Pirates & Privateers: Diana and Michael Preston's Books

Published in 1697, A New Voyage Round the World caused a sensation in England. Within nine months it went into three printings and was translated into several foreign languages. This travel book was the first of several volumes William Dampier wrote. His observations of nature and indigenous peoples and their cultures influenced the writings of Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift, the studies of Charles Darwin, and the maritime education of Lord Nelson and Captain Cook.

In spite of his achievements and his influence on others, Dampier remains a relatively obscure individual. Much of what is known of his life comes from his books, which are based on his journals, the originals of which are lost. The Prestons sift through early copies of his works, legal documents, and letters to recreate William Dampier, the man. They also visit the places he explored to gain a better understanding of what he saw and experienced during his twelve-year voyage around the world. To complete the picture, they consult the journals of fellow buccaneers and privateers, as well as the writings of men he influenced long after his death.

This well-rounded biography provides a detailed portrait of a man who did extraordinary things fraught with danger and survived to share his experiences with others. The Prestons succinctly explore the complexities and contradictions of a man who was an adventurer, buccaneer, traveler, celebrity, and sailor. In the process they have written a compelling narrative that allows the reader to experience the excitement and perils of life during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, while learning about a man whose writings made a profound impression on writers, mariners, and scientists who came after him.