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Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper: The Absolutely True Story of the World's First Female Pirate
Charles Town, South Carolina. The Year of our Lord 1755
It was rare for a woman, any woman, much less a silver-haired, 56-year-old woman, to own and manage a large plantation.
But then, Anne Cormac was a rare woman.
In addition to her other business and philanthropic enterprises, Anne Cormac owned and operated the highly successful Goose Creek Plantation—400 acres of prime farmland which produced fine, long-strand cotton, a substantial indigo crop, rice, fodder for the animals and vegetables for her household. Miss Anne, as she was known, was a fixture of Charles Town society. She was the money behind the local banks and factors who managed the trade through the Charles Town port. And she was the driving force in the development of Charles Town’s Cormac Theater, renowned for rivaling the finest theaters in England and staging the best Shakespearean productions in the New World.
While Anne Cormac began and ended her life with that particular name, it was the name she used in the in-between time for which she was, and is, most widely known. For in her impetuous youth, Anne Cormac was known as:
Anne Bonny, the world’s first female pirate.
This is her story. In her own words.
It was rare for a woman, any woman, much less a silver-haired, 56-year-old woman, to own and manage a large plantation.
But then, Anne Cormac was a rare woman.
In addition to her other business and philanthropic enterprises, Anne Cormac owned and operated the highly successful Goose Creek Plantation—400 acres of prime farmland which produced fine, long-strand cotton, a substantial indigo crop, rice, fodder for the animals and vegetables for her household. Miss Anne, as she was known, was a fixture of Charles Town society. She was the money behind the local banks and factors who managed the trade through the Charles Town port. And she was the driving force in the development of Charles Town’s Cormac Theater, renowned for rivaling the finest theaters in England and staging the best Shakespearean productions in the New World.
While Anne Cormac began and ended her life with that particular name, it was the name she used in the in-between time for which she was, and is, most widely known. For in her impetuous youth, Anne Cormac was known as:
Anne Bonny, the world’s first female pirate.
This is her story. In her own words.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 1, 2020
However, fans of pirate adventures and drama will find this book full of interesting twists and turns, pirate lingo, and even a shock or two!
Read full review in the 2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
December 6, 2019
Fiery red hair is an action fiction story about Anne Bonny. Miss Anne is a delightful woman whose story captivates the essence of an era. She is a pirate in possess of multiple businesses. Her pure existence was how banks, theatres, plantations, and even society got around.
I enjoyed the work as it was well written. The author displayed innovation where a female pirate took the main role and became the narrative for a story. Her personality was strong, influential, and enjoyable to read. She was daring, and that made the story stand out, appearing almost like a character to look up to.
I would have enjoyed the pace being a little faster, but I believe the author took his time in order to create a solid foundation. There is much he could expand with this storyline, and so I look forward to reading more from him.
The story has historical references, and its fictional work is of the action and adventure genre.
I enjoyed the work as it was well written. The author displayed innovation where a female pirate took the main role and became the narrative for a story. Her personality was strong, influential, and enjoyable to read. She was daring, and that made the story stand out, appearing almost like a character to look up to.
I would have enjoyed the pace being a little faster, but I believe the author took his time in order to create a solid foundation. There is much he could expand with this storyline, and so I look forward to reading more from him.
The story has historical references, and its fictional work is of the action and adventure genre.
September 6, 2019
Just because you're a pirate, doesn't mean you shouldn't act like a lady. The Anne Bonny story. Great fun!
July 25, 2026
*Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper* is much more than a historical novel about one of history's most fascinating outlaws. Ralph E. Jarrells reimagines the life of Anne Bonny with remarkable personality, transforming a legendary pirate into a fully realized woman whose courage, ambition, intelligence, and defiance challenge the conventions of her time.
What stayed with me most was the decision to tell Anne's story in her own voice. Rather than presenting her as a distant historical figure or simply a notorious pirate, the novel gives readers an intimate perspective on the woman behind the legend. That narrative choice makes Anne feel authentic and allows her wit, determination, and resilience to shine throughout the story.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is the way it balances historical detail with engaging storytelling. The world of eighteenth-century Charles Town comes alive through vivid descriptions of commerce, politics, plantation life, and colonial society. These historical elements never overwhelm the narrative but instead provide a rich backdrop that helps readers understand the extraordinary nature of Anne's journey.
I also appreciated that the novel explores the many different roles Anne played throughout her life. She isn't defined solely by her years as Anne Bonny. She is portrayed as a successful businesswoman, plantation owner, philanthropist, and influential member of her community, adding complexity to a figure who is often remembered only for her time at sea. This broader perspective makes her story feel both more human and more inspiring.
The novel also raises compelling questions about identity, legacy, and the limitations society placed on women during the eighteenth century. Anne's refusal to accept those limitations makes her story surprisingly relevant today. Her determination to chart her own course, regardless of convention, gives the novel emotional weight beyond its historical setting.
Ralph E. Jarrells has crafted a book that combines history, adventure, and character-driven storytelling into an engaging portrait of one of the most intriguing women in maritime history. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, biographies inspired by real events, strong female protagonists, maritime history, and stories of extraordinary lives will find *Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper* both entertaining and memorable.
What stayed with me most was the decision to tell Anne's story in her own voice. Rather than presenting her as a distant historical figure or simply a notorious pirate, the novel gives readers an intimate perspective on the woman behind the legend. That narrative choice makes Anne feel authentic and allows her wit, determination, and resilience to shine throughout the story.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is the way it balances historical detail with engaging storytelling. The world of eighteenth-century Charles Town comes alive through vivid descriptions of commerce, politics, plantation life, and colonial society. These historical elements never overwhelm the narrative but instead provide a rich backdrop that helps readers understand the extraordinary nature of Anne's journey.
I also appreciated that the novel explores the many different roles Anne played throughout her life. She isn't defined solely by her years as Anne Bonny. She is portrayed as a successful businesswoman, plantation owner, philanthropist, and influential member of her community, adding complexity to a figure who is often remembered only for her time at sea. This broader perspective makes her story feel both more human and more inspiring.
The novel also raises compelling questions about identity, legacy, and the limitations society placed on women during the eighteenth century. Anne's refusal to accept those limitations makes her story surprisingly relevant today. Her determination to chart her own course, regardless of convention, gives the novel emotional weight beyond its historical setting.
Ralph E. Jarrells has crafted a book that combines history, adventure, and character-driven storytelling into an engaging portrait of one of the most intriguing women in maritime history. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, biographies inspired by real events, strong female protagonists, maritime history, and stories of extraordinary lives will find *Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper* both entertaining and memorable.
June 26, 2020
Despite the printing errors that peppered the novel [especially in the latter half of this less than 200-page book; for the record, they were scarce], I thoroughly enjoyed Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper. Yes, author Ralph Jarrells makes it perfectly clear this is a work of fiction, but given the fact that fiery Anne Cormac Bonny did indeed live, and given the fact the author did as much research as he possibly could have to make the story as authentic as he could have [I did not do any research until after I finished reading Jarrells's tale; thus, I will not relate what is fact and what is speculation in the novel], the reader truly feels like s/he gets to know the novelized version of Anne, what her life was like, and how she viewed piracy [which she took to like a fish to water] as she recounts her life's tale to her granddaughter.
Devoid of the descriptive prose I usually love while reading [it draws me into the story], I found Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper: The Absolutely True Story of the World's First Female Pirate extremely entertaining, and I highly recommended it.
Happy Reading! :-)
Devoid of the descriptive prose I usually love while reading [it draws me into the story], I found Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes and a Vicious Irish Temper: The Absolutely True Story of the World's First Female Pirate extremely entertaining, and I highly recommended it.
Happy Reading! :-)
August 30, 2025
well worth your time
To be completely transparent , the author and I both belong to the Northeast Georgia Literary Society. We talked a couple of times and he mentioned this book. I was intrigued by the subject, so I bought a copy.
Ralph Jarrells is a skilled and talented storyteller.
The Caribbean Sea was the Wild, Wild West that came before the US’s Wild, Wild West. The pirates were the outlaws, who had their own set of rules and values. By today’s standards, it was a barbaric time.
The story is told from the perspective of Anne Bonny, the title character. It’s told in a direct style, which makes it a fast read and, I believe, gives the reader a sense of how 18th century people actually communicated.
It was a fun read. Jarrells skillfully builds the character of Anne Bonny throughout the book and I came away feeling that she was much more than history reports.
You won’t be sorry you read this book. Give it a shot.
To be completely transparent , the author and I both belong to the Northeast Georgia Literary Society. We talked a couple of times and he mentioned this book. I was intrigued by the subject, so I bought a copy.
Ralph Jarrells is a skilled and talented storyteller.
The Caribbean Sea was the Wild, Wild West that came before the US’s Wild, Wild West. The pirates were the outlaws, who had their own set of rules and values. By today’s standards, it was a barbaric time.
The story is told from the perspective of Anne Bonny, the title character. It’s told in a direct style, which makes it a fast read and, I believe, gives the reader a sense of how 18th century people actually communicated.
It was a fun read. Jarrells skillfully builds the character of Anne Bonny throughout the book and I came away feeling that she was much more than history reports.
You won’t be sorry you read this book. Give it a shot.
January 3, 2021
The story is told as a reflection from a Grandmother to her granddaughter. Each chapter is a day in their current lives and then recollections as the grandmother's history and her life on and with the high seas and pirates are recalled. The author helps the read by telling the true history of a rare female pirate. Interspersed with historical summaries and timelines you get a glimpse into the details of Anne’s life.
The grandmother's rowdy life and her strong independent streak are counterbalanced with her love of family and her home plantation. Her turbulent and often dangerous tales of her past enable the granddaughter to understand her grandmother and the life she has chosen for herself during a period in history when women were an accessory to a man’s life. Whether you are a history buff or just like a good tale, this is a wonderful read.
The grandmother's rowdy life and her strong independent streak are counterbalanced with her love of family and her home plantation. Her turbulent and often dangerous tales of her past enable the granddaughter to understand her grandmother and the life she has chosen for herself during a period in history when women were an accessory to a man’s life. Whether you are a history buff or just like a good tale, this is a wonderful read.
January 15, 2021
It is my personal opinion that you just cannot read enough pirate books. Set in Charles Town South Carolina in the year 1755 this book is written as a narrative biography. Anne Bonny, the first female pirate, is telling her granddaughter all about her adventures. It is a fascinating story about a woman of great courage who definitely thought outside the box. From growing up on a plantation, to running away from her father with a pirate, to becoming a highly respected pirate herself, her life demonstrates great bravery and strength for anyone, be it man or woman.
The story is very well written. The character development is excellent for there is no question about who is a good pirate, a bad pirate, and a con-man. It is wonderful to read about a woman who decided what her own life would look like during a time when women were considered to be of less value than cows.
August 12, 2020
I loved this tale of Anne Bonny. For those who wondered where she came from, how she became a pirate, what that life was like and how it ended, this is for you.
The tale is told by Anne Bonny/Cormac herself to her granddaughter, Sweet Annie.
Absolutely delightful! I can't wait for the hard copy to become part of "My Precious" collection!
The tale is told by Anne Bonny/Cormac herself to her granddaughter, Sweet Annie.
Absolutely delightful! I can't wait for the hard copy to become part of "My Precious" collection!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews