This book gives an accurate picture of the pirates who sailed in the
waters of the Caribbean and off the American coastline during the
'golden age' of piracy between 1660 and 1730. It traces the origins of
piratical activity in the 16th century and examines the Boucaneer
(Buccaneer) culture in Jamaica and Hispaniola. It details what drove
individuals to a life of piracy, how they dressed, their weaponry, the
ships they used and the codes by which they operated. Whether viewed as
villains or victims the Pirates were a major threat to shipping and
commerce in the western Atlantic for more than 70 years.