LIVERIGHT Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates

Very good read, took it on Hoilday and it was hard to put down as it tell you about a history you probably didn't realise about pirates over the centuries.

As one who greatly enjoyed (and learned from) Eric Jay Dolin’s previous books on whaling (Leviathan), the American fur trade (Fur, Fortune, and Empire), lighthouses (Brilliant Beacons), and (especially) the China trade (When America First Met China), I have been looking forward to his new book on American piracy. Black Flags does not disappoint. Like many, my knowledge of pirates was based primarily on movies (Disney, Peter Pan, etc.) and works of fiction (Treasure Island, etc.). I knew very little about the “real story” of piracy and its role in Colonial American history. Black Flags provides a fascinating introduction to the growth and decline of the “piracy industry,” with a focus on its (often colorful) participants. The reader will learn about the not-so-glamorous, often violent, realities of the lives of those who were involved in this trade off the coast of America during the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Dolin is a great story teller, with an ability to blend tales of individual pirates with an explanation of the reasons for the growth of piracy during the colonial era. He explains how and why piracy became a viable (though not always profitable) way of life for many, and the evolving attitudes about the role of pirates on American life. As a New England resident, I was surprised to learn about the amount of pirate activity in this region during the Colonial period, and the often symbiotic relationship between pirates, government officials, and the citizens of the American colonies. Black Flags is first rate scholarship, and Dolin is to be commended for his impressive research, given the lack of first-hand accounts of those involved in pirate activities. Unlike studies of whaling or naval history, pirates rarely (if ever) recorded their activities in logbooks or journals. The pirate industry certainly produced no Melville, no Richard Henry Dana, to provide an “inside look” at the daily life aboard pirate ships. Yet, the author has been able to put together a fascinating description of the lives of pirates – and the reasons for their involvement in the trade. Black Flags is richly illustrated throughout with copies of old prints and engravings of the people, places, and ships described in the text, along with numerous maps. In summary, Dolan’s book is a fascinating, entertaining look into the realities of a topic many know of – but typically know little about. Highly recommended!

Great book on pirates. The addition of Red Sea Pirates plundering the Indian Ocean from Madagascar to the Arabian Sea is a nice addition to the regular Pirate tales. Also interesting is the general democratic decision making that required majority votes on each decision as to where to go and which nationality of ships to target. The typical review of the Pirates code including how the booty was divied up among all crew is a great understanding of ships operations. Great Summer read.

The book arrived in time and in good condition, but it wasn’t delivered directly… the delivery person just dropped it over a gap on the fence to the garden.

Quien diría... los piratas el gran invento de los ingleses. Me gusta este libro. Así como con los Vikingos, este tema por años busque algún libro que ahondará en el tema. Lo recomiendo ampliamente