Pirates: Truth Behind The Robbers Of The High Seas, The

Description: Pirates have an almost mythical status in the public imagination - we think of rogue heroes riding the high seas and 'X marks the spot'. But is this image is flawed at best. Using contemporary sources, Nigel Cawthorne turns the spotlight on the reality of pirate life, revealing the truth behind the legends. It gives us an insight into infamous the men and women who plundered ship and shore, including Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and Mary Read. We learn of the hazy distinction between pirates and state-approved privateers who were used to maintain empire, as well as the Port Royal pirate base in Jamaica - known as the 'wickedest city in the world'. Including details of various pirate exploits, as well as their weapons, ships and unhappy victims, this fascinating read will divide fact from slippery fiction.



Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Victims Chapter 2: The Privateers Chapter 3: The Buccaneers Chapter 4: 'The Richest and Wickedest City in the New World' Chapter 5: The Weapons Chapter 6: The Ships Chapter 7: Life Aboard the Pirate Ships Chapter 8: Captain Kidd and the Lure of the Orient Chapter 9: The Suppression of Piracy Chapter 10: The Swashbuckling Continues Further Reading Index



Author Biography: Nigel Cawthorne studied at University College, London, where he gained an Honours degree in Physics, before turning to writing as a career. He has been a writer and editor for over 25 years. He has written, contributed to and edited more than sixty books, including Fighting Them On The Beaches, The Battle of Britain, Vietnam: A War Lost and Won, Stalin, and more. His work has also appeared in over 150 newspapers, magazines and partworks.