The English Slave (Empires & Kingdoms) by David Eugene Andrews is a historical fiction novel about the life and experiences of the famed English explorer Captain John Smith. The English Slave begins with the capture of John Smith in a battle during the Ottoman rule, after which he is sold into slavery. A Turkish Grand Vizier buys him to be held for ransom, and gifts him to Aisha, sister of the Sultan and a young widow. Aisha is also the Grand Vizier’s fiancée and this is where the story becomes intriguing as Aisha learns more about John Smith. As a Christian slave in the Ottoman Empire, John is treated as the lowest of the low slaves, but Aisha soon finds out that here is a learned and courageous man who is no ordinary soldier. What follows is John’s personal journey to freedom and the interpersonal relationships that take shape both with the Turks and his fellow countrymen.

I found The English Slave to be an intriguing look at some of the real life events in the life of Captain John Smith. Known in American history as one of the first settlers, much is unknown or rumored about his life before coming to America. His tales of voyages at sea and his time spent among the Turks, some of it as a slave, are fascinating in themselves and need no embellishment. What this book does is make those events come alive through dialogue and the relationships between the main people involved. Another little known aspect is that of the Turkish noblewoman who owned John Smith as a slave and her subsequent role in the events. The writing style is engaging and I found it very easy to imagine myself in the bazaars of Istanbul through the vivid imagery. This book is a very interesting glimpse into history.

The English Slave: Empires and Kingdoms by David Eugene Andrews is about how Captain John Smith was sold into slavery, like a beast in a marketplace at Axiopolis, a former Byzantine border town. John Smith has been wounded badly and he is bought by Grand Vizier Yemischi Hasan Pasha of the Ottoman Empire, who decides to give the well-dressed slave to his fiancée, Aisha. He then writes to her, asking her to keep the slave all for herself. John Smith wanted to escape, but he did not know how to escape through the hundreds of miles of Ottoman territory. As he is handed over to Aisha, she realizes he is an Englishman and not a Bohemian, as she was told by the Grand Vizier. As Aisha finds out more about John Smith, she understands that he is no ordinary slave as she had thought, and she finds herself thinking more and more about him.

Set against the backdrop of slavery and war, the story is compelling with many layers to it. It takes readers through a gamut of emotions, action, romance, history, and mystery. The author does an excellent job of weaving them together and takes readers to a time when empires rose and fell, making it feel real and authentic to readers. John Smith’s character is strongly sketched and so are the Grand Vizier, Aisha, and the rest of them. The author manages to keep up the pace and pique the curiosity of readers in the story with his narrative skills and unconventional storyline, where history, war, and emotions run high. The black and white sketches in the book, with depictions of places and maps, help readers to understand the story better.

GREAT READ... Kept my attention the whole way through, beleive me that is not easy to do. :)

The English Slave is a novel that not only holds your interest but also is very adept at envisioning the scenes!