Return to Treasure Island and the Search for Captain Kidd

This is Barry Clifford's narrative of his trip(s) to Ile Saint-Marie off the coast of Madagascar in search of William Kidd's Adventure Galley. It is pretty standard Clifford style based upon his other books. The author jumps back and forth, alternating present day with historical reference in an engaging fashion. The dual narrative maintains a nice sense of suspense, pulling the reader along. The historical elements are well represented with discussion of Kidd and Culliford. The author takes time to support the link to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island from the title. However, the reader soon finds the present day trials and tribulations eclipse the historical and lead to an unsatisfying conclusion that I can only describe as anticlimactic. The book is not a bad read, nor void of merit, but, ultimately, one has to ask whether this particular set of expeditions truly deserved to be written up in book format. Clifford's other book, The Lost Fleet and Expedition Whydah would be better places to start you appreciation of Clifford's work. And, Richard Zacks' Pirate Hunter is a better history of William Kidd's adventures. P-)

This is like getting two books in one! Part of the book tells the fascinating story of Captain Kidd and the other part, the story of Barry Clifford's expediton to Madagascar to recover Kidd's flagship, the Adventure Galley.With the pictures and all, this book is better than TV.