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Title: To the Shores of Tripoli
Subtitle: Battles of the Marine Corps, Book 1
Author: Jonathan P. Brazee
Narrator: Kirk Winkler
Format: Unabridged
Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
Language: English
Release date: 04-10-15
Publisher: Jonathan Brazee
Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
The First Barbary War (1801-1805), or "America's first war on terror" as some refer to it, was a pivotal moment in US history. While both the Navy and Marines participated in the quasi-war with France, it was the war with the Barbary pirates that cemented both the Marine Corps and the Navy as the proud organizations that they are today. This was the war that produced heroes such as O'Bannon, Decatur, Preble, Porter, Hull, and Somers.
To the Shores of Tripoli follows three fictional Marine privates as they participate in the watershed moments in the war. Private Seth Crocker is an uneducated, underage Marine who fights from the tops of the USS Enterprise, and in battles such as the Gunboat Battle off the coast of Tripoli. Private Ichabod Cone, a veteran of the Revolution, is part of the crew of the USS Philadelphia when it is captured and spends most of the war as a slave of the pasha. Private Jacob Brissey is one of the seven Marines, under Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, who march 600 miles across the desert against tremendous odds to attack and capture the city of Derne, where, for the first time in history, the US flag is raised over foreign soil.
This book is historical fiction, but the events it describes are historical fact. Most of the characters actually existed and fought in the war. Where possible, their actual words are reproduced here. In all other cases, dialogue and characterizations were born in the author's imagination.
The First Barbary War is considered the birth of the US Navy. It is equally valid to say that the war created the foundation for the Marine Corps as we know it today.
Members Reviews:
Facinating read - I couldn't put this book down.
At 164 pages this is a very quick read and captivated my attention the entire time.
Although I loved it, will read more from Brazee, and gave it 5 Stars, it could easily be improved in a number of ways, all of which I'd be more than happy to help with if the author wants to contact me.
1) More maps. It is a book about military history, which usually involves a lot of troop movement, yet there is only one map in the entire book and it lacks detail. The book mentions tons of cities, boat trips, battles - we military history buffs want more maps so we can better visualize what happened.
2) I know it is second nature to a former Marine Corps Colonel, but for those of us that have not been in the military, it never hurts to explain ranks to us. A simple diagram would go a long ways. (Including the current insignia/patches that go along with these ranks would help too so we start to learn who we are looking at and talking to when we run into modern soldiers.)
3) Same as #2 but this time give us more info about the boats (ya, I call most things that float a "boat" ...just to drive my Navy buddies crazy.) There are several different types discussed - it would be nice to have a diagram, drawing, etc showing what they are, how many people they held, etc.
4) Same as #2 but this time give us some info about the cannons. Different "pounders" are mentioned but without knowing ranges, etc. it is hard to follow why certain boats acted in certain ways.
5) A glossary is always nice in a military history book. This one has none.
6) A brief overview of each of the tribes/sects/etc.
