The History Of Pirates

Piracy flourished in the early 18th century, producing many of the buccaneers whose legendary names have gripped our imaginations: Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts, to name a few. Yet piracy on the high seas existed long before Blackbeard's name struck terror in the hearts of merchant seamen - Julius Caesar was captured by pirates - and it remains a problem today. Modern pirates regularly attack vessels sailing through the South China Sea. The History of Pirates traces piracy from the seas of antiquity to the New World and beyond. It represents a thorough, authoritative, and memorable portrait of the fascinating world of pirates. Detailed maps bear vivid testimony to the far-ranging exploits of these capricious, often charismatic, and frequently bloodthirsty robbers of the high seas. (8 1/2 11, 192 pages, color photos, maps, illustrations) Angus Konstam was formerly Curator of Arms and Armour at the Tower of London, and was also Chief Curator at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West. Konstam's vast knowledge of maritime history, and his study of countless manuscripts and historic objects, have helped to make this book a truly exceptional study. David Cordingly is the editor of A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates. He was on the staff of the National Maritime Museum in London for twelve years. He organized multiple exhibitions, including "Pirates: Fact & Fiction." Cordingly graduated from Oxford University, where he studied modern history, and received his doctorate from the University of Sussex.


Here is a wonderful chronicle of thievery, murder, and torture on the high seas, all in a beautiful oversized book.

"The History of Pirates" recounts the violence, danger, bravery, and cruelty of those who have taken to the sea in search of wealth. This book covers thousands of years of maritime history -- from ancient Greece and Rome to the "Golden Age" of the Spanish Main to modern-day pirates. It includes a piracy timeline, plus individual maps showing where each of the featured pirates operated.

Piracy flourished in the early eighteenth century, producing many of the famous pirates whose names have gripped our imaginations: Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts, to name a few. Yet piracy on the high seas existed long before Blackbeard's name struck terror in the hearts of merchant seamen (Julius Caesar was captured by pirates) and it still exists today. Vessels sailing through the South China Sea are regularly attacked by modern-day buccaneers.

"The History of Pirates" is a thorough, authoritative, and memorable portrait of the fascinating world of pirates. Detailed maps bear vivid testimony to the far-ranging exploits of these capricious, sometimes charismatic, and frequently bloodthirsty sea dogs and highwaymen of the oceans. A great nautical adventure is on display in this beautifully illustrated new book that is both authoritative and entertaining.