Pirates [Paperback]

Charles Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2002

A facsimile edition of a classic source for the history of piracy, as used by Robert Louis Stevenson in the writing of Treasure Island. Captain Charles Johnson's General History of Pirates was one of the best-selling books of 1724, when it was first published. It provides a sweeping account of what has come to be called the Golden Age of Piracy. It went through four editions in two years, and without doubt owed a substantial part of its success to a dramatic writing style that vividly captures the realities of pirates' savage existence. The book contains documentary evidence of events during the lives of its subjects. In the 270 years since its original publication, Johnson's work has come to be regarded as the classic study of one of the most popular subjects in maritime history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Brasseys Publications (July 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851779190
• ISBN-13: 978-0851779195
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,894,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captain Johnson's General History, September 18, 2002

By 

David Stapleton (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pirates (Paperback)

This is yet another knock-off from Captain Charles Johnson's volumes on pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy. It contains narratives on all the old favorites: Blackbeard, Kidd, Roberts, Bonny to name a few.

The things that set this text slightly above the others of its ilk are the coverage of more pirates than just the usual favorites, less 'constructive' deletion of the original text, and the inclusion of an index. I could go on and on about how useful an adequate index is when attempting to hunt down information on a particular ship or pirate, but I won't. P-)

4.0 out of 5 stars Pirates, October 22, 2011

By 

Geekmaster - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pirates (Kindle Edition)

A historical narrative, possibly somewhat novel like ("docu-drama"). Reads much as court documentation (Court TV, 1695). all in all a gives a good feel for the stories of the major pirates. have maps. (wikipedia, maps, etc,) ready, as the stories sail from Martinique to Mozambique.