Pirates & Privateers: Richard Hamilton's Books

The pirates hope the spotted prize will change their miserable luck and bring them good fortune. When they board the ship, they discover that other pirates have already plundered her. Everything is gone except a baby and a small chest. Normally, pirates will have nothing to do with a baby, but their captain decides that if the chest contains treasure, they will adopt the lad and raise him to be just like them -- a mean and rotten pirate.

Needless to say the chest does contain treasure, so the pirates take it and the baby back to their ship. Only then do they discover that the lad is a girl! Now females are bad luck aboard ships, as any pirate well knows, but a promise is a promise. They name her Violet, Vile for short, and teach her everything a pirate needs to know: the parts of the ship, finding her sea legs, the daily routine, how to use a knife, how to sail, and when to drink tea.

Vile brings the pirates luck and over the years everything goes well until she discovers a new treasure: books! Corky the cook teaches her to read and soon she begins to wonder what it's like to live ashore. Knowing the dangers that await them on land, the pirates are reluctant to grant Vile's wish, but she's brought them luck in the past and perhaps that streak will continue.

Although this book of twelve chapters is written for children, anyone will delight in reading it. Humor abounds throughout. Adults may figure out the ending, but that doesn't detract from the story. The piratical aspects of the story are based on facts, making the adventure believable. All who read Vile's tale will finish the book with a smile on their face -- guaranteed!