The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye

A world of conquest and danger. A story richer than plundered gold.

1656, Saint-Domingue. In the dark confines of a cell, a prisoner is waiting. Soon the hangman will call her name. Jacquotte Delahaye. A name which has struck fear into even the mightiest of empires. For Jacquotte is no ordinary prisoner: she is a pirate.

Fierce. Legendary. Deadly.

As the hangman prepares the noose, Jacquotte's story is told, charting her humble origins from the island of Hispaniola to the deck of a fearsome pirate ship. There, against all odds, she swiftly rises through the ranks, travelling across the Caribbean, facing duels across land and sea, and savouring tender moments stolen in the night.

With the sun rising, can Jacquotte fight her way to freedom? Or will she die a legend?

Following one of the few purported female pirates to sail the Caribbean in the seventeenth century, this is a sweeping and dazzling tale of adventure and buccaneering.

About the Author

Briony Cameron is a writer based in Cardiff. Her father was of Caribbean, Panamanian and Cuban heritage and her mother is of English and Welsh heritage. She studied English and Creative Writing at University, graduating in 2020. In 2020 her short story "The Nantes Affair" was longlisted for the Crime Writers' Association's Short Story Competition, and her debut novel was longlisted that same year for the Penguin WriteNow Competition, and in 2021 it was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize.

Reviews

"Thrilling, heart-pounding adventure meets thoughtful feminist history in The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye. Cameron has crafted a rare and special tale that looks upon the world with realism while leaving the reader with an enduring sense of hope. An absolutely stunning debut" —Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

"A high-stakes, gripping adventure full of heart-pounding duels and bonds that run deeper than blood, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an engrossing debut. Jacquotte and her determination to chart her own course, rather than follow the path others have set before her, will stay with readers long after the final page" —Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All

"A beautiful and, at times, gut-wrenching tale of found family, self-discovery, and the true meaning of freedom. Readers will fall in love with Jacquotte as she finds herself and her purpose amid the waves of the Caribbean Sea. Fast-paced, steeped in realism, and brimming with lovable characters" —M.J. Kuhn, internationally bestselling author of Among Thieves

"A thrilling, compelling read. A swashbuckling historical treat in all the best ways" —Irenosen Okojie, author of Butterfily Fish

Dimensions: 15.4 x 3 x 23.2 cm