White Gold: The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and Islam's One Million White Slaves

Milton uses the story of Thomas Pellow, a cabin boy enslaved by Muslims at age 12 and finally returning to Cornwall 23 years later, as a framework overview of the Muslim slave trade - which preyed on European Christians as far away as the coasts of Iceland and Cornwall.

It's an exciting read, a proverbial 'page turner', and a perfect blend of story telling and history. Milton masterfully interweaves backstory and general history with Pellow's saga. I would hate to use another cliche...but I really couldn't put it down!

Its a shame the WP post reviewer uses it as excuse to vent his political views, and browbeat us with nonsense about 'Orientalism', I would highly recommend this book as an introduction to an all but forgotten part of our history (Yes Alsan, us, as in European Christians). I imagine like Aslan are afraid of this book because the indisputable facts shatter their victim status, and takes away a 'tool' by which to guilt-trip Europeans and Americans. After all if we were 'victims' of slavery, all the sudden 'imperialism' and 'white privilege' lose their sting.

A few examples of Aslan's bias:

"in which his 11-year-old self patiently endures month after month of horrific torture, administered by the crown prince himself, with whom Pellow remarkably engages in a quasi-theological debate (in Arabic or English, one can't tell which) before finally submitting to Islam -- is so absurd that the reader is stunned to find Milton swallowing the tale whole."

Milton specifically points out that Pellow was an exceptionally bright lad in school - and back in the 17th/18th century someone educated his age (11) would have had a firm grasp of theology ("college" students usually graduated at age 18 or so) in an age where a century later 12 year old future Admiral Farragut would skipper a ship around cape horn its not inconceivable a boy might know a thing or two about theology. It is also documented and corroborated the Pellow rose to high service at young age because of his intelligence. Yet Aslan sneers it's 'absurd' but offers no reason why. Nor does he offer any reason why corroborated stories of Ismail's evil and brutality should not be accepted. He apparently wants us to feel 'wrong' for believing that a man who practiced mass slavery and perfectly willing to murder half brothers (a common occurrence in Muslim royal families) could be brutal.

"That White Gold merely regurgitates Pellow's "memoirs" is even more troubling because Milton enthusiastically adopts the outmoded vocabulary of the era, repeatedly referring in his book to "Christian" slaves and even "Christian" vessels being captured by "Muslim" pirates and sold to "Muslim" masters"

Well Aslan they would only enslave Christians and non Muslims, defined themselves as Muslim and the Koran specifically allowed slavery, where at the same time, anti-slavery movements were taking root in Christendom, if I am 'allowed' to use that 'dated' term.

Why the Washington Post chose this guy to review the book remains a mystery - but they clearly wanted a negative review.

White Gold is the most absorbing, informative book I have read in a
long time. Be warned though that you may be left asking many
disturbing questions about among other things, How fragile is the
veneer of civility? How likely is a fresh outbreak of Crusade
hostiltiy? Under what condidtions might open slavery remerge in the
world and who might be the salves and slave holders? Was the
aggressive pursuit of ruthless domination exhibited by Morocco in the
1600 and 1700's a quirk of Sultan Moulay Ismails reign or a trait of
Islams character? What role if any did Spains earlier expulsion of
Muslims play in the emergence of a powerful Morocco? Why is the
financial harm and harrassment inflicted by Morocco on most of Europe
and even American colonies not a part of commonly known history? Is
slavery of people a natural part of human existence if unchecked by
social convention and force? I could go on...READ THIS BOOK...it is
entertaining, informative, and provides a view of an interesting time
in history that will cause one to try linking this story to todays
current affairs. The rawness of human behavior described in this book
will leave you stunned.

This book is a wonderful read about forgotten history. This is a book you will find hard to put down.

The story is amazing. I enjoy being taken back to a place in history that I am convinced many people have never heard about.

I could not put this book down, nor could any of the five people I lent it to. It is a tremendous read.

Why in the world does the paperback cost 47 dollars in the US and only 8 pounds (just over 13 dollars) on amazon.co.uk?. Caveat emptor.

I wonder whether Amazon will let this review stay up.