The Pirate World: A History of the Most Notorious Sea Robbers

Description

Highly illustrated with colour images and specially commissioned maps throughout, this is a unique exploration of the pirate world. Often romanticised in print and on the silver screen, real-life pirates were a brutal menace that plagued the high seas. In this book, Angus Konstam separates myth from reality, tracing the history of piracy through the centuries, from the pirates who plagued the Ancient Egyptians to the Viking raids and on to the era of privateers. He discusses the so-called 'Golden Age of Piracy' and colourful characters such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, before examining the West's initial encounters with Eastern pirates off the Chinese coast and the phenomenon of the modern pirate.

Angus Konstam hails from the Orkney Islands, and is the author of over 80 books, 60 of which are published by Osprey. This acclaimed author has written widely on naval history, from Sovereigns of the Seas and Piracy: The Complete History to his most recent bestseller, Jutland 1916: Twelve Hours to Win the War. A former naval officer and museum professional, he worked as the Curator in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He now works as a full-time author and historian, and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This book is well-written and accurate, while the illustrations are an effective mix of period and modern reproductions with informative captions. - Ship's Library "Avast ye! If contemplating buying this rousing book, don't feel like a sword is pricking your back as you're forced to walk the plank toward a plunge into Davy Jones' locker. "The Pirate World" is well worth a few pieces of eight." - Toy Soldier & Model Figure Angus Konstam, a renowned maritime historian, has produced this very colorful book about a very colorful subject: maritime piracy. - Seapower Magazine