The Pirate

'The Pirate' is a thrilling adventure novel by Walter Scott. The story takes place on the edge of civilisation in the remote Shetland Isles during the 17th Century as a mysterious man washes up on their secluded shores. The mystery man is rescued by the lovelorn Mordaunt, but they soon become rivals as they vie for the attention of two sisters. It is later revealed that the enigmatic stranger is a pirate captain, and violence ensues as the sisters are taken hostage and Mordaunt must rescue them. 'The Pirate' features some of Scott's finest romantic prose as he vividly depicts the isolation and beauty of the islands north of the Scottish Mainland. There are some gothic elements to the tale as the heroes are aided in their quest to defeat the pirates by the mystical Norna whose poetic dialogue was celebrated at the time of the book's release. Although this is a historical novel the theme of changing culture and fear of societal shifts remains timely. 'The Pirate' is a riveting novel teeming with adventure, danger, and romance that is recommended for fans of historical fiction or adventure stories such as 'The Pirates of the Caribbean'.