- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Thalamus Publishing (2 April 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1902886186
- ISBN-13: 978-1902886183
- Product Dimensions: 24 x 21.6 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,121,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This book aims to portray an accurate picture of the pirates who sailed in the waters of the Caribbean and off the American coastline during the "golden age" of piracy and shows that the life of a pirate was nasty, brutish and short (with one or two notable exceptions). It traces the origins of piratical activity in the 16th century and examines the Boucaneer (Bucaneer) culture in Jamaica and Hispaniola. It details what drove individuals to a life of piracy, how they dressed, their weaponry, the ships they used and the codes by which they operated, for example, disciplinary procedures and the division of booty. It also catalogues the main characters active during this period: Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Henry Morgan, Henry "Long Ben" Avery, Stede Bonnet, William Kidd, John "Calico Jack" Rackham and the female duo associated with him, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Angus Konstam is the chief curator at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Center in Key West, Florida and one of Osprey's most popular authors.He has organised and researched a major pirates exhibition, which opened in 1997 and is currently touring the US. Angus McBride is a world renowned military artist. He has been illustrating for Osprey for over twenty years. Angus's recent books include Campaign 46 Lake Peipus 1242 and Warrior 21 Highland Clansman 1689-1746.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the Introduction -
"The aim of this book is to strip away the glamour and myth, allowing the true nature of piracy to be revealed. Instead of a life of romantic glamour with crews led by aristocratic swashbuckling heroes, the average pirate was a doomed man, lacking the education, abilities and pragmatism to escape his inevitable fate. A pirate's life was usually nasty, brutish and short."
The Contents are -
P03: introduction
.The Golden Age of Piracy and Sources
P05: The Pirate Crew
.Composition; Motivation; Dress
P09: Pirate Warfare
.Attack using gunfire; Attack by boarding
P14: Pirate Dens
.Port Royal; New Providence; The Carolinas; Madagascar
P16: Pirate Plunder
P17: Pirate Captains and Characters
.Edward Teach (`Blackbeard'); Anne Bonny, Mary Reade and Jack Rackham (`Calico Jack'); Charles Vane; Henry Every (`Long Ben'); Stede Bonnet; William Kidd; Bartholomew Roberts (`Black Bart')
P31: Pirate Ships
.Sloops; Schooners; Brigantines; Three-masted vessels (Square-Riggers)
P33-44: Colour Plates
P48: Pirate Codes
P51: Pirate Flags
P55: Pirate Justice
P59: Bibliography
P60: Plate Commentaries
P64: Index
The Colour Plates -
A: Captain Kidd, 1700. A large figure, fingering his pistols, while in the background 2 pirates bury a chest, and with a ship in the distance
B: Henry Every, 1694. A crowded action scene as Every and his crew prepare to board a larger vessel.
C: Governor Rogers entering New Providence, 1718. This shows the Governor on deck with a couple of crew, with cannon-balls flying as they close with a pirate vessel.
D: Gun and Crew, early 18th century. This shows a gun, crew figures preparing to fire, and a range of utensils and ammunition on display.
E: Anne Bonny and Mary Reede, 1720. This shows the two ladies belabouring their crew, as a Royal Navy vessel approaches.
F: Blackbeard's Last Fight, 1718. This is a two-page fight scene on the deck of Blackbeard's ship.
G: Firearms in the Early 18th Century. This depicts a crewman and a swivel-gun, with a number of smaller firearms and pieces of equipment depicted around him.
H: Stede Bonnet's Execution, 1718. This shows him standing sadly on the back of a cart under the gallows, with the rope around his neck, and a small party of officials in attendance.
I: Bartholomew Roberts, 1723. This shows him in a `Crimson Pirate' costume, standing on a smoking cannon, with various crewmen around him, ready for boarding.
J: Edged Weapons in the Early 18th century. A pirate figure flourishes a cutlass, surrounded by examples of other types of blades, axes and pikes.
K: Pirate Flags. Nine examples of same.
There are many monochrome illustrations, mostly contemporary, supporting the text, which is well-written and readable. The author is an expert on the age of the wooden ship. The colour plates are excellent.
"The aim of this book is to strip away the glamour and myth, allowing the true nature of piracy to be revealed. Instead of a life of romantic glamour with crews led by aristocratic swashbuckling heroes, the average pirate was a doomed man, lacking the education, abilities and pragmatism to escape his inevitable fate. A pirate's life was usually nasty, brutish and short."
The Contents are -
P03: introduction
.The Golden Age of Piracy and Sources
P05: The Pirate Crew
.Composition; Motivation; Dress
P09: Pirate Warfare
.Attack using gunfire; Attack by boarding
P14: Pirate Dens
.Port Royal; New Providence; The Carolinas; Madagascar
P16: Pirate Plunder
P17: Pirate Captains and Characters
.Edward Teach (`Blackbeard'); Anne Bonny, Mary Reade and Jack Rackham (`Calico Jack'); Charles Vane; Henry Every (`Long Ben'); Stede Bonnet; William Kidd; Bartholomew Roberts (`Black Bart')
P31: Pirate Ships
.Sloops; Schooners; Brigantines; Three-masted vessels (Square-Riggers)
P33-44: Colour Plates
P48: Pirate Codes
P51: Pirate Flags
P55: Pirate Justice
P59: Bibliography
P60: Plate Commentaries
P64: Index
The Colour Plates -
A: Captain Kidd, 1700. A large figure, fingering his pistols, while in the background 2 pirates bury a chest, and with a ship in the distance
B: Henry Every, 1694. A crowded action scene as Every and his crew prepare to board a larger vessel.
C: Governor Rogers entering New Providence, 1718. This shows the Governor on deck with a couple of crew, with cannon-balls flying as they close with a pirate vessel.
D: Gun and Crew, early 18th century. This shows a gun, crew figures preparing to fire, and a range of utensils and ammunition on display.
E: Anne Bonny and Mary Reede, 1720. This shows the two ladies belabouring their crew, as a Royal Navy vessel approaches.
F: Blackbeard's Last Fight, 1718. This is a two-page fight scene on the deck of Blackbeard's ship.
G: Firearms in the Early 18th Century. This depicts a crewman and a swivel-gun, with a number of smaller firearms and pieces of equipment depicted around him.
H: Stede Bonnet's Execution, 1718. This shows him standing sadly on the back of a cart under the gallows, with the rope around his neck, and a small party of officials in attendance.
I: Bartholomew Roberts, 1723. This shows him in a `Crimson Pirate' costume, standing on a smoking cannon, with various crewmen around him, ready for boarding.
J: Edged Weapons in the Early 18th century. A pirate figure flourishes a cutlass, surrounded by examples of other types of blades, axes and pikes.
K: Pirate Flags. Nine examples of same.
There are many monochrome illustrations, mostly contemporary, supporting the text, which is well-written and readable. The author is an expert on the age of the wooden ship. The colour plates are excellent.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wanted to know about pirates so I purchased this book. It has a great overview into pirates and captains and their troubles. This book talks about the famous names such as Edward Teach (Blackbeard), William Kidd and many more. This book talks about pirate flags, an introduction in boats and how pirates were delt with once caught. This book shows you the harsh reality of being a pirate and that it is nothing like the what the movies say. I am surely going to buy more Osprey books to increase my knowledge. If you are interested in learning about pirates I suggest you get this book!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
AHOY!
1 Aug 2000
Format:Paperback
This is a great book to anyone interested on this period and in piracy.Angus Konstam's text is both concise and accurate,while Angus McBride's illustrations are certainly some of the best I have ever seen.The book is mostly about British pirates which should be expected,since Osprey is from Great Britain,and British sailors were always inclined towards piratical activities.The sections on pirate warfare and pirate codes are particularly nice,and you get biographies on such pirates as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd as well.The only thing I miss is a color cut-away illustration of a pirate ship.Even though,I must say It's an A+ job from front to back cover.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Pirates
10 April 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I got this book and read all of it today, and found it to be a fine and enjoyable to read introduction to Piracy, focusing on European and Colonial American piracy between 1660 and 1730. The author does point out in his introduction that pirates always have, and always will exist, simply in different forms with different tactics. The author also discusses the fine line between legal or semi-legal privateers, and then the truly criminal pirates, as well the as the roles of women and black sailors. The book discusses the following topics:
The Pirate Crew (composition, motivation and dress)
Pirate Warfare (tactics)
Pirate Dens
Pirate Plunder
Pirate Captains and Characters (brief descriptions of 9 piratical careers)
Pirate ships (inlcuding sloops, schooners, brigantines, and square-riggers)
Pirate Codes
Pirate Flags
Pirate Justice
Biblography, plate commentary, and index
The book also has 12 pages of full-color paintings by the incomparable Angus McBride, depicting the pirates themselves along with their weapons, victims, flags, and executioners.
The Pirate Crew (composition, motivation and dress)
Pirate Warfare (tactics)
Pirate Dens
Pirate Plunder
Pirate Captains and Characters (brief descriptions of 9 piratical careers)
Pirate ships (inlcuding sloops, schooners, brigantines, and square-riggers)
Pirate Codes
Pirate Flags
Pirate Justice
Biblography, plate commentary, and index
The book also has 12 pages of full-color paintings by the incomparable Angus McBride, depicting the pirates themselves along with their weapons, victims, flags, and executioners.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The Golden Age of Piracy
22 Jan 2006
Format:Paperback
This is an Osprey book, so you need to think in terms of an adult version of the Eyewitness picture books. You shouldn't expect an exhaustively comprehensive treatment of the subject, after all they tend to be only 1/4 inch thick.
So, with expectations aligned, this is a fairly well done treatment of the subject of pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy. There are quite a few pictures to compliment the text and the topics covered include their origins, dress, tactics, flags, ports and ships. Konstam gives us some brief biographies of a few of the famous names like Teach, Bonny, Reade, Rackam, Vane, Every, Bonnet, Kidd and the Dread Pirate Roberts.
An excellent overview suitable for adolescents and adults, for more detail on William Kidd I suggest Richard Zacks' The Pirate Hunter, for more of an overview of piracy through the ages I suggest Konstam's The History of Pirates.
So, with expectations aligned, this is a fairly well done treatment of the subject of pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy. There are quite a few pictures to compliment the text and the topics covered include their origins, dress, tactics, flags, ports and ships. Konstam gives us some brief biographies of a few of the famous names like Teach, Bonny, Reade, Rackam, Vane, Every, Bonnet, Kidd and the Dread Pirate Roberts.
An excellent overview suitable for adolescents and adults, for more detail on William Kidd I suggest Richard Zacks' The Pirate Hunter, for more of an overview of piracy through the ages I suggest Konstam's The History of Pirates.
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