- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Osprey Publishing (11 Aug 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846032407
- ISBN-13: 978-1846032400
- Product Dimensions: 15.9 x 3.3 x 24.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 259,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"Piracy "is "well-crafted, carefully-indexed, and smartly produced. "Piracy's" 320 pages includes maps, reproductions of engravings, and 16 color pages of period illustrations and modern photographs. As with many books on the subject, vivid characters often drive the story... The author clarifies his terms and identifies his sources and occasionally traces how original data were 'improved' over time... In sum, "Piracy: The Complete History" is a confident introduction to a vast subject from an expert author." -Joseph Gibbs, "Naval History, Magazine of the US Naval Institute "(February 2009)
"Without question, the strength of this book is its examination of a striking amount of global pirate history. Konstam begins in the ancient world, covers many chronological eras and geographical zones, including medieval pirates, the Renaissance sea dogs, the Mediterranean corsairs, the 'golden age' and it's decline, pirates in the Indian Ocean, Chinese pirates, modern piracy and fictional p
"Without question, the strength of this book is its examination of a striking amount of global pirate history. Konstam begins in the ancient world, covers many chronological eras and geographical zones, including medieval pirates, the Renaissance sea dogs, the Mediterranean corsairs, the 'golden age' and it's decline, pirates in the Indian Ocean, Chinese pirates, modern piracy and fictional p
Product Description
When we think of pirates we conjure up images of Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, but these characters hailed from one period. Known as "The Golden Age of Piracy", this period only lasted around a quarter of a century - from around 1700 until 1725.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There's no doubt that Angus Konstam knows a thing or two about pirates. While we all love watching films about swashbuckling adventure the reality was, and is, far more sinister. Konstam covers the whole of the history of pirates from those in the Ancient World until the present day. This book is really all you need to own to get an insight into an activity that has been in existence as long as humans have been able to go to sea. Excellent!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Especially recommended for nautical and military history libraries
12 Dec 2008
Format:Hardcover
Piracy has been around from the time the first boats entered the ocean, and pirate expert Angus Konstam offers a thorough survey of piracy from ancient to modern times. His survey offers more of a military approach than the usual light history, probing strategy, separating fact from fiction, and tracing piracy's development through the centuries. Especially recommended for nautical and military history libraries, the depth of coverage and research exceeds most competing books popularizing the history of piracy.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
The True Story of Piracy
6 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
If you want a thorough, well researched book on the history of piracy -- this book is for you! This book is very detailed and contains such surprising information such as the fact that many beloved historical legends such as Sir Francis Drake, were actually pirates, with secret government approval.
I didn't realize how many governments sanctioned piracy with a "wink" and publicly denied involvement. This continues today. World history is filled with piracy, from the Vikings (a type of pirate) to the bucaneers of the Caribbean.
When Sir Francis Drake and his ship "The Golden Hind" captured Spanish galleons off the coast of Panama in 1579 the plunder amounted to almost 1/2 the annual income of the British crown. Queen Elizabeth I was a secret shareholder in the venture. Well, well...not the history they taught in high school, is it?
This book goes way beyond the Hollywood version of pirates. It gives the true story: brutal, fascinating and real!
I didn't realize how many governments sanctioned piracy with a "wink" and publicly denied involvement. This continues today. World history is filled with piracy, from the Vikings (a type of pirate) to the bucaneers of the Caribbean.
When Sir Francis Drake and his ship "The Golden Hind" captured Spanish galleons off the coast of Panama in 1579 the plunder amounted to almost 1/2 the annual income of the British crown. Queen Elizabeth I was a secret shareholder in the venture. Well, well...not the history they taught in high school, is it?
This book goes way beyond the Hollywood version of pirates. It gives the true story: brutal, fascinating and real!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Interesting, but...
24 Nov 2010
Format:Hardcover
A interesting survey book of covering a wide range of piracy history, ancient through modern.
However, at the same time, readers should be aware that the book is written in a very informal style. For example, Konstam often begins a storyline but is distracted by seemingly irrelevant detours before returning to the original historical point. I was confused at how this book could contain such a lack of craft quality until I noticed how often Konstam publishes books.
If you want a short survey this is a book for you, but I am disappointed with a writing style that displays such a lack of professionalism. It made it difficult to really take a person who I understand is an expert seriously.
However, at the same time, readers should be aware that the book is written in a very informal style. For example, Konstam often begins a storyline but is distracted by seemingly irrelevant detours before returning to the original historical point. I was confused at how this book could contain such a lack of craft quality until I noticed how often Konstam publishes books.
If you want a short survey this is a book for you, but I am disappointed with a writing style that displays such a lack of professionalism. It made it difficult to really take a person who I understand is an expert seriously.
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