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The Price of Freedom

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"You Don't Know Jack. Yet."
―The Price of Freedom tagline[src]

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom is a Pirates of the Caribbean novel written by A. C. Crispin. It was first published in hardcover from Disney Editions on May 17, 2011. An original novel based on the Pirates of the Caribbean films, it follows Jack Sparrow's life 13-18 years before the events depicted in the Pirates trilogy. The Price of Freedom details the adventures of young Jack thinking back to his boyhood pirating days while he was a merchant seaman under the employ of the East India Trading Company. It also details how Jack first encountered Hector Barbossa, Cutler Beckett, and how he wound up owing Davy Jones 100 years of service aboard the Flying Dutchman, as well as following how Sparrow became captain of the Wicked Wench, a merchant vessel which he would eventually re-christen as a pirate ship, the Black Pearl, forever branded as a pirate.

Chronologically, The Price of Freedom is set after the events of Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow and before Legends of the Brethren Court, both published by Rob Kidd, though A. C. Crispin was told she didn't have to maintain continuity with them. The more certain point and intention is that The Price of Freedom is set 13-18 years before the events depicted in the 2006 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. The Price of Freedom is the final novel written by Crispin, who died in September 6, 2013.

Publisher's summary[]

A. C. Crispin's website[]

Ms. Crispin's newest "backstory" is titled Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom and is a prologue to the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean films released by Disney. Crispin has done for Jack Sparrow (as in Captain Jack Sparrow) what she did for Han Solo, telling the story of how Disney's most famous buccaneer first encountered Cutler Beckett, Captain Hector Barbossa, and how he wound up owing Davy Jones 100 years before the mast, serving aboard The Flying Dutchman. Have you ever wondered how Jack Sparrow first got The Black Pearl and became a pirate captain? Now that story has been told![1]

Internal flap[]

Twenty-five-year-old Jack Sparrow is a clean-cut merchant seaman pursuing a legitimate career as a first mate for the East India Trading Company. He sometimes thinks back to his boyhood pirating days, but he doesn't miss Teague's scrutiny or the constant threat of the noose. Besides, he doesn't have much choice—he broke the Code when he facilitated the escape of a friend who had been accused of rogue piracy, and he can no longer show his face in Shipwreck Cove.

When Jack's ship is attacked by pirates and his captain dies in the altercation, he suddenly finds himself in command. The wily sailor's skillful negotiations with the pirate captain—who turns out to be a woman from his past—result in a favorable outcome that puts Jack in line for an official promotion.

After making port in Africa, Jack is summoned by Cutler Beckett, who makes him captain of a ship called the Wicked Wench. Beckett gives Jack an assignment. He has heard a legend about a magical island named Kerma whose labyrinthine bowels are said to contain a glorious treasure. Beckett suspects that one of his house slaves, a girl named Ayisha, is from Kerma. He asks Jack to take her along on his voyage and seduce her into divulging the island's whereabouts. In payment for his services, Beckett promises Jack a share of the treasure.

But this task isn't as easy as Jack initially believes. Before Ayisha agrees to reveal the location of her home, she insists that Jack take her to the New World to rescue her brother, who has been sold into slavery in the Bahamas. Their voyage is long and arduous, and as they weather a vicious storm and a surprise attack from an old pirate foe, Jack grows to respect Ayisha and admire her bravery. He knows that Beckett intends to enslave her people after robbing them of their treasure, and Jack's moral compass is repelled by the idea. It might be possible to deliver Ayisha safely to Kerma, obtain some of the treasure, and convince Beckett that he never found it...but the greedy E.I.T.C. official has eyes everywhere, and if he learns that Jack has foiled his plans, he could take away the thing that Captain Sparrow loves most: his ship—and his freedom.

Plot[]

The Rogue Threat[]

"He's too forward. And, while the three of us were together, I never got a chance to talk to you. Jack, I've missed you."
―Esmeralda Maria Consuela Anna de Sevilla to Jack Sparrow[src]

Jack Sparrow is a twenty year old pirate living in Shipwreck Cove. It seems that times cannot be better for the Pirate Brethren, but that will change very quickly. The mysterious rogue pirates begin to slaughter their victims, openly violating the Code of the Pirate Brethren. Instead of the traditional black pirate flag, the rogues fly the red flag with the horned demon skull. Their attacks could cause the war against piracy, and Captain Edward Teague, Keeper of the Code, decides to investigate the case.

Meanwhile, Jack and his older friend Christophe-Julien de Rapièr meet Esmeralda Maria Consuela Anna de Sevilla, the granddaughter of Don Rafael, captain of the Venganza and Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea. Jack and Esmeralda start to go on picnics on hidden inlets around Shipwreck Island, teaching each other in swordfighting and swimming in the process. Christophe soon joins them, and he teaches both youngsters in swordfighting. But Esmeralda later admits to Jack that she likes his company much more, because Christophe never misses an opportunity to touch her during the lessons. It's obvious to Jack that Christophe wishes to seduce Esmeralda.

Captain Barbossa[]

"Ladies, gentlemen, allow me present to you, Captain Hector Barbossa."
―Edward Teague to assembled pirates at Shipwreck Cove[src]

Suddenly, a pirate captain named Hector Barbossa informs the Pirate Lords that his ship, the Cobra, was attacked and destroyed by the rogues. The Brethren Court decides to destroy the rogues once and for all. A few weeks later, after Jack and Christophe took Esmeralda to their favorite tavern, the Drunken Lady, Jack meets One Tooth Tommy, one of Barbossa's crewmen. Tommy tells him how he saw "The Devil", the captain of the rogue pirate sloop that sank the Cobra. But he also tells him that he saw "The Devil" again, in Shipwreck Cove, on the deck of his ship. Initially, Jack doesn't believe Tommy, but when he finds his dead body in the cove two days later, Jack realizes that the rogues are among the Brethren.

A Counter to the Threat[]

"That's Koldunya—means 'witch' in Russian—and she belongs to Boris Palachnik, the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Borya's our rogue pirate captain."
―Jack Sparrow to Esmeralda[src]

To avenge Tommy, Jack sets out on his own to find these rogues himself. Just as he begins to begin his secret quest, Jack is stopped by Esmeralda, who wants to come along. Jack is shocked to hear this for he believed that she had fallen for Christophe's seductive charms. Esmeralda later informs him this is not the case and that she rather enjoys spending her time with Jack rather than Christophe. Jack is delighted to hear this and they share their first kiss. Jack informs Esmeralda of the rogues that are hiding in this place. Together they set off to find the rogue pirate ship.

The couple soon find the vessel Tommy described before; a sleek sloop with a bow chaser. It was then Jack realized that the sloop belong to his old friend, Boris Palachnik, the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Jack and Esmeralda hurry back to shore and Jack race through the streets of Shipwreck Cove to find Barbossa. Once found, Barbossa identified Boris' ship as the one who sank the Cobra. Teague was later sought out and the Keeper of the Code called Boris and his crew into questioning.

Meeting with Davy Jones[]

"Davy Jones...we, the Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court, call you. By our alliance giving us power over the sea, binding the queen in her bones, we entreat you. Come to us, Davy Jones. We summon you. We summon you. We summon you."
―Eduardo Villanueva, Ching, Edward Teague, and Rafael[src]

Most of the pirates gathered as Teague began a piractical trial. Boris was asked many difficult questions but seemed to mask his emotions effortlessly. After bringing a few witnesses to speak against Borya (including Jack), Teague believed only one being could truly deem Borya guilty: Davy Jones.

Knowing that the Lord of the Locker could not set foot on land but once every ten years, Teague and a few other Pirate Lords began to conjure Jones on the decks of the Troubadour, Teague's ship. So as Teague and his fellow Pirate Lords called out to Jones, the room started to get darker and a storm outside started to appear. Then out of the darkness stepped out Davy Jones. Teague spoke to Jones inquiring about Borya's activities and Jones responded that Borya was guilty. Teague vowed that they would send Boris into his realm soon. Jones also revealed that Borya wasn't the only rogue pirate in Shipwreck Cove.

A Fateful Decision[]

"Jacques, tomorrow at dawn they are going to hang me, and all my men, who are innocent, too. We are pirates, yes, but you are a pirate, too! We have not broken the Code! It is Captain Borya's malice, his final revenge on an enemy that has brought us to this pass. Jacques, you are my best friend in all the world...please. Help me."
―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr to Jack Sparrow[src]

After witnessing Teague condemn Borya to death, Jack and Esmeralda went to the Drunken Lady to clear their heads. Once there, Barbossa joined them at their table and offered to buy Jack a drink so he can repay him for finding the rogue. Later on, Barbossa says he went to visit Borya in his cell and the old Russian gave him a piece of wood but he didn't realize it was one of the Nine Pieces of Eight which would make him the new Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Jack told him he should tell Teague about it later.

Barbossa also revealed that Borya revealed the names of all rogue captains under his command, including the name the other rogue pirate in Shipwreck Cove. It turned out that the other rogue is none other than Christophe. Jack didn't believe Christophe was capable of this and decided he was going to see for himself whenever Christophe was innocent or not.

Jack visited Christophe in his cell and looked at his jailed friend in dismay. After hearing his pleas, Jack knew he must help him some way. After stealing the keys for the cell from Teague's dog, Jack crawled swiftly through an a secret passage to the Shipwreck City dungeons, where Christophe was held. After freeing Christophe, the French pirate then took the keys from Jack and unlocked the cell for his crew and Borya. It was then Jack realized his friend was indeed a rogue pirate but that couldn't stop all of them. The rogue pirate mob encountered Teague and his men and together they clashed into a bloody skirmish. During the fight, Jack was knocked unconscious after preventing a rogue pirate from shooting at Teague.

Life with the Rogues[]

"Jacques, you silly fool. I fear you have made a grave error. Don't you know any better than to try and conceal booty from your comrades? That's an offense punishable by death, under La Vipère's Ship's Articles."
―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr to Jack Sparrow[src]

Jack awoke on the decks of Christophe's ship, the La Vipère. With Shipwreck Cove nowhere in sight, Jack was forced to work with the rogues. During his unfortunate voyage, Jack met a young Englishman named Robby Greene. After a few days, the rogues sighted a Dutch flute and began to fire upon her and butcher any soul on board. As Jack walked through the wreckage of the flute, he was surprised to find a large African man. As he laid on the ship dying, Jack tried comfort him during his last final moments. The African said his name was Taharka and was a proud Pharaoh of Zerzura. He gave Jack a bracelet and told him to return it to his people. Jack vowed to him that he would. After he died, Christophe appeared behind him. Seeing an opportunity to do away with Jack with a bit of torture, Christophe yelled out to the crew that Jack was going to steal the bracelet from the crew and punishment for that was death. The French rogue took the bracelet from Jack and forced him to board a little rowboat with no water or food. As Jack rowed away from La Vipère, he yelled to Christophe that Esmeralda kissed him. Furious, Christophe tried to shoot Jack with the musket, but he was interrupted by Robby, who jumped overboard with the two bottles of water and some food. Robby swam to Jack and together they set out to find a new life.

Five years[]

"That's life on the account. But that's over now."
"Over?"
"Yes. We're going to become honest merchant sailors, we are."
―Jack Sparrow and Robert Greene[src]

After abandoning Christophe, Jack and Robby signed on a merchant ship, leaving the pirate lives behind them. Over the next five years, six of the eight rogue pirate captains were killed by the Brethren Court, but Borya and Christophe continued to operate in the Caribbean. Two years after the trial in Shipwreck Cove, Don Rafael was shot in the back by Christophe, and Esmeralda inherited his ship, his crew, and his title, becoming the new Pirate Lord of the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Jack and Robby joined the East India Trading Company, working on the ships which sailed from the port of Calabar, Africa.

Attack on the Fair Wind[]

"Heaven help us. Either the sun has gotten to me, or I know that vessel."
"You're not seeing things, Robby. It's Venganza, and we're her quarry."
―Robert Greene and Jack Sparrow[src]

Eventually, Jack became the First Mate of the EITC brig Fair Wind, sailing under captain Nathaniel Bainbridge. When the ship sailed from Port Royal, Jamaica to London, England, with the cargo of rum, she encountered the Venganza, now captained by Esmeralda. The pirate frigate quickly caught the slow merchant ship, and though Jack persuaded the crew not to fight, Captain Bainbridge attacked Esmeralda because he didn't believe a woman should be a captain. He died from an apoplexy during the fight.

Jack negotiated with Esmeralda and convinced her not to take the whole cargo of rum his ship was carrying. Later, he came to the Venganza to a dinner with Esmeralda, and the two spent a passionate night together. The next morning, Jack returned to the Fair Wind, and after the memorial service for Captain Bainbridge, he sailed the ship for England.

After arriving in London, Jack gave his report to the EITC officials at the London EITC Office. They took the remaining cargo of the Fair Wind and loaded the ship with firearms. During his brief time in London, Jack went to Bainbridge's family and told them of Nathaniel's untimely demise. Afterwords, Jack sailed the ship back to its home port, Calabar.

Jack's promotion[]

"Generally when EITC employees save the company money, I award them a nice bonus. Say ten pounds. However I suspect that there are things you would much prefer to have rather than a monetary bonus, if I judge your character correctly. So... how would a promotion to captain suit you, as well as a vessel to command?"
―Cutler Beckett to Jack Sparrow[src]

Once he arrived in Calabar, Jack was summoned to see Cutler Beckett, the East India Trading Company Director for West Africa. Beckett was amused by Jack and considered him to be very valuable for the company and himself. Since he was a calculating man, Beckett decided to entice Jack with the position of captain of the Marlin. Although Jack was pleased to hear of the offer his spirits dampened when he realized he would carry a cargo of slaves. Jack, who once was imprisoned aboard a ship himself, had a deep love for freedom and thought slavery was unjust. Sadly, Jack turned down Beckett's offer. Not wanting to lose such a witty man, Beckett offered him another ship, the Wicked Wench, which would be transporting other cargoes to the Caribbean. Jack was relieved and agreed to his new position as captain.

Chamba[]

"Chamba? I'm sorry I couldn't help you, lad, I really am. But there's nothing to be gained by haunting me. Go visit Blount, perhaps you can frighten him into an apoplexy—which the bastard bloody well deserves."
"Cap'n Sparrow? Please, help! I ain't no ghost, I'm me. I be hanging here, outside the window."
―Jack Sparrow and Chamba[src]

Within a few days Jack had already made some progress on getting the Wicked Wench seaworthy. After promoting him to first mate, Jack had Robby hire a crew. Soon the Wicked Wench had dozens of men working on her and careening her on the sand banks of the Calabar River. Later on, Jack received his crates of salted pork for his crew. After inspecting it, Jack was startled to find that the pork was spoiled. Jack then ventured off to find Benjamin Blount, the portmaster and the one who was responsible the meat. After harsh questioning by Jack, Blount replied that it was his slave, Chamba who was at fault. Blount said that Chamba would get a whipping for it later and sent Jack along with a new supply of pork and a few extras.

Later that night, Jack heard a faint mourning outside his cabin window. To his surprise it was the slave, Chamba, who had escaped his master after a brutal whipping. Jack helped the lad into his cabin and then began dressing his wounds. During the process, the half dead boy feel asleep, exhausted. When he awoke, Jack and Chamba discuss what to do next. Jack knew he couldn't send Chamba back for he knew the boy would be whipped again. Jack decided that he would hide the child while in port, hire him as his cabin boy later and sail away from vile Blount.

Soon, Chamba proved resourceful and became well adapted to life at sea. Jack and Robby also tried to teach Chamba proper English, which the boy learned extremely well.

Life as Captain[]

"Doesn't that sound beautiful? Captain Jack Sparrow. Nice ring to it, eh?"
―Jack Sparrow to Robert Greene[src]

The newly christened Captain Jack Sparrow sailed off from Calabar to begin his new life commanding the Wicked Wench. In the beginning of the voyage, Jack encountered a heavy storm. Although the weather was dangerous, it was an opportunity for the crew to better themselves as sailors. With Jack at the helm, the ship endured only a few fractures and there was no loss of life.

The rest of the voyage was full of clear skies. In fact, the Wicked Wench almost had beaten the record for the fastest ship across the Triangle, a feat not so easily done by new captains. Although Jack look forward to celebrating in port, Cutler Beckett had other ideas.

Reginald Marmaduke Bracegirdle-Penwallow[]

"This is Viscount, Lord Reginald Marmaduke Bracegirdle-Penwallow, the EITC's Director of African Affairs."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Penwallow."
"Thank you, Captain Sparrow, and I must say the pleasure is all mine. It's an honor to meet the captain who so nearly broke the record for sailing the Triangle—and on the vessel's maiden voyage as an EITC ship, too! Well done, well done, Captain Sparrow!"
―Cutler Beckett, Jack Sparrow and Reginald Marmaduke Bracegirdle-Penwallow[src]

When the ship anchored, Ian Mercer stood on the docks and demanded that Captain Sparrow follow him at once. Jack, unsure whenever to trust a man with such a cold stare, followed him with a bit of caution. Once they arrived at Beckett's house, Jack was told to strip down and bathe in one of Beckett's large tubs. Jack declined at first but then was told Mercer would make him do it. Not wanting to by yanked with Mercer's black gloves, Jack quickly bathed, dressed himself in finer clothes given to him by Beckett and was told to meet the EITC Director in the dining room.

Once there, Jack sat down with Beckett and a portly fellow who introduced himself as Viscount Reginald Marmaduke Bracegirdle-Penwallow. They sat around an elegant table and dined on a feast with food Jack had never encountered before. Afterwards, Jack was told he was brought here not only to sup with the elder Viscount but to also be instructed on his next shipment. Apparently, Penwallow bought a large spot of land on the sugarcane-filled island of New Avalon. It was Jack's job to carefully deliver some of building materials that were necessary to built Penwallow's new summer home. Jack happily accepted the offer and readied his ship for another voyage.

Zerzura[]

"It's Mercer, sir. I've located something I think you should see. This Portugee deals in stolen goods. He has no idea what he has, except that he knows it's gold."
―Ian Mercer to Cutler Beckett[src]

While Jack was at sea, Mercer showed Beckett some strange artifacts he purchased for Beckett's eye. After inspecting the obviously African bracelet, Beckett realized that it was made in Zerzura, a city on the legendary island of Kerma. Mercer reported it he bought it off a slave trader who took it off a slave. Mercer then reported the slave was bought by Roger Dalton, a plantation owner. Beckett then went out of his way to buy the slave for he knew she was a native of Zerzura. After purchasing her, Beckett knew what Jack's next assignment was; to find Zerzura.

As the ugly slavegirl Ayisha works in Beckett's household as a seamstress, the Wicked Wench returns to Calabar. Sparrow is summoned to Beckett's office, where Beckett explains his plan. Jack would pretend to help Ayisha escape from slavery, take her onboard the Wicked Wench, and when he verifies that the bearings of the island are correct, he would return to Calabar and Beckett would send his fleet to conquer Kerma. In exchange for the bearings of Kerma, Beckett agrees to give him thirty percent of the gold that he expected to find on the island.

However, Ayisha, who is not half-witted as everyone believed, forces Jack to help her free another Zerzuran who is imprisoned in Calabar, a bodyguard named Tarek. The Wench sails from Calabar, and though Jack wants Ayisha to lead him to Kerma, she convines him to steer his ship to the Bahamas, to find her long lost brother. During the voyage, Jack accidentally discovers that Ayisha is neither ugly nor old! Her real name is Amenirdis, and she is actually a beautiful Zerzuran princess who is able to cast magic spells that hide her real appearance.

Months at sea[]

"The way you speak, and carry yourself...it’s very posh. Cutler Beckett could have you over to tea and not worry about you disgracing him. And for someone who was a slave only days ago, you’re very accustomed to giving orders. And, furthermore, you expect them to be obeyed."
―Jack Sparrow to Ayisha[src]

With the help of his magical compass, Jack discovers that Amenirdis' brother Shabako is a slave on the island of New Avalon. Disguising himself as a nobleman and impersonating Frederick Penwallow, the son of Lord Reginald Marmaduke Bracegirdle-Penwallow, who owns one of the sugar plantations on the island, Jack and his friends free Shabako from slavery. The Wench sails east.

During the journey through the Bahamas, the Wench is attacked by the Koldunya, the ship of the rogue pirate Boris Palachnik. The both ships get stuck in the Northwest Providence Channel and fire at each other mercilessly, but as the rogues free their ship and prepare to destroy the Wench, Amenirdis uses her magical abilities to blow up the pirate vessel. The Wench is heavily damaged, but she is saved from sinking by the crew of the Venganza, the ship of Jack's love interest Esmeralda which suddenly appears.

Over the next few days, Esmeralda's pirates help Jack's men to repair their ship. Esmeralda meets Amenirdis and the two become friends. However, Amenirdis becomes jealous because she knows that Esmeralda and Jack are more than just friends, and she slowly falls in love with Jack.

When the Wench is properly repaired in Savannah, she sails east, finding the La Vipere, the ship of the rogue pirate Christophe-Julien de Rapièr. Jack and Christophe parley and make a deal about finding the treasure of Kerma together. They need each other because Jack now has two of the bracelets needed to open the door of the labyrinth where the treasure is hidden, while Christophe holds the third.

The two ships sail across the Atlantic Ocean. One night, Amenirdis comes to Jack's cabin and they make love, finally admitting their feelings to each other. Amenirdis knows that no woman could tie Jack Sparrow down to home, but he cares about her, in his own way, and that's enough for her. She also tells Jack that he would be rewarded for bringing her and her brother home, but the Heart of Zerzura, the jewel which Jack wants for himself, must stay on Kerma, because it's the only thing that keeps Kerma and its people protected from those who want to enslave them. The ships finally reach the magical fog that hides Kerma from the outside world and pass through it.

The labyrinth[]

"When do we go into the labyrinth?"
"My contact needs tomorrow to prepare. I believe we’ll go early the day after tomorrow. If there’s any change from that, I’ll row over and let you know."
―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow[src]

The three Zerzurans come ashore and Shabako becomes the new pharaoh. The next day, he announces his plan to free all the slaves on Kerma in one year. He also makes Amenirdis his grand vizier, the Prime Minister. A day later, Amenirdis, Jack, and Christophe enter the labyrinth. After defeating several monsters, they find the treasure room, where Christophe takes Amenirdis hostage and forces Jack to give him the most valuable part of the treasure, the Heart of Zerzura. A lion suddenly appears and Christophe escapes with the Heart and a bag of treasure. However, the lion is actually the god Apedemak himself, and the "Heart" which Christophe took is actually a worthless rock, magically made to look like the real heart. Jack takes some of the treasure and he and Amenirdis return to the palace. A few hours later, Jack returns to the Wench and the ship sails through the fog again. Amenirdis casts a magical spell that makes the entire crew fall asleep and forget that they ever saw the island. Jack and Amenirdis bid farewell to each other and she returns to the island.

The duel[]

"Jacques, just welcome me aboard your ship, mon ami, and all will be well. Drop me off at the first civilized port you come to, and then you can live. We fenced many times, mon ami. Remember who always won?"
"You did. But it will be different this time."
―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow[src]

A few hours later, Christophe boards the Wench, after being deposed as captain and left in a small boat in the middle of the ocean by his own crew when he killed his first mate who refused Christophe's order to sail back to Kerma when the rogues discovered that the Heart of Zezura was fake. Jack doesn't want Christophe on his ship and they engage in a fierce duel, which Jack ultimately wins, killing Christophe and finally avenging Don Rafael's death. The Wicked Wench sails back for Calabar.

The Slaveship[]

"If you make this one trip for me, Captain Sparrow, and thus make it possible for me to honor Lord Penwallow’s request, then I will promise you, on my word as a gentleman, that I won’t ever ask you to do it again. If I had another captain to take this cargo I would hire him, but, as you can see for yourself, I don’t."
―Cutler Beckett[src]

In Calabar, Cutler Beckett doesn't believe Jack's story of haunted fogbanks and a crew that magically fell asleep. However, all of the Wench's crewmen confirm Jack's story. The island of Kerma was nowhere to be found, and the three Zerzurans just disappeared from the ship. Seeing his hopes of becoming a nobleman ruined, Beckett decides to punish Jack. He forces him to take a cargo of slaves onboard the Wench and transport them to the Bahamas for Lord Penwallow. As Beckett's carpenters convert the Wench's cargo hold to carry slaves, some of the the men leave the crew, while Jack engages in heavy drinking. After four days, the Wench sails for the New World for the last time.

Betrayal[]

"She's just a ship. Made of wood, and canvas. You're going to destroy your own property? Just to get back at me?"
"She's not just a ship to you, Jack. And yes. That's precisely what I am going to do."
―Jack Sparrow and Cutler Beckett[src]

As the Wicked Wench sails near Kerma, Jack decides to free the slaves, leave them on the island, steal the Wench from Beckett, and become a pirate again. The Wench arrives to Kerma and the imprisoned Africans are freed. The Wench sails west but a few days later she is captured by a fleet of five EITC ships. One of the ships brings Jack back to Calabar, where he is thrown into a prison, while others try to find Kerma.

A month later, Jack and his first mate Robbie Greene are brought within sight of the Wicked Wench about a mile off the coast of Western Africa. Beckett and his operative, Ian Mercer, brand Jack with a "P" brand on his right forearm, marking him forever as a pirate. Beckett orders his ship to fire on the anchored Wench, using inflammable "carcass charges." Seeing the Wench in flames, Jack breaks free from his captors, dives into the ocean and swims for his ship, hoping to save her. But it is too late, and Jack sinks with his ship. Neither dead nor alive, Jack ends up on the path to the Land of the Dead and speaks the magical incantation that summons Davy Jones, the Lord of the sea. Jack and Jones make a deal, in exchange for resurrection of the Wicked Wench and thirteen years of captaincy, Jack promises his soul to Jones.

The Black Pearl[]

"Mates, I now libate—if there indeed be such a word, which I rather doubt—our lovely angel here. May she watch out for us, keep us safe, and guide us on our journeys!"
―Jack Sparrow to his crew[src]

Some time later, Jack is in Tortuga, where he just recruited a crew. He leads them to the resurrected Wicked Wench, whose hull and sails are now completely black. Jack renames his ship the Black Pearl and sails for Shipwreck Island.

Development[]

Sometime between August 2007[2] and April 2008,[3] A. C. Crispin was attached to The Price of Freedom. Crispin was an science fiction fantasy author known for creating fascinating "backstory" for media icons, such as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy as well as Mr. Spock's father Sarek in Star Trek: Sarek. When an editor working for Disney was seeking an author to write a novel dealing with the backstory of Captain Jack Sparrow, as portrayed by Johnny Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, they contacted Crispin's agent and contracted her to write the 2011 novel The Price of Freedom after reading The Han Solo Trilogy.[4]

When releasing the fifth excerpt, Crispin spoke how she was privileged to write the scene where Han Solo first beheld—and fell for—the Millennium Falcon in The Han Solo Trilogy. She assured fans it was every bit as much of a thrill to write the scene with Jack Sparrow and the Wicked Wench.[5]

Continuity[]

Like the timeline established in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as a whole, The Price of Freedom only loosely follows the real-world history, with several time frame references contradicting the real events. The instructions for A. C. Crispin in writing the novel was to "stick to historical fact, unless it conflicts with established Pirates of the Caribbean continuity." Crispin made a faithful effort to do this, having done plenty of research, with Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly being one of the four pirate-related books she found herself using the most consistently.[6] When asked about her approach to creating and tying the novel into the film franchise, Crispin said she was given a lot of material by Disney, "They have an extensive volume called The Pirates Mythology that's four or five hundred pages long. It's everything about the Pirates universe and some extrapoloations, but not too many. It talks about all the members of Hector Barbossa's undead crew, for example, and gives all their names and a line or two about each of them, who they were. It gives the names of minor characters that you would not know otherwise, the names and types of all the ships, the maps, material about the East India Trading Company in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe."[7]

The island of Fernando Pó is said to be named after the Portuguese explorer who discovered it two hundred years earlier, which would set the story around 1672. The town of Ribeira Grande on the island of St. Jago (the modern-day town of Cidade Velha) is mentioned to be established by the Portuguese two hundred and fifty years earlier, which would set the story around 1712. New Providence is depicted as a pirate-controlled island, which would indicate that the story is set before 1718. However, Savannah, which was founded in 1733 in real-world history, is already a well established and prosperous town in the novel. The city of Raleigh also wasn't founded before 1792. In a flashback scene in Chapter Seven: "Lost and Found", Jonathan Beckett Sr. mentions to a young Cutler Beckett that he could purchase him a good commission in the service of the King. However, the timeline established in the movie franchise, with Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge set in 1751,[8] sets the scene with the Becketts around 1705, when Great Britain was ruled by Queen Anne. In the same scene, Cutler Beckett mentions that Isaac Newton might achieve a title, implying that the scene is set before 1705, a year when Newton was knighted by Queen Anne in real-world history. A. C. Crispin herself commented that the world of Pirates of the Caribbean is "not our world" but "an alternate universe" where "there are historical events that don’t add up".[7]

The original name for Venganza, the HMS Peregrine, was never mentioned in The Price of Freedom. As the pirate ship was described as originally being a British Royal Navy vessel in the novel, Crispin was asked about the ship's name after the release of the novel; although she didn't make up a name at the time of writing the novel, Crispin suggested that the original name for the Venganza was HMS Peregrine.[9]

The Price of Freedom also has several continuity errors to Pirates media before and after its release:

  • In The Price of Freedom Chapter One: "Fair Winds and Black Ships", Port Royal was described as being located on the western end of Palisadoes in Jamaica.[6] The 2006-2007 reference books Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide and The Complete Visual Guide describe Port Royal as "a bustling harbor town situated on the eastern tip of Jamaica."[10][11]
  • In The Price of Freedom Chapter Two: "Lady Esmeralda", which takes place years prior to the character joining the crew of the Black Pearl, Ragetti is already one-eyed.[6] In the 2011 comic Six Sea Shanties: Strangers Bearing Gifts - A Tale of the Black Pearl, Ragetti has both eyes and loses one at some unspecified point after Captain Hector Barbossa's crew of the Black Pearl fell under the Aztec curse.[12]
  • Hector Barbossa was described as having "grizzled, graying hair" in The Price of Freedom,[6] which takes place over a decade before the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, where Barbossa's hair is brown.[13] The 2008 book Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean by Rob Kidd, which takes place between the 2011 novel and the 2003 film, described Barbossa as having a "scraggly red beard".[14] Ironically, this is due to Crispin having stated that The Caribbean was the only book in Rob Kidd's series she read while writing The Price of Freedom and was told she didn't have to maintain continuity with them.[9]
  • Since Esmeralda Maria Consuela Anna de Sevilla is the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean in The Price of Freedom and Jack Sparrow is the Lord of the same sea in Legends of the Brethren Court, which is set a few months after the events of The Price of Freedom, it is assumable that he inherited his title and Piece of Eight from Esmeralda. However, that remains yet to be confirmed. A.C. Crispin had an idea for a story that would explain Esmeralda's fate as well as how and why Jack Sparrow became a Pirate Lord of the Caribbean, but she wanted to leave it for another book.[15] However, Disney never contracted her to write it, and due to Crispin's death in 2013, Esmeralda's fate remains unknown.
  • The backstory for the Wicked Wench/Black Pearl is well-known throughout Pirates media as Jack Sparrow's ship that was a merchant vessel for the East India Trading Company named Wicked Wench that Jack eventually rechristens as a pirate ship, Black Pearl,[16][17][18] In The Price of Freedom Chapter Six: "The Wicked Wench", young merchant seaman Jack Sparrow looks at his new merchant ship, and thinks what a wonderful pirate ship she would make, and that "Morgan himself never had such a ship."[6] While it may not be considered a continuity error, the Rob Kidd book Legends of the Brethren Court: Day of the Shadow, which is chronologically set approximately one year after The Price of Freedom, Henry Morgan steals Jack's ship.[19] The 2017 film Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge, which is chronologically set before the events of The Price of Freedom, features a flashback scene of a pirate ship named Wicked Wench under the command of Captain Morgan; although there is no confirmation as to whether the film's Wicked Wench and the Wench that is eventually rechristened Black Pearl is the same ship or not,[20] in part since the film's behind the scenes magazine reveals only the merchant vessel backstory.[21]

Media[]

Editions[]

Cover gallery[]

Appearances[]

Individuals[]

  • Hades (First mentioned)
  • Ra (First mentioned)
  • Sekhemt (First mentioned)
  • Jesus Christ (First mentioned)
  • Bast (First mentioned)
  • Horus (First mentioned)
  • Jack Sparrow's mother (Mentioned only)
  • Neptune (Mentioned only)
  • Mary (Indirect mention only) (First identified as the Virgin)

Creatures and species[]

Objects and weapons[]

Locations[]

Organizations and titles[]

Ships[]

Miscellanea[]

Trivia[]

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom was written by Ann C. Crispin, with James Carson did the jacket illustration and Winnie Ho did the jacket design.[6]
  • A. C. Crispin was an author known for creating fascinating "backstory" for media icons, such as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy as well as Mr. Spock's father Sarek in Star Trek: Sarek. When an editor working for Disney was seeking an author to write a novel dealing with the backstory of Captain Jack Sparrow, as portrayed by Johnny Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, they contacted Crispin's agent and contracted her to write the book after reading The Han Solo Trilogy.[4]
  • According to A. C. Crispin, she was originally contracted by Disney Editions to write "the story of the Isla de Muerta mutiny," presumably Hector Barbossa's mutiny against Jack Sparrow during the voyage to Isla de Muerta, which takes place ten years before the events of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the first film released in 2003. Although Crispin had a full outline written for that book, Disney subsequently changed its mind and told the author to "go further back in time."[9] The Price of Freedom is notably set 13-18 years before the events of the films.[6]
  • The idea of how Jack Sparrow became captain of the Wicked Wench/Black Pearl, where the Wench was a merchant ship that Jack captained and rechristened as a pirate ship, was briefly mentioned in promotional material for the second Pirates film, Dead Man's Chest, released in 2006.[16][17] While the backstory of Jack refusing to transport a human cargo of slaves was written in at least one screenplay draft of the 2007 sequel At World's End, titled Calypso's Fury,[22] the only information presented in the final cut of the films was that Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company gave Jack the pirate brand on his right wrist, and Jack's deal with Davy Jones, in which Jones raised the Pearl from the depths for Jack, occurred thirteen years prior to the events of Dead Man's Chest.[23][24] The additional details about Jack captaining the Wench on behalf of Beckett and the Company as well as refusing to transport the slaves was revealed in 2007 through the At World's End junior novelization[25] and the tie-in book The Pirates' Code Guidelines,[18] with Jack and Beckett's full-length deleted scene "It's Just Good Business" featured in Blu-ray releases beginning in 2011.[26] However, The Price of Freedom expanded that story to new heights.[6] The 2017 film Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge, which is chronologically set before the events of The Price of Freedom, features a flashback scene of a pirate ship named Wicked Wench under the command of Captain Morgan; although there is no confirmation as to whether the film's Wicked Wench and the Wench that is eventually rechristened Black Pearl is the same ship or not,[20] in part since the film's behind the scenes magazine reveals only the merchant vessel backstory.[21]
  • By the time Disney had approached A. C. Crispin for the book, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's script for At World's End had been written, the film was in production and finishing up. Jack Sparrow's line "People aren't cargo" was noted by Crispin while promoting her novel, suggesting the At World's End script in question was a late production draft titled Calypso's Fury, which Rossio later shared on his website Wordplay in 2014.[22] Crispin was able to read the script and use it to write the story of her novel.[27]
  • The original cover of the book was intended to have Jack Sparrow on the helm of a ship.[citation needed] By September 27, 2010, James Carson created one of the proposed covers for the book featuring Jack Sparrow, later shared by Crispin's husband, Michael Capobianco, on February 25, 2014. According to Capobianco, it would have been the real cover except that Johnny Depp decided he did not want his likeness on the book because it was being too widely used.[28]
  • According to A. C. Crispin, one of the many changes that her editors forced her to do, apart from the many rejected outlines, was the deletion of a sex scene. Knowing that it was Disney, Crispin surprisingly didn't find strange to be forced to censor the scene, which according to her words, was hot albeit not graphic, but her editor found it a bit too hot.[29]

External links[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ A.C. Crispin - Science Fiction Fantasy Author - Archived
  2. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom - A.C. Crispin - Science Fiction Fantasy Author - Archived
  3. ↑ Welcome to A.C.Crispin's Official Blog! | ACCess
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The JC Lit Forum Reviews RETROSPECTIVE Special: Han Solo Trilogy III: Rebel Dawn at Jedi Council Forums - Archived
  5. ↑ A.C. Crispin - Excerpt 5 - Chapter Six
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 The Price of Freedom
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nancy Northcott | Mayhem & Romance, Sometimes with Magic  » Becoming Captain Jack Sparrow - Archived
  8. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: Movie Graphic Novel
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 KeepToTheCode.com: View topic - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom - Archived
  10. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide
  11. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide, pp. 16-17 "Port Royal"
  12. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Six Sea Shanties
  13. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  14. ↑ Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean
  15. ↑ View topic - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom - KeepToTheCode.com, Page 6
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Pirate 101: "Figure Head"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Dead Man's Chest.pdf Michael J. Ricciardi - Copywriter (June 1, 2006) (backup link)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Pirates' Guidelines
  19. ↑ Legends of the Brethren Court: Day of the Shadow
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: Behind the Scenes, pp. 34-35
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Wordplayer.com: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
  23. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  24. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  25. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
  26. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Deleted Scene: "It's Just Good Business"
  27. ↑ A. C. Crispin interview - The Price of Freedom - Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction - YouTube
  28. ↑ Ann Crispin - "From Michael, one of the proposed covers for Ann's book The Price of Freedom." - Facebook (February 25, 2014)
  29. ↑ Interview with author A. C. Crispin at Michael A. Ventrella
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