For Fans of True-Life Pirate Stories
"Only someone who has lived in the shadows chasing faded pirates for an
age, and is blessed with creativity, can pull off a book of this high
caliber." --Wreck Watch Magazine
Maritime Media Mountbatten Literary Award Nominee
2021 International Book Awards finalist in History: General
#1 Bestseller in Caribbean & West Indies, Central America, and
Globalization
Pirates scholar, Rebecca Simon, PhD, explains how the global manhunt
for Captain Kidd turned pirates into the romantic antiheroes we love
today.
Crime and punishment. During his life and after his death, Captain
William Kidd's name was well known in England and the American colonies.
He was infamous for the crime for which he was hanged, piracy. Rebecca
Simon dives into the details of the two-year manhunt for Captain Kidd.
Captain Kidd was hanged in 1701, followed by a massive British-led hunt
for all pirates during a period known as the Golden Age of Piracy.
Ironically, public executions only increased the popularity of pirates.
And, because the American colonies relied on pirates for smuggled goods
such as spices, wines, and silks; pirates tended to be protected from
capture.
All things pirates. The more pirates were hunted and executed, the
more people became supportive of the "Robin Hoods of the Sea"―both
because they saw the British's treatment of them as an injustice and
because they treasured the goods pirates brought to them. These
historical events were pivotal in creating the portrayal of pirates as
we know them today. They grew into romantic antiheroes―which ultimately
led to characters like the mischievous but lovable Captain Jack
Sparrow.
Learn about:
- One of the most famous pirates in history
- Real life pirates and the brutal executions they faced
- The origin of our romanticized view of pirates
If you enjoyed books like Black Flags Blue Waters, Under the Black
Flag, The Republic of Pirates, or Villains of All Nations, you'll
love Why We Love Pirates.
