A True Account: A Radio 2 Book Club Pick for Autumn 2023!

(Paperback, MMP)

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Description

In Boston, as the Golden Age of Piracy comes to a bloody close, Hannah Masury bound into service at a waterfront inn since childhood is ready to take her life into her own hands. WhenWilliam Flyis hanged for piracy in the town square, the teenage Hannah is watching. Forced to flee for her life, Hannah disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins the pitiless crew of another notorious real-life pirate, Edward "Ned" Low. To earn her freedom and finally change the tide of her own future, Hannah must hunt downWilliam Fly's lost treasure. Meanwhile in 1930, Professor Marian Beresford pieces this bewitching story together, seeing her own lack of freedom reflected back at her as she watches Hannah's transformation. At the centre of Hannah Masurys account,however, lies a centuries-old mystery that Marian is determined to solve. It soon becomes clear that Hannah was once just as determined to take this secret to her grave. A True Accounttells the unforgettable, interleaved stories of two women in different worlds, both shattering the rules of their own society, both daring to risk everything to goforge their own adventure.

Reviews

'An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns.I really could not put it down.'Celia Rees, author of Pirates!

'Astory of seafaring derring-do with a wonderful twist.'Mail on Sunday

'Dazzlingly fun historical fiction...A wild voyage of satisfying twists and an even more satisfying ending.'Independent

'Irresistible... A breathless adventure that will stay with you long after the final page has been read.'Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read

'A feast for the sea-loving senses... Thisis more than just a pirate's tale: it's a story of abandoning convention in favour of self-discovery and exploring the sort of freedoms only the sea can offer.'Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary

'A wild ride. I loved this book.'Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles

'A True Account is a compelling tale of pirates, treasure hunting and wild adventure, wonderfully told in vivid detail. Sailing the high seas with Hannah Masury was an absolute thrill!'Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name

'Hannah Masurys pirate tale reads like a fever dream, told in a voice so authentic and with such vivid, authoritative detail, it compels belief that this must indeed be a true account.'Peter Nichols, author of A Voyage for Madmen

'Katherine Howe richly evokes the social world of docks, ships, and seafaring outlaws, producing, in my view, one of the best 'pirate novels' ever written even better than ones by Daniel Defoe!'Marcus Rediker, author of Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age

'Right from the very start of this book, I found myself caught up in Hannah's world. It is so vivid I certainly felt like I'd been on a wild adventure whilst reading it [and] I really enjoyed the ride.' Bookbag

'A fiendish twist pulls its strands apart and braids them back together with the burnished patina of real historic discovery...A True Accountbelongs on the shelf besideTreasure Island.Lit Hub

'A rich and immersive experience... Howe delivers an exciting and thought-provoking exploration of female resilience, challenging societal norms, and the pursuit of freedom. A must-read for those seeking a thrilling adventure.'Nautilus

'A suspenseful, swashbuckling adventure filled with fiendish characters and historical detail.' Library Journal

'Never less than intriguing. One of the real strengths of the novel is the portrait of two complex and powerful women. This is an insightful and thought-provoking feminist retelling of history.' CrimeTime FM

'There is no one I trust more with historical fiction than Katherine Howe, whose work always manages to capture not only the prosaic details of the past, but the lived experience of it [a]swashbucklingstory.' CrimeReads, 'Best Historical Fiction of 2023'

Author Bio

Katherine Howeis the author of the #2 New York Times bestsellerThe Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, as well asThe House of Velvet and Glass.She is widely considered an expert on American colonial life and the Salem Witch Trials, having written both as an academic and a novelist on the subject. She is a lecturer in American Studies at Cornell University. She is also a direct descendant of three of the women accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, one who was hanged and two who survived. Her books have been published around the world in 23 languages to date.