Jolly Roger (Dover Maritime) [Paperback]

Patrick Pringle (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Maritime | Publication Date: August 9, 2001

Fascinating study of the pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries examines the lives and deeds of Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, Anne Bonney, and others, finding the lore about these maritime marauders largely overblown. "Highly entertaining and well-documented." — The New York Times. 35 black-and-white illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

We all know the literary and Hollywood image of pirates as one-eyed, rum-swilling brutes sailing the seas in search of booty. While that has some basis in reality, no one ever really walked a plank or strolled around with a parrot on his shoulder. For the most part, these guys were common crooks looking to make a quick buck any way they could, and a ship far from home with salable goods in its hold was an easy target. Once European governments began sending their navies to catch and punish the thieves, most of these brigands went back to legitimate sailing jobs. Pringle's 1953 volume separates the fact from the fiction regarding these scourges of the sea.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (August 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486418235
• ISBN-13: 978-0486418230
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,340,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Based on fact, not fiction, May 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jolly Roger (Dover Maritime) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book. It deals mainly with western pirates during the 'Golden Age' of piracy. Mr. Pringle compiled his information from court records of trials and other public records in England, the U.S. and the Caribbean islands,in addition to journals and other published accounts. This view is not so romantic, and does not contain the florid descriptions of many other books about pirates, but does seem more realistic. He sets the scene by describing life during the period, and in this context the pirates actions do not seem to be any more brutal than the norm, and sometimes perhaps they were more humane than their legal counterparts. He certainly makes it understandable why pirating became such a popular vocation. There are no maps but there are some illustrations. The writing style is a little dry, but for a factual account of pirates, and the pirating life, this is a good place to start.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Reasoned and Interesting, July 6, 2005

By 

SpeedwayCJ (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jolly Roger (Dover Maritime) (Paperback)

I've read many books about the Golden Age of piracy, but this is the first I've encountered that truly considers the pirates in the context of the morals and norms of their own time. The author has taken a very well-reasoned approach to his examination of piracy and has shown that pirates were neither romantic nor the "abominable brutes" they have previously been purported to be. I found the author's style informative and straightforward. A quick and enjoyable read. Highly recommended for those who wish to explore the origins of piracy and get a more accurate feel for the behavior and methods of the classic pirates, viewed from the perspective of how their actions compared to the moral norms of their more legal contemporaries.