Within these
pages of Pirates & Privateers, you'll
find articles on all aspects of maritime piracy from ancient
times to modern day. Pirate Articles is an annotated
list of all the articles I've written. Pirate Links
is an annotated list of the best web sites that specialize
in piracy and life at sea from early days through the Age of
Sail. The Book Review pages house the reviews on the
latest fiction and non-fiction pirate and maritime books for
children and adults. Other highlights include specialized
bibliographies, piratical places to visit, pirate dates in
history, piracy quotes, and information about The Rebel and the Spy, my
current novel-in-progress that started me on the path of
piracy.
If you'd
like to be notified when I post a new article, as well as to
read the latest pirate-related news that doesn't appear
here, subscribe to the Pirates
and Privateers Newsletter. If you'd like
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Privateers.
As always,
if you have a question about pirates, please write and ask.
If you'd like me to write about a particular pirate or
subject, let me
know. One cautionary note to those searching for genealogical information.
Historical records about pirates are rare. Much of what is
known comes from government records, including court trials,
and the few first-person accounts written during a
particular time period. This information rarely contains
details pertinent to what you need to identify and/or learn
about ancestors. The simple fact is that the vast majority
of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer this type of question, so
rather than contact me,you should check genealogical depositories
and websites, as well as national archives.
A special note to
teachers and students: Answering questions and
locating information is something I love to do. If you need
help with a project or report, please contact me.
Should you use any of my articles or reviews, please let me
know and remember to include the proper citation. The
majority of material contained within this website is
copyrighted.
When Murat Reis' original target proved
too dangerous for a quick in-and-out
raid, the corsairs sailed to Baltimore
and in the early hours of the morning,
while all slept, the pirates launched
their attack on this Irish town.
Pirate Quote of the Month
“At all times it [the
forecastle] was a foulsome and suffocating abode,
and in bad weather the water and filth that washed
about the deck, and among the chests and casks,
created the most intolerable and loathsome stench.
“Here, however, these
fourteen sailors and apprentices slept, washed,
dressed, and had their food, except in fine
weather, when they took their meals on deck, their
food consisting almost entirely of inferior salted
pork, beef, which was sometimes nearly as hard and
unpalatable as the kids [containers] in which it
was served, and brown biscuits too often mouldy
and full of maggots. To make matters worse, the
forecastle of the ship was full of rats, and I
have the most vivid recollection of one of these
animals on more than one occasion finding its way
into the hammock where I slept.”
-- W. S. Lindsay, 1830s
Apprentice aboard a merchantman
The
Bonnie Bookaneer's May Book Reviews
A
Tall Ship, a Star, and Plunder edited by Robert
Krog Pirate
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Steampunk (9th century -
Future)
Reviewed by Irwin Bryan
My
apologies to those of you who
stopped by the
Dark Oak Press booth at
MidSouthCon last month to meet me.
If you purchased A
Tall Ship, a Star, and Plunder,
which features my short
story "Rumblethe
Dragon," and would like me to
autograph the book, please contact
me to arrange this. There are
several options available.
Once you read the book, I hope
you'll submit a review either to
me or wherever you purchased a
copy. You can still purchase
an autographed copy directly
from me. If you'd like, click one
of the following to either links
to read
an
excerpt or listen
to
an excerpt. Click
here for Where to purchase
links.
According to
the latest report from the
ICC International Maritime
Bureau, piracy has lessened.
This report on Today
provides charts, maps,
statistical information, and
an animation showing
measures that ships take to
repel pirates.
Seaside
Saturday: Caribbean
Piracy
On 16
August, I'll be appearing at
Moody Garden's Discovery
Pyramid to talk with
visitors about buccaneers,
golden age pirates, and Jean
Laffite. If you're visiting
Galveston Island, Texas, I
hope you'll come visit and
listen. Program times are on
the hour, beginning at 11:00
am. Last presentation will
begin at 3:00 pm. For the
whole family. And while
you're there, why not tour
the visiting exhibit Real
Pirates: The Untold
Story of the Whydah.
We usually
hear about the victims of
pirate attacks, and while
it's impossible to place a
value on the mariners who
experience such terror,
these incidents have an
economic aspect. While
attacks have decreased, the
cost of defending against
them has increased. Joe
Pinsker's slides help
clarify that cost.
Happy
Birthday, Pirates & Privateers
Congratulations
to Todd Carlise, winner of the Pirates
& Privateers Birthday Contest! He
receives an autographed copy of my new
book, A Tall Ship, a Star, and
Plunder, and a $20 Amazon.com
gift card.
Below are six questions to the piracy
clues from Jeopardy!
1. In 1575 this "Don Quixote" author's
ship was overtaken by pirates; he
spent five years as a captive in
Algiers. Who is Miguel
de Cervantes?
2. As his top admiral, Suleiman hired
the pirate Khllayr Ad-Din, known as
this for his red beard, like a
crusading emperor. Who is
Barbarossa?
3. In 1699 this pirate was captured in
Boston; he was hanged two years later,
leaving legends of buried treasure. Who is
Captain William Kidd?
4. In June 1579, this British captain
sailed into a harbor on the west
coast; San Franciscans say it was
their bay. Who is Sir
Francis Drake?
5. In August 2011 this
seventeenth-century pirate captain's
flagship was found in waters off
Panama; as yet no rum has been found. Who is Sir
Henry Morgan?
6. Queen
Anne's Revenge was this
pirate's ship. Who is
Blackbeard (or Edward Teach)?
Thanks to everyone who
participated and to all readers of and
visitors to Pirates and Privateers.
Pirate & Maritine Events &
Exhibits
Events
2nd
Annual
Laffite Seminar
25-26 April 2014
Texas A & M University at Galveston
Pelican Island Campus
Galveston, Texas
Wreck
of the Ten Sail
Book signing with William H. White
26 April 2014
Hendrick Hudson Free Library
Montrose, New York
These
Contrary Winds:
Weather and its Effect on Ships, Mariners, and
Maritime History
42nd Annual Walker Maritime History Symposium
3 May 2013 Maine
Maritime Museum
Bath, Maine
Pirate
Days
3-4 May
Mystic Seaport
Mystic, Connecticut
Pirates
or Privateers
New permanent exhibit
Pointe-à-Callière
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Against
the
Enemies of Great Britain
Bristol Privateers in the 18th Century
1 February - 30 May 2014
Bristol Record Office
Bristol, United Kingdom
Real
Pirates
The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate
Ship
8 February - 1 September 2014 San
Diego
History Museum
San Diego, California
I
just found your website a few days ago and I love
it. It thrills me to find so much more depth on
the subject of piracy than what other websites on
piracy and my bookshelf has to offer. – Drew K.
Being a
Pirate (or How to be one)
History of
Piracy
Modern
Piracy
Notorious
Pirates (or Who was who)
Piracy
Around the World
Pirates and
Literature
Privateers
Wooden
Sailing Ships
Activities
for Young Pirates
Archaeology
Education
Exotic
Ports of Call
History
Modern-day
Piracy
Notorious
Pirates
Pirate
Literature
Piratical
Books Online
Ships and
Sailing
Treasure
Troves
Latest Reviews
Five-Star Reviews
Books for Young Pirates
Books for Apprenticed Pirates and Young Adults
Fiction Books for Adults
Nonfiction Books for Adults
The majority of the artwork on these pages is copyrighted
by the artists. To obtain permission for their use please go to ClipArt.com.
The backgrounds used on Pirates and Privateers are from
WebGround.
The Rebel and the Spy
The Rebel
and the Spy, my current Novel-in-Progress, centers
around Jean Laffite and the Battle of New Orleans.
Below are links to places depicted in the novel and a
resource list for those seeking information on Jean Laffite,
Pirates, Ships in the Age of Sail, the Battle of New
Orleans, Andrew Jackson, and many other subjects.
Each month I alert readers to
the posting of my latest piracy article and book reviews,
new additions made to the site, and interesting tidbits
about piracy. If you'd like to receive the Pirates
and Privateers monthly newsletter, just
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Read a sample
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Pirates
and Privateers
May Article
Pirate and Maritime News
My
apologies to those of you who
stopped by the
Dark Oak Press booth at
MidSouthCon last month to meet me.
Pirate & Maritine Events &
Exhibits
The
Articles
