Immensely readable history by the author of Robinson Crusoe incorporates the author's celebrated flair for journalistic detail, and represents the major source of information about piracy in the early 18th century. Defoe recounts the daring and bloody deeds of such outlaws as Edward Teach (alias Blackbeard), Captain Kidd, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, many others.
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Despite varying titles, these are essentially the same book. Published in 1724, Defoe's chronicle of the scourges of the sea was a smashing success, finding a wide audience eager for tales of those cutthroat sailors who flew the skull and crossbones. The Dover edition is more scholarly, including several essays on Defoe, indexes (ships, names, and places), photos, and a postscript. If you don't need any of that, save a couple of bucks and go with the Carroll & Graf edition.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the most complete and authoratative version of the General History that you'll be able to find. It contains both Volume 1 and Volume 2 and is superbly edited with extensive footnotes and a graceful treatment of the language. It preserves the eighteenth-century feel while making some subtle changes in spelling and punctuation to make it more comprehensive to us. Also, Volume 2 originally contained an appendix with corrections and additions to the biographies contained in Volume 1; this edition places those sections with the chapters in Volume 1 to which they correspond, and indicates clearly when this has been done. A word of warning: Defoe sometimes takes off on long tangents that digress quite far from the subject at hand, and these sections have not been ommitted; but as a reader I personally appreciate the editor letting me decide which parts I do or do not wish to read.
As a point of interest, I originally sought out this edition because it's the same one that David Cordingly used to write his excellent book Under the Black Flag. I highly recommend it for anyone seriously interested in piratology, history or literature.
As a point of interest, I originally sought out this edition because it's the same one that David Cordingly used to write his excellent book Under the Black Flag. I highly recommend it for anyone seriously interested in piratology, history or literature.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Pyrates, when we think of them we think of good for nothing brutes who plagued the seas and made they're prisoners walk the plank, in fact it's far from the truth. First of all let me point out that the plank walking is a myth and that most pyrates were not blood thirsty murderers. Daniel DeFoe wrote an excellent book, he gives you enough background on the person or place, before you read about him or it. Pirates for the most part were saillors who had lost they're jobs after the big wars, and turned to robbing the great ships like the Great Monghol's vessels of silver, gold, fabrics, spices and goods. All the captains especially Blackbeard(yes there really was a blackbeard) have great and colorful personalities and backgrounds. My favorite story in here would have to be the sad story of Cpt. Thomas Tew, one of the bravest pyrates ever, why should I tell you his story, read it for yourself, it's tragic and inspiring a great read. For an interesting piece of work, filled with alot of information and short stories look no further than Daniel Defoe's: A Genereal history of pyrates.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While excellent, this book is the same volume also published under the name of Captain Johnson, sold in a different edition, with a different cover, etc. I was in a rush to read several authentic pirate stories, and bought both books. Don't make the mistake I did!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A rogues gallery from the golden age of piracy
Daniel Defoe (or whoever the author is...the book is pseudonymous) reports, embellishes, and occasionally invents the lives of 35 of the most notorious pirates from the "golden age... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Joel E. Mitchell
Foundational
The most authoritative edition of the foundational book on piracy. There is no other single work on piracy as important as this contemporary history. Read more
Published on June 11, 2009 by James Flagg
A General History of the Pyrates
A General History of the Pyrates is good reading! Great history on famous pirates!
Published on July 18, 2008 by D. L. Dodds
Fun
This book is written in a different kind of English than we what are used to. As such, this book is amazing. Read more
Published on July 14, 2008 by T. Nunley
Daniel Defoe vs Captain Charles Johnson
I compared this book with the pirate history published by Captain Charles Johnson. Daniel Defoe is definitely Captain Johnson. Read more
Published on May 2, 2008 by John Gow
"The" history of Pirates
"Under the Black Flag", and all the rest of the pirate history books used this one as their basic reference. Read more
Published on November 15, 2007 by G. Powell
More illustrative of Defoe's life than Piracy
The dearth of primary sources have encouraged "scholars" to grasp onto the Furbanks / Owens short de-atrribution, which is basically an ad hominem attack against the preeminent... Read more
Published on June 4, 2007 by D. Leedy
Yes! Buy this book and give it to friends as well
Let them know you like Pyrates! Be a Pyrate from time to time, but don't kill or mame anyone. This is an incredible book, full of information, non-stop action, and because it is... Read more
Published on August 8, 2006 by Author Jude Stringfellow
Saved by Captain Johnson?
If you are a fan of Defoe and want to read about pirates in their heyday then this is the book you need. Read more
Published on May 3, 2006 by DH Dixon
General History of Pyrates
As to the author of this book, I personally do not believe it was Daniel Defoe and I have done a certain amount of research on the subject. Read more
Published on June 7, 2005 by "eyelovefantasy"
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