The Pirate City: An Algerine Tale by R. M. Ballantyne, first published in 1874. This book present's a true picture of life and events in the Pirate City of Algiers, as exhibited about the first quarter of the present century. Without claiming to be absolutely correct in every trivial detail, he may perhaps venture to hope that, having spent a winter in Algiers, and made a careful examination of the most interesting and authentic records obtainable, error in fact and colouring has been avoided. R. M. Ballantyne (24 April 1825 - 8 February 1894) was a Scottish juvenile fiction writer. Robert Michael Ballantyne was part of a famous family of printers and publishers. He returned to Scotland in 1847, and published his first book the following year, Hudson's Bay: or, Life in the Wilds of North America. For some time he was employed by Messrs Constable, the publishers, but in 1856 he gave up business for the profession of literature, and began the series of adventure stories for the young.