American Literature of the Sea and Great Lakes

THE PIRATE’S DAUGHTER (1997). This modern epic adventure on the high seas tells the story of protagonist Wilson Lander, a man trapped in a directionless existence. Led by tarot cards to a young woman who is a seasoned sailor, he joins her on the maiden voyage of an experimental, high-tech sailboat. Piracy* and intrigue take Lander to Africa, where he becomes embroiled in slavery, war, and gambling and eventually gains selfawareness.

Author Robert Girardi (1961- ) was born in Virginia, grew up in Athens and Paris, and returned to the United States as a teenager with his family. His inspiration for this, his second novel, is his discovery that piracy still plagues the seas today.

Mira Dock