Synopses & Reviews
The history of European Islamic piracy in the 17th Century. From the 16th to the 19th cetury, Moslem Corsairs from the Barbary Coast ravaged European shipping operations and enslaved thousands of unlucky captives. During this period, however, thousands of Europeans also converted to Islam and joined the pirate holy war. Were these men and women the scum of the seas, apostates, traitors--Renegadoes? Or did they abandon and betray Christendom as a praxis of social resistance? The author focuses on the Corsairs' most impressive accomplishment, the establishment of the independent Pirate Republic of Sale, in 17th century Morocco. Corsairs, sufis, pederasts, irresistable Moorish women, slaves, adventurers, Irish rebels, heretical Jews, British spies, and radical working-class heroes all populate this illumination of insurrectionary communities.
Synopsis
Fervent and deep takes on pop music arguing against the culture of alienation and for a meaningful form, arrived at through theory, consciousness, and praxis. By one of music's most ardent thinkers and innovative drummers (Henry Cow, Cassiber). "A stirringly aggressive antidote to contemporary pop cynicism." —Simon Frith
Synopsis
Cultural Writing. From the 16th to the 19th century, Moslem corsairs from the Barbary Coast ravaged European shipping and enslaved thousands, while thousands of Europeans converted to Islam and joined the pirate "holy war". In this book, Wilson focuses on the corsairs' most impressive accomplishment, the 17th century independent Pirate Republic of Sale in Morocco. Here, Wilson explores insurrectionary communities through the characters of a diverse population; characters including corsairs, slaves, adventurers, Irish rebels, heretical Jews, British spies, "irresistible" Moorish women, and even a Moorish pirate in old New York. Through these characters, "Wilson shows why we cherish pirates - and why, for the sake of the future, we must continue to do so" - Marcus Rediker, author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.