Captain Henry Morgan's capture of the city of Panamá in 1671 is seen as one of the most audacious military operations in history. Social and maritime historian Earle retells the story, combining thorough research with an emphasis on the battles that made Morgan a pirate legend. Morgan's raid was the last in a series of brutal attacks on Spanish possesions in the Caribbean, all sanctioned by the British crown. Earle recounts the five violent years leading up to the raid, then delivers a detailed account of Morgan's march across enemy territory, as his soldiers contended with hunger, tropical diseases, and possible ambushes from locals. The book also covers the alarmed reactions of diplomats and statesmen in Madrid and London. While Morgan and his men were laying siege to Panamá , the simmering hostilities between the two nations resulted in vicious political infighting that rivaled the military battles in intensity.--From publisher description.

First published in Great Britain by Jill Norman & Hobhouse Ltd. in 1981.