Pirate reading

[manatic]

Made a post on my blog about some of my favourite books on (Golden Age) piracy, from a sort of "start here" angle, and figured it might interest some of the PM&FS crew.

To avoid clickbaiting, they are:

Marcus Rediker: Villains of All Nations : Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age
David Cordingly: Under the Black Flag : The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates
Colin Woodard: The Republic of Pirates
Captain Charles Johnson: General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates
Angus Konstam: Pirates of the Seven Seas

For the blog post, see here.

What are your favourites? Always happy to find more interesting takes.

[Plynkes]

I found If a Pirate I Must Be by Richard Sanders to be a very enjoyable read. It's about the Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts (the original "Dread Pirate Roberts", I guess, if you are a Princess Bride fan). Told me a lot of stuff about pirates that I never knew from movies and books like Treasure Island (which I would also suggest everyone read, because it's fantastic).

Of course, I entirely agree and it almost goes without saying that you should read A General History of The Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson. I've also seen it published as A General History of the Pyrates and The Lives of the Most Notorious Pirates (I have copies of several different editions!). The original work from which we get most of our knowledge of the lives of the famous pirates, and which shaped our notions of what pirates were. I'd try and get an edition with the 18th Century illustrations in it, as they are pretty cool.

[manatic]

I found If a Pirate I Must Be by Richard Sanders to be a very enjoyable read. It's about the Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts (the original "Dread Pirate Roberts", I guess, if you are a Princess Bride fan). Told me a lot of stuff about pirates that I never knew from movies and books like Treasure Island (which I would also suggest everyone read, because it's fantastic).

Excellent to hear that, as If a Pirate I Must Be is on my table in my reading queue! Treasure Island is excellent, far too often overlooked as being a children's book.

[Lowtardog]

A long while since dabbled in pirates and gaming but a novel that I couldn`t put down was Long John Silver by Bjorn Larsson

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-John-Silver-Björn-Larsson/dp/1860465382

[manatic]

A long while since dabbled in pirates and gaming but a novel that I couldn`t put down was Long John Silver by Bjorn Larsson

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-John-Silver-Björn-Larsson/dp/1860465382

That sounds really interesting. There's a distinct lack of quality pirate fiction in my opinion.

[Sir_Theo]

I've read the David Cordingly and Captain Charles Johnson books and wholeheartedly second your recommendation. I'll add the others to my wish list.

Obviously Treasure Island as well 

[Dr DeAth]

For those like me who don't have too much time to read, but plenty of time to listen, Audible have just released Treasure Island as an 'Audible Original Drama'. Very enjoyable.

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Classics/Treasure-Island-Audiobook/B071JSM4H1?ref=a_a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=WC80TE6MX4G550J7RTJZ&