The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 (Dover Maritime) [Paperback]

George Francis Dow (Author), John Henry Edmonds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Maritime | Publication Date: March 25, 1996

Meticulously researched study based on authentic documents recounts lurid exploits, punishments of such hardened maritime brigands as William Kidd, Charles Harris, Thomas Tew, John Phillips, other marauders. Enhanced with almost 50 contemporary engravings and rare maps. Introduction by Captain Ernest H. Pentecost.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (March 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486290646
• ISBN-13: 978-0486290645
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,445,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, entertaining and accurate source on pirates., November 25, 2000

By 

Sebastián Ignacio Donoso B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 (Dover Maritime) (Paperback)

"The Pirates of the New England Coast" constitutes a very well researched and serious source on Piracy for the period 1630-1730. I highly recomend this book, which is well written, entertaining and accurate. The main character is Boston-born Edward Low, the most notorious of all New Englanders who became pirates. Five chapters are dedicated to him, and one to Captain Lowther, his closest partner in plundering. Three chapters are interesting accounts written by seamen who were captured and remained on board Low's ship for weeks. These narrations are among the most valuable sources dealing with life on board a pirate ship. The exploits of other less known pirates such as Harris, Spriggs, Phillips and Fly,(who were all sailing under Low for some time before seeking their own fortunes independently), are also well detailed and researched, based on first hand documents, including: state papers, judicial documents on the pirate trials, and gazettes dating from the Colonial Period.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Book for Serious Enthusiasts, December 19, 2003

By 

SpeedwayCJ (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 (Dover Maritime) (Paperback)

Most of this book's information is simply a re-hash of previous works, particularly Johnson/Defoe's "A General History of Pirates". This work purports to cover the major pirates of the New England coast, yet almost entirely overlooks Edward Teach (Blackbeard), who spent quite a bit of his time off North Carolina - although the book shows Teach on its cover. The first-hand accounts reprinted in this book are extremely enjoyable, yet I must wonder why such informative accounts have not been included in any other major works on piracy. This leaves me wondering about the authenticity of these accounts. Three times in this work, the flag of Ned Low (and numerous of his shipmates, who set off on their own piratical journeys) is described in detail and each time it is the ensign of Edward Teach that is described, rather than Low, while brief mention of Teach leaves his flag conspicuously undescribed.

While the first-hand accounts are enjoyable to read, I would not recommend this book to serious piratical enthusiasts. Try "A General History of Pirates" instead; you'll read much more reliable accounts of many of the same pirates.