fell gravely ill. Then there are stories of women who disguised themselves and men and served on military ships, such as Hannah Snell and Mary Anne Talbot. There are stories of sailors' wives, sailors' mistresses and the "women of the evening" who made successful careers with sailors. Of course no book on women and the sea would be complete without some mention of notorious female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. The book has a nice glossary of terms in the back, as well as an index for quick referencing. But it does assume a certain level of nautical history and know-how (it mentions the Cutty Sark and Mutiny on the Bounty, although the latter is explained in another part of the book, after it is mentioned, for example). There also is, in the middle section of the book, several illustrations and portraits that are referenced throughout the book (I guess my one nit is I wish the pictures would have been placed near where they are referenced, or with the chapters where the people portrayed are discussed.)This would be good for older teens and adults. One, as I said, this is a pretty dense book. Also, while it's not overly graphic, the author doesn't mince descriptions on the hard lives of the sailors, including some of the gruesome diseases they could catch, the injuries they could sustain and the horrific punishments meted out to rule-breakers.
After reading several HRs that center around pirates or naval themes, I wanted to know more about what really happened on the high seas in the late 1700s through to mid 1800s. Were women common on board naval or merchant vessels? What was life like for them? Were there any female pirates? Were there any female sailors and, if so, how did they manage to keep their gender a secret?Well, this book answered all these questions and more. It explained the differences in naval ranks, what conditions were like on-board and whether and when women were allowed on board, as well as where the phrase "son of a gun" comes from. It is packed full of details, histories and anecdotes, but is a fascinating and entertaining read, not a heavy tome at all, and does not sit in judgement of the people included, but just presents the facts and some very succinct analysis. It's given me a whole new appreciation for the detail and research behind some of my favorite HRs, like Carla Kelly's Channel Fleet series, which are very accurate both in detail and tone, and left me astounded at the courage and determination of some of these amazing (real) women.
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Cordingly is strongest when he's using and retelling stories from primary sources, unfortunately this leaves lots of unanswered questions about what was really going on when primary sources are unreliable (especially printed biographies, memoirs, newspaper accounts, etc.). Cordingly points out where things are likely exaggerations (even in the 18th/19th centuries sex sold...), but is weak on trying to offer alternative accounts. If you're an academic looking for some juicy topics to dig into, this would be a good place to start.
—Richard
I read this book under its original title "Women Sailors and Sailors' Women" (which I guess wasn't piratey enough for our Johnny Depp loving public - Oh well). I learned much from this book, and if I weren't in such a hurry to go find more books, I'd probably write it all down in a nicely outlined, formal report.Anyhoo. This book is well written and well researched. Although Cordingly can occasionally get lost in his facts and come across rather dry, his information on seafaring women is so interesting it never stays that way for long. Recommended for readers who want more to the "pirate story" than what Hollywood can give.
—Jodotha
There's a lot that's interesting here, and it's hard to imagine a better book for anyone who wants to learn more about sailing and sailors, especially women. You'll get the gamut here. Everything from prostitutes and sailor's wives to women who disguised themselves as men and went to war, sometimes even getting pensions from the government for their service after they returned home and revealed their sex. There are also chapters on mermaids and sirens, lighthouse keepers, and pirates. If it involves women and the sea, there's at least a mention. It's a specialized history, and it does a great job of maintaining focus, so I'd only recommend to those with an interest in the sea and women's history.
—Meagan
