Don’t let the excessively long title of this book turn you off. I promise you that **deep breath** A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself is a GREAT read.
When Kaye Publicity asked me if I’d like an ARC of this Katherine Howe title, I pounced on the opportunity. I adored Howe’s witchy historical fiction novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, and I wasn’t passing up a chance to get my hands of her newest work.
What’s A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself about?
A True Account kicks off with 1700s Hannah, a servant girl who works on the Boston docks, gets mixed up in a spot of murder, then hides on a cargo ship to escape her would-be killers. It’s not until Hannah’s getaway ship sets sail that a mutiny occurs and she finds herself suddenly aboard a pirate ship.
Hannah’s story unfolds through the eyes of the other main character, Marian. This 1930s New England college professor and her assistant discover Hannah’s journal and prepare to set out on a quest after buried pirate treasure.
Hannah and Marian really make you root for them. They’re gutsy, bold, whip-smart, and desperate to find a sense of freedom in a society that pigeonholes them into gender norms. They’re also both masquerading as something they’re not.
In Hannah’s case, it’s a more straightforward case of a girl pretending to be a boy, and a pirate. Marian’s case is a more complicated: she lives her life as a woman, but as one who pursues what would have been deemed “male interests” in the 1930s – adventure, academia, and other women.
Why I loved A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself
I fell in love with A True Account with the very first line of the novel: “I don’t know what made me determined to go to the hanging.”
Boom. I mean, how great is that??? Don’t you have to read more after a sentence like that? Just like with the first line of The Bone Houses, this unique start to A True Account had me hooked. I settled back in my chair and prepared myself for a very great read.
And, Hannah Masury’s (and Marian’s) story delivered. Before reading A True Account, I’d been on a depressingly long streak of DNF books, some of which were so bad, I didn’t even bother writing reviews for them. Howe’s writing was a breath of fresh air. Beautiful and engrossing, this book’s language, dialogue, and characters bring the 1700s and 1930s time periods vividly to life.
And, for those of you who enjoy pirate talk – Avast, yet mateys; you won’t be disappointed. A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself abounds with it.
I would have made an awful pirate…
Honestly? The one thing I didn’t love about A True Account was, well, the pirates. I’m not a pirate fan; never have been. Reading this book has confirmed why: I have a weak stomach.
Hannah Masury witnesses some gruesome scenes – namely, those involving the pirate Ned Low, who leads the mutiny of Hannah’s getaway ship. What Ned does to that ship’s captain…. *shudder* Howe doesn’t go into excessive, Saw-esque gory detail about this or any of Low’s other antics (thank gawd), but there’s enough mentioned to draw a very clear picture of what’s happening.
A lot of movies and stories tend to glamorize pirate life, but Howe’s book paints what I think is a very real depiction of what might have happened on some (read: many) pirate ships. And, it ain’t all rum and swashbuckling. In fact, the Author’s Note tells us that at least one of the “acts” Ned performs is true to history. Shiver me timbers.
Should you read A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself
Yes, yes, yes, you should read A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself. This is such a great book for historical fiction fans, particularly women-driven historical fiction like The Lost Apothecary and The Hour of the Witch.
Obviously, if you’re a fan of all things pirate, you should read A True Account. And, if you’re a fan of Expedition Unknown, you’ll probably be as excited as I was to see Marian step into the famous NYC Explorer’s Club, which Josh Gates visited a few years back. (Discovery Channel geeks, unite!)
A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe will be available for sale on November 12, 2023 from Henry Holt and Company. Although I received a complimentary advance copy of this book, all opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
