All
the best stories begin at the end, and this story is no exception. In
1695
Henry Every, a thirty-six-year-old master mariner from the south coast
of
Devon, led one of the most powerful pirate crews in history on a short
but
spectacularly successful cruise in the Red Sea. Their capture of the
Grand
Moghul’s ship the Gang-i-Sawai was
one of the most successful crimes ever committed, and while it made the
fortune
of Every’s pirates, it plunged the nascent British Empire into turmoil.
Thus begins this fascinating and
riveting account
into the life and escapades of Henry Every and his men. While other
pirates are
better known, Every was a legend in his own time. He accomplished what
others
only dreamed of and he succeeded in getting away with it. With a single
capture
he became the most wanted man in the world, yet he eluded authorities
even
though many of his crew did not.
Within the pages of this book,
Fox recounts the
life of this pirate and the times in which he lived. The Prologue sets
the
stage and explores what is and isn’t known about Every’s early life.
Chapter
one covers his navy career and his work as a master for the Royal
African
Company, while the next chapter examines how he went on the account.
The next
several sections cover his capture and aftermath of the Gang-i-Sawai.
The trials of Every’s men are covered in chapter
seven, and the next focuses on Every’s
disappearance.
This concise, yet
thorough, examination of Henry
Every’s life is further enhanced with an epilogue, appendices, notes,
and
index. The first, entitled “Flotsam and Jetsam,” covers a treasure
chest of
related information about bit players and early accounts. Among the
topics
found in the appendices are Every’s “Declaration” at Corunna, Every and
the
Derbyshire Everys, wages and money, Every and William Kidd, legends of
buried
treasure, and the Fancy’s crew.
King
of the Pirates is a
must read for
any pirate enthusiast or fan of Henry Every. While many books include
information on this noteworthy buccaneer, this is one of the few books
devoted
to him and the most recent, best documented resources available.
Book Review Copyright ©2009 Cindy Vallar
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