An outstanding tale of an individual that history has mis-judged. Was Kidd the fearsome pirate that history has painted him, or was he wrongfully accused by England and punished to keep him quiet and be a scapegoat? The author makes good points about his life and from the book, you can feel that he was wronged. A great tale!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an interesting and insightful book about Capt. Kidd written by one of his descendants. I think when we think of pirates, we think of rough seamen only looking for treasure and to overtake ships in the area they’re in. Some captains had the backing of countries and felt like they could do as they pleased. The author was very thorough and I learned some interesting facts about Captain Kidd.

From "privateer" (government-endorsed pirate) to "pirate" (privateer who pissed someone powerful off), Captain Kidd really comes alive in his ninth(!)-great-grandson's retelling of his biography. It's quite a tale indeed. Even sticking to well-attested facts in court records and sources of like stature, it reads like a novel.

That is not an indictment of the author's veracity but a comment on his story's narrative flow. The endnotes, hugely extensive, are not included in the ebook. They are redirected to the publisher's website via a link or a QR code, both of which I followed to be sure they went where I expected them to go. I'm mildly disgruntled by this.It is a decision that, I suppose, stems from the publisher's presumption that most people don't give a toss about endnotes, so why not...what? does it cost less to do it this way? is the same thing done in the print book?...anyway, it cost the book a star.

While the horror of what happened to Kidd was in no way acceptable to modern eyes, neither were his actions. A privateer might be commissioned by the government of the day to do damage to others' economic well-being, that kind of mercenary fig-leaf is seen in today's world as dishonest whole and entire. It still happens, especially where official government involvement in an activity would cause major PR problems (as ICE is demonstrating very capably right now), but we can ignore it until someone gets pissed off who has the power to make the one they're mad at suffer the consequences widely spreadable.

Any of this ringing some bells?

Kidd's execution was awful to read about, again because the author's storytelling chops are very much on display. It is amazing how much documentary evidence, anecdotal or not, still exists about Kidd. Author Marquis has, I am morally certain, clapped eyes on every single extant source for this grisly tale. It is a feat that took decades, and determination far greater than the ordinary, to accomplish. That he is a descendant of the man unjustly accused, and hanged—twice!—no doubt turbocharged his natural-to-writers research skills. What made it fun to read was both the subject matter...what little boy, however old he may be, isn't delighted by a pirate story?...and knowing while reading it that the author's telling a true family tale.

Maps, and notes, added to the text and I'd be warbling my fool lungs out about the story. as it is, I/ recommend you procure one if you're a superannuated pirate-loving kid like me, or if your dad/grandpa is, or if you're in the market for a story of government-by-grumpiness story to make today feel a tiny bit less unprecedented.

You might not feel better but knowing it's happened before has much to teach us.

Captain Kidd is someone I've heard legends about from the time I was very young. I first heard his name in a Trixie Belden book I read when I was in first grade, and my fascination with his story--and those of other pirates--grew from there.

As an adult, I've used critical literacy lenses to examine various texts and stories that I've heard from history. I have learned about numerous people from history who were different from what I was taught. People have many sides to them and thus others view them differently. However, sometimes people are vilified not for their own character, words, or actions, but due to someone else's desire to write them as the "bad person." It can be for personal or political reasons, and unfortunately, sometimes that is the story told.

Captain Kidd is someone who is more complex that typically shared in the legends and other stories about him. This book, written by a descendent, provides an insightful look into the man behind the myths. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

I grew up loving swashbuckling movies, and that led to an interest in learning about real pirates and privateers. One person I did not know much about was Captain William Kidd. In "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal", Samuel Marquis brings the captain's story to life. It's clear he did a great deal of research about Kidd's life and activities, but this is no dry history book. Marquis creates vivid word-pictures of scenes and situations involving Captain Kidd and the people he knew.

Marquis provides context about political and socioeconomic conditions of the time, in between describing bloody battles on the high seas and on land. He relies heavily on historical accounts of everything from how people looked to the weather on the day of a battle. As a journalist and genealogist myself, I appreciate how he couches what he doesn't know with careful word selection, like "he may have seen."

"Captain Kidd" is both riveting and detailed, a must-read for anyone who wants to know true stories about real pirates, as well as fans of historical non-fiction.

I received an advance reading copy through NetGalley; thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Was Captain Kidd a pirate hunter or notorious outlaw? This biography reveals the truth behind the legend, exposing the political conspiracy that transformed a respected privateer into a scapegoat. A fascinating story for history afficionados, the book is engrossing and immersive, bringing the challenges faced by a privateer captain to life.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Very well-written, with lots of page turning action and adventure. Written by one of Kidd's descendants, I feel there might be a bit of bias, but overall an excellent book for newcomers and seasoned scholars alike.

The title and the description compelled me to read Samuel Marquis' Captain Kidd. I am fascinated with shipping narratives because there is a plethora of knowledge to learn. Marquis is a descendent (ninth great grandson) of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd. Marquis purposes to change the rhetoric of Kidd from pirate to hero who endured horrible British propaganda. Before Marquis begins his novel long argument, he provides an extensive glossary of historic names, places, and battles. I appreciate this addition because the reader can easily reference it for clarification during Marquis' narrative. Marquis provides readers with his extensive research. A complete Kidd history is provided: noting romantic interests, expeditions, battles, and injuries. To separate Kidd's name from pirate and establish him as a noteworthy British gentleman, Marquis discusses Kidd's attention to remaining law-abiding. Kidd obtained "letters of marque," which legally permitted him to target enemy ships or pirate ships. The plunder would benefit The Crown, of course, and some monies were given to Kidd to cover expenses and pay his crew. Marquis also discusses the origins of Kidd's falling into political trouble. A British war captain known as Wrong-Way-Warren tried to steal Kidd's crew, thus Kidd fled away from the pursuing captain in order to save his men. There are additional pieces of evidence that Marquis introduces into his argument. Marquis provides a strong argument to remove the derogatory rhetoric from Kidd's reputation. Is Kidd a pirate, a hero, or a combination of both? These are the questions that I am continuing to ask myself.

Thank you to #SamuelMarquis, #DiversionBooks, and #NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. #CaptainKidd was a pleasure to read.