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Title details for Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly - Available

Under the Black Flag

The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates

by David Cordingly
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
“This is the most authoritative and highly literate account of these pernicious people that I have ever read.”—Patrick O'Brian
“[A] wonderfully entertaining history of pirates and piracy . . . a rip-roaring read . . . fascinating and unexpected.”—Men's Journal
This rollicking account of the golden age of piracy is packed with vivid history and high seas adventure. David Cordingly, an acclaimed expert on pirates, reveals the spellbinding truth behind the legends of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Sir Francis Drake, the fierce female brigands Mary Read and Anne Bonny, and others who rode and robbed upon the world's most dangerous waters. Here, in thrilling detail, are the weapons they used, the ships they sailed, and the ways they fought—and were defeated. Under the Black Flag also charts the paths of fictional pirates such as Captain Hook and Long John Silver. The definitive resource on the subject, this book is as captivating as it is supremely entertaining. 
Praise for Under the Black Flag
“[A] lively history . . . If you've ever been seduced by the myth of the cutlass-wielding pirate, consider David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag.”—USA Today, “Best Bets”
“Engagingly told . . . a tale of the power of imaginative literature to re-create the past.”—Los Angeles Times
“Entirely engaging and informative . . . a witty and spirited book.”—The Washington Post Book World
“Plenty of thrills and adventure to satisfy any reader.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 6, 2013

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780307763075

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780307763075
      • File size: 13910 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 29, 1996
      Widespread piracy began in the Western world in 1650 and ended abruptly around 1725. Cordingly, formerly on the staff of the National Maritime Museum in England, describes who became pirates (mainly volunteers who joined up when their ships were captured); what they wore (scarves or handkerchiefs around their head, just like in the movies); and how they were armed (literally, to the teeth). Pirates, says the author, were "attracted by the lure of plunder and the desire for an easy life." They were not the clean-cut heroes of the Errol Flynn films either, but cutthroat murderers. Some of the famous pirates are portrayed: Sir Francis Drake made his name by plundering silver on the Spanish Main; Sir Harry Morgan is famous for his ransom of Portobello to the President of Panama for 250,000 pesos; and Captain Kidd remains mysterious because of his buried gold and silver on Gardiners Island, near New York City. Fictitious pirates are also surveyed, such as Long John Silver and Captain Hook, and the allure they still have over us is explored. Even if you don't know a corsair (a Mediterranean-based pirate) from a buccaneer (a Caribbean pirate), this book will delight and inform. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 1, 1997
      This account of the daily life of such figures as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd "will delight and inform," said PW.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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