THE BLACKBIRDER

Thomas Marlowe, former pirate turned respected plantation owner, must capture his former slave, King James, who has killed a slave trading captain (blackbirder), released his captives, and sailed back to Africa. As the two tack east, Marlowe’s wife, Elizabeth, must fight for the survival of their freed blacks against their enemy, Dunmore, who insists all blacks be slaves. Adventures on the high seas are interspersed with those on dry land with never a dull moment. Wale creates interesting accents for 1600s Virginians and carefully enunciated African accents. Evenly paced plots flow with the steady cadence of Wale’s narration and his command of technical sailing terms. The action doesn’t stop and neither do the sailing winds as Nelson brings the by-gone days of pirates and privateers to life. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]