This is the best cover of Daniel Boyd’s books! And, Hamlet Among the Pirates may be the funniest of Boyd’s books! As most of you know, Daniel Boyd (aka, Dan Stumpf) is a Hamlet scholar so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a novel about Hamlet–and, of course, pirates–would finally appear.
Snarky Captain Jacobs Hooke, Master of the Dread Pirate Frigate DEBACLE, hopes to ransom the Melancholy Dane Prince, but circumstances intervene.
Here’s a heart-to-heart chat between Captain Hooke and Hamlet:
Hamlet announces: “I am to requite mine enemies, take the throne that is my birthright, reward loyal friends, and thence face myself unto Ophelia and e’en her brother Laertres, taking their just hatred and merciful love in equal measure, to such end as God will.”
Captain Hooke responds: “You mean to have it out with King Claudius and his armed guards, palace spies, a distraught woman and her umbrage brother, and no telling what all else? By yourself?”
“It is my duty and perforce my fate.”
“Perforce your kick in the arse,” I counseled gently, “You’ll get yourself quickly deceased with a plan like that.” (p. 121)
If your fictional tastes run to swordfights, sea battles, a ship full of strumpets, wacky literary allusions, and wild adventures, Hamlet Among the Pirates delivers that fun, frivolity, and foolery! GRADE: B+
Sounds good. I’ve enjoyed all of Dan’s books that I’ve read so far – I’m a couple behind. I bet Bill Crider would have loved this one, what with HAMLET and pirates.
OK, got it. I particularly enjoyed the customer review on AMazon: “More laughs than MACBETH, more pirates than ROMEO AND JULIET.”
Jeff, very funny blurb! I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Dan ghosted that comment!
Jeff, Bill Crider loved pirates and was fond of HAMLET. But he considered KING LEAR to be Shakespeare’s greatest play.
George, you’re nearly right. A long-time friend of mine did that review.
By the way, if anyone else here wants to post on Amazon…..
Dan, congratulate your friend on that clever AMAZON review! Brilliant!
All news to me, and welcome news.
Todd, every time a new Daniel Boyd book shows up, it’s a time to celebrate!