Pirates: The Complete History From 1300 Bc To The Present Day [Paperback]

This engaging, comprehensive account of one of the worlds oldest professions should fascinate pirate-lubbers. Publishers Weekly starred review Well-crafted, carefully indexed, and smartly produced. . . . A confident introduction to a vast subject from an expert author. Naval History magazine Without question, the strength of this book is its examination of a striking amount of global pirate history. . . . For those looking to study world pirates over the longue duree, this book is a worthwhile purchase. Northern Mariner A thorough survey . . . The depth of coverage and research exceeds most competing books.BookwatchA rollicking, in-depth look at the bloody world of pirates. Konstam sails through the brutal history of piracy, separating myth from legend and fact from fiction. Pirates takes you into the depths of the pirate's dark world, examining the many colorful characters of the golden age of piracy. .Angus Konstam sets sail through the brutal history of piracy, separating myth from legend and fact from fiction. Pirates takes us into the depths of the pirates dark world, examining the many colorful characters from Cretans and Vikings to French corsairs and the British rogues of the golden age of piracy, such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd and even two women pirates, Mary Read and Ann Bonny, who became pregnant to avoid execution. A blood-soaked, riveting account, it provides a complete history of the fearsome threat on the high seas from the marauders in the pages of antiquity to the Somali pirates in the headlines of today.Angus Konstam, an expert on the history of piracy, is the author of more than fifty books, including History of Pirates and History of Shipwrecks (both Lyons Press). A former naval officer and underwater archaeologist, he advised the archaeologists who excavated Blackbeards Queen Annes Revenge and has appeared on the History Channel.The word pirate instantly conjures a fearsome figure in a tricorner hat, brandishing a cutlass ol³.