Lafitte the Pirate

By Lyle Saxon and Lyle Saxton

Book Overview

No fictional swashbuckler could ever rival Jean Lafitte's dramatic life. From his hidden base in the Louisiana swamps at Barataria Bay, Lafitte mounted daring raids on ships in the Gulf of Mexico. His battles with the law were the stuff of legend: when Governor Claiborne of Louisiana offered a reward for the buccaneer's capture, Lafitte responded with a bigger reward for the governor But when the British asked for his help in their invasion of Louisiana during the War of 1812, the pirate instead joined forces with Andrew Jackson to win the Battle of New Orleans. Later, the brigand moved his operation to Galveston and harried Mexican vessels in support of the Texans seeking independence.

Lyle Saxon's superbly written account examines Lafitte's fascinating career, and frees the truth of the pirate's life from the web of fantastic myths which grew up around him. Did Lafitte participate in the French Revolution as a lad? What was his role in the plot to rescue Napoleon from his exile on St. Helena? And where is Lafitte's treasure hidden? Lafitte the Pirate is a classic work which will appeal to both adventure lovers and students of Louisiana history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B001512L6Y
• ISBN13: 9780882893952
• Release Date: April 1989
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Lafitte the Pirate

This is my favorite privateer!! According to the El Lago Historical Society, Lafitte used to come to our neighborhood to hide from our first Navy Ship and/or to repair their ship after a damaging fight. Very interesting character!! Was NOT a pirate actually, but a gentleman privateer and smuggler of goods into LA when the US stopped allowing goods going into LA in hopes that they would buckle down and join the United States. Jean Lafitte was a war hero of The War of 1812 in New Orleans; then the current US Governor of LA following the war thanked them for their service and then immediately arrested as many as possible to hang them as pirates!! That's when Lafitte and what was left of his crew came to Galveston Island, TX. I have seen the remnants of his house's (or should say Fortress?) foundation and it's front steps. The Governor placed a price on Lafitte's head; Lafitte then placed a much higher fee on the Governor's head!! Gotta love him!

A good starting point for Lafitte (Laffite) researchers

Saxon provides an decent overview of the life of Jean Lafitte (somtimes spelled Laffite) that is suitable for siting as a secondary resource of information. Although not a scholarly work in itself, the book should provide a most suitable platform or "guide book" from which more in-depth study can be done. While the author's own research is solid enough, the writing is not hampered by an academic, stiff style and his recounting of this fascinating figue carries merit for the recreational reading of amature history enthusiasts. Of the adult level, book length literature in print on the subject, this work could easily be considered as the cornersone of study for anyone interested in Jean Lafitte.