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The Pirate's Daughter: A Novel |  | Author: Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $0.01
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Seller: your_online_bookstore
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 121800
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0812979427
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780812979428
ASIN: 0812979427
Publication Date: August 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
WINNER OF THE ESSENCE LITERARY AWARD IN FICTION
In 1946, Hollywood’s most famous swashbuckler, Errol Flynn, arrived in Jamaica in a storm-ravaged boat. After a long and celebrated career on the silver screen, Flynn spent the last years of his life on a small island off the Jamaican coast, where he fell in love with the people, the paradisiacal setting, and the privacy, and brought a touch of Tinseltown glamour to the West Indian community.
Based on those years, The Pirate’s Daughter imagines an affair between the aging matinee star and Ida, a beautiful local girl. Flynn’s affections are unpredictable but that doesn’t stop Ida from dreaming of a life with him, especially after the birth of their daughter, May.
Margaret Cezair-Thompson weaves stories of mothers and daughters, fathers and lovers, country and kin, into this compelling, dual-generational coming-of-age tale of two women struggling to find their way in a nation wrestling with its own independence.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
 Read this charming family saga!! October 27, 2009
Josie Jean (Maplewood, MN USA)
In 1946, one of Hollywood's legendary screen idols, Errol Flynn, built a lavish home on Navy Island, off the coast of Jamaica. In this island paradise, he entertained a host of glamorous Hollywood celebrities and distinguished authors. Here he found a safe haven for the final years of his life. Around this true fact, Jamaican author Margaret Cezair-Thompson has brilliantly created a mesmerizing fictional tale. It tells the story of teenage Ida, a mixed race local beauty, whose brief affair with Flynn results in pregnancy. He hastily flees, leaving Ida penniless. She valiantly strives to raise her daughter, May. While working in New York to earn money for her father's and daughter's care, the tale subtly moves from the story of Ida to the story of May. Meanwhile, Jamaica enters a period of great political unrest, with class and race tensions. Its violent struggle for independence is seen through the eyes of May, as she struggles to find a sense of belonging.
Ms. Cezair-Thompson has beautifully created a truly intriguing storyline with a cast of captivating characters. Actual historic events have been skillfully woven into their lives. Her magnificent writing evokes all the beauty and essence of this tropical paradise and magically brings Jamaica to life. Her lovely and vivid descriptions are utterly breathtaking. In addition, I learned much about the island's fascinating history, culture and its people. I feel completely enchanted by this alluring tropical island! I absolutely loved this engaging, imaginative book and I strongly recommend it!
treated w/ intelligence October 21, 2009
Receptive Reader (CT, USA)
I just love it when an author treats the reader with intelligencet! This book is nothing I thought it would be.
The character descriptions are so thorough that you easily get to know even minor players. So thorough we are convinced who is who and how they are. Then, the end and BAM! Fantastic twist!
I could see that Errol Flynn was May's father but not a real pirate; Karl was a "pirate" but not May's real father. Karl even hunts "treasure". It gave a whole new angle to the story of relationships between May and her various parental figures.
And, this is a serious story of family relationships; birth family, 'family of choice', familes created by choice. It's a thought-full book. It will make a terrific discussion book.
Thoroughly enjoyable, moving and smart novel. December 8, 2008
M.S. Berry (L.A)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's hard to find these three qualities in one novel: enjoyable, moving and smart. "The Pirate's Daughter" is so engaging I never wanted to put it down, and I never wanted it to end. I was pulled into the tropical setting and the multi-national characters' lives, characters who are complex and believable --neither completely evil or good. The writing is lovely with a lot of attention to details. I learned a lot about Jamaica and its history after reading this. This novel was read by my book group, all women, but it's a fascinating book for male readers too. The male characters are strong, captivating characters. The author's portrayal of Errol Flynn, for instance, is psychologically complex and gives a human side to a man few knew beyond his swashbuckling image. I gave the novel to my brother who usually only reads non-fiction and he was pleasantly surprised especially at how the author brought out issues of race and mixed-race without being heavy-handed. Don't let the title fool you: it's not really about pirates. It's everything you want in a good read: family saga, history, escape, and an enchanting prose style. I recommend this especially as a great vacation book.
 a wonderful read November 19, 2008
Ena A. Harris (New Jersey, USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this author's first novel, The True History of Paradise, and loved it. I was not disappointed by her second book. This is a smooth and delightful read, full of historical details amidst rich character development. As a new mother, I found it very refreshing and enjoyed cuddling up in bed and reading it while my baby rested. Cezair-Thompson deserves more attention/recognition. As a scholar of Caribbean literature, I hope to write an academic paper that discusses her use of myth, history, and fiction to address important issues of identity and belonging.
From S. Krishna's Books November 4, 2008
skrishna (http://www.skrishnasbooks.com)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'd heard a lot of really good things about The Pirate's Daughter before finally deciding to give it a try. It was one of those books that didn't really captivate me from the summary, but all of the positive reactions made me want to read it.
I was surprised to find that The Pirate's Daughter was slow; I had some real trouble getting into it for the first 100 pages or so. It wasn't to the point where I wanted to put the book down, but it just wasn't hooking me. Slowly, though, I came to be more and more interested in what was happening to the characters until I found that the book had charmed me through and through. It just took a little bit of patience.
I found May's story, which is told second, much more interesting than Ida's, which is why I think it took me awhile to get into the novel. I was impressed with the seamless transition between the two narratives though. I was reading about Ida, then I was reading about May; the transition was so smooth that my brain didn't really register it. The characters of Ida and May are also well written; however, I feel that the background of May's story is much more interesting than the background of Ida's, which is Errol Flynn.
May's story, on the other hand, interested me more because it was set against the backdrop of political and cultural changes in Jamaica, which was the real allure of the story for me. I don't know much about Jamaica's history, so it was really interesting to read about what was happening politically after Castro's takeover in Cuba, as well as what it was doing to the youth of the nation. As the main characters changed, it was so captivating to read about the slow transformation of Jamaican society along with them. Again, Cezair-Thompson's writing here is seamless; the changes in Jamaican society are so subtle that it takes some time for the reader to understand what exactly is happening. It's wonderfully written and the most interesting part of the story.
I'd recommend The Pirate's Daughter to anyone who likes reading stories about strong women or enjoys reading about other countries and cultures, especially their histories. Though the Errol Flynn storyline is what drew me to the novel in the first place, I feel like it takes a backseat to Ida and May, as well as Jamaica as a whole.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
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