Publisher's Synopsis
The book ""The First Americans In North Africa: William Eaton's Struggle For A Vigorous Policy Against The Barbary Pirates, 1799-1805"" by Louis Booker Wright is a historical account of the United States' efforts to combat piracy in the Mediterranean Sea during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The focus of the book is on William Eaton, a former US consul to Tunis who led a small group of American soldiers and mercenaries on a daring mission to overthrow the ruler of Tripoli and free American hostages held by the Barbary pirates. The book begins with an overview of the history of piracy in the Mediterranean and the United States' early attempts to negotiate with the Barbary states. It then delves into Eaton's background and his efforts to convince President Thomas Jefferson to take a more aggressive stance against the pirates. The bulk of the book is devoted to Eaton's campaign in Tripoli, which involved a grueling trek across the Libyan desert, a failed attempt to capture the city of Derna, and ultimately a successful coup that led to the release of the American hostages.Throughout the book, Wright provides detailed descriptions of the political and military landscape of North Africa at the time, as well as the personalities and motivations of the key players involved. He also explores the broader implications of the US intervention in the region, including its impact on relations with European powers and the growing sense of American exceptionalism. Overall, ""The First Americans In North Africa"" is a fascinating and well-researched account of a little-known chapter in American history, and a testament to the bravery and resourcefulness of William Eaton and his men.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
