In his Foreword, Milton Meltzer states the obvious: "Many books have been published about pirates. So many that you may wonder why write still another?" The simple answer to this question, is to finally set the record straight. Pirates have been so romanticized over the years in movies, plays, and books, that we all think of them as swashbuckling Erol Flynns, silly and ineffective Captain Hooks, or basically good-hearted Long John Silvers, when in reality they were brutal and vicious, violent and greedy murderers and thieves. Mr Meltzer's well researched, intriguing, and realistic book details the rich history of this dirty business from the ancient Greeks and Vikings to the present. His vivid and engaging text is riveting, and not for the faint of heart, and is complemented by Bruce Waldman's dark and ominous artwork. Perfect for youngsters 12 and older, Piracy & Plunder is enlightening non-fiction at its very best, and an absorbing and fascinating book that definitely shouldn't be missed.

I read Mr. Waldman's book for a book critique in my Tudor and Stuart England class. I found his book to be very informative about basic facts. He describes Mary as a devout Catholic who is shunned by her father Henry VIII, when she refuses to acknowledge him as the head of the church. She also was willing to face execution for her disobedience (but later obeyed him, partly because she was no longer sure her convictions were right). He also portrays Anne Boleyn as the wicked stepmother who hated Mary because of Henry's fondness of her, despite his shunning of her until she acknowledged him as the head of the church. Waldman's book primarily focuses on Mary's childhood and early years. He even says that Mary was quite fond of Elizabeth, despite their later problems. Mr. Waldman briefly talks about her marriage to Philip, whom she loved dearly. He, in turn, did not love Mary very much and this caused her great pain, especially after she failed to produce a child. Overall, Waldman's book offers a view not widely taken of Mary -- that of a sympathetic character, who did what she did out of what she thought was right. Although, not complete in the history of her life, I recommend reading it in order to balance out other more critical reviews of her life. The book is an easy read and is quite interesting and overall helps the reader understand Mary's life and actions much better.