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They probably sailed under the skull and crossbones and swarmed on board captured ships armed to the teeth. They might have had a parrot. But they were more likely to make off with an extra sail and a crate of soap than a chest of treasure, and if they were lucky enough to plunder gold and jewels, they would never bury it. Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates traces piracy through its incarnations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and European and American coasts. Written by David Cordingly, former head of exhibits for Britain's National Maritime Museum, Under the Black Flag explores the facts and myths surrounding a profession that most people only know from the much-romanticized "Treasure Island" and a host of similar books and movies. Were pirates a rowdy bunch of peg-legged, rum-swilling, parrot-toting womanizers on an insatiable quest for pieces of eight? Throughout his meticulously researched book, Cordingly shows that although many of the popular perceptions of pirates came from fiction, they were almost always were inspired by a spark of truth. Cordingly reveals surprising truths about pirates. For example, that most were deserters from navy or merchant ships; that they chose their courses and captains democratically; that from time-to-time they may have had women in their ranks, or even, as in the case of 17th century "pirate queen" Grace O'Malley, as their commander; and that close to a quarter of the crews on pirate ships were African (although they were given the lowest of shipboard tasks and rarely treated as equals). Under the Black Flag also provides an informative and entertaining examination of the lives of such famous pirates as Blackbeard and Capt. Kidd, as well as lesser-known seafaring villains. Unlike their counterparts in the navy or merchant marines who kept detailed logs of their journeys, pirates rarely recorded their travels or documented their activities. Thus, Under the Black Flag pieces together the world of the pirates through trial records, logs and journals of ships attacked by pirates, and newspaper reports. Many an eyewitness who survived an attack on the high seas wrote fearful descriptions of the pirates' appearance and behavior. Cordingly blends his sources into an entertaining read that examines all aspects of pirate life, from who they were and what they wore, to attack methods, life at sea, and codes of conduct. Under the Black Flag is an action-packed, informative resource that will be appreciated by anyone interested in the age of sail or its most desperate denizens. Only $10.40 from us (20% off the list price of $13.00). Rachel Proctor, Associate Editor |
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