About the Author

Barbara McLennan has published eight books and numerous magazine and journal articles on various political, economic, and historical subjects. For two years she contributed columns and articles on local customs and local history to NorthernNeck.com, a local online newspaper serving the Rappahannock region of Virginia. Holding both Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and J.D. (Georgetown) degrees, Barbara McLennan is a former professor, association executive and high level official in the United States Departments of Commerce and Treasury. Over the last several years, she has served as docent at Jamestown Settlement, the living history museum that commemorates the founding of the first English speaking settlement in North America, and at Historic Jamestown, the site of the original fort and an archaeological dig. She also has assisted the historian in preparation for exhibits at the new museum of the American Revolution at Yorktown. Since moving to Williamsburg,

Reviews

"What Virginian can resist the story of Blackbeard the pirate? He sailed his mighty fleet of vessels along the Atlantic Coast, sending shivers down the spines of ship captains and crews. Most surrendered when his black skeleton flag came into view, giving up their precious cargo without a fight. This tall, lean man, his pockets full of daggers, knives and guns, wreaked havoc in the early 1700s. This book is his story, along with an illustrious history of Virginia and other American colonies between 1710 and 1722. Blackbeard, better known as Captain Thatch, commanded a 300-ton frigate called Queen Anne's Revenge with power and grace. The ship was built by the Dutch and sailed by the French until Blackbeard seized her and her 40 cannons. She had been a slave ship, but Blackbeard freed the slaves as he always did. She was now part of his 30 ships manned by more than 300 crew. He spied a small ship in the distance. He orders the flag raised and a warning shot to be fired. The ship tilts, rights itself, the crew screams for mercy and is taken by Blackbeard. The small ship, the Betty, belonged to Sarah Blair of Williamsburg. Will he have to make amends to her for sinking her ship? This fiction novel is full of historical characters such as Alexander Spotswood, who arrived to govern Virginia in 1710. He saw himself as the king of a new territory. There is Reverend Blair, husband of Sarah and the president of William and Mary College; Robert Carter, who was known as King Carter; and Benjamin Harrison, who was a member of the Governor's Council. This book is the continuing story that began with two previous books by the author, Barbara N. McLennan. "The Wealth of Jamestown" and "The Wealth of Virginia" began the story of the settlement of Jamestown and Williamsburg. These three books discuss international trade, which began when the colonies were first settled. Blackbeard was part of this trade, which was based on the free flow of goods across international waters, making the new colonies economically sound. McLennan has published seven books, as well as many magazine and journal articles on politics, economics and historical events. She is currently the docent at Jamestown Settlement and a Williamsburg resident." Vicky Coiner, #HRBooks contributor, Daily Press , June 22, 2017, Copyright © 2017

"Its not often you get to re-live a childhood fantasy and learn something new and exciting at the same time. But Barbara McLennan's Blackbeard's Legacy allows you to do just that! Her third in a series of critically acclaimed historical novels takes us once again into the drama-filled world of early Virginia and rivets us there with engaging facts and colorful dialogue, but this time riding the waves with Blackbeard. Who among us as a child hadn't fashioned themselves a pirate and sailed the bounding main in search of gold? Blackbeard's Legacy is a chance to do it again, only this time with an adult's appreciation of a great story, well told! It was always with a tinge of sheepishness that I played the role of Blackbeard in childhood games because of the myth of him as a scoundrel and a rogue. What we learn in this exciting new telling of his bigger than life story is that Blackbeard is also a consummate entrepreneur and international trader who amassed a fleet of forty ships, and figuratively "crossed swords" with the leading bankers, politicians and judges of his day. McLennan must have had fun writing about Blackbeard because it shines through on every page. Sign on as a hand on the Queen Anne's Revenge, and sail through an exciting trip with this pirate of fame and fortune. It won't make you a kid again, but it's the next best thing!" Dr. Rick Oliver, President, American Sentinal University