Pirates & Privateers: Books for Pirate Apprentices -- History

The Big Book of Pirates
by Chuck Tessaro
illustrated by Anatoly Slepkov
Running Press, 2004, ISBN 0-7624-1624-6, US $9.98 / CAN $13.95 / UK £8.99

Who are the pirates? How do they live? What happens to them? These are some of the questions this children’s book explores. The author defines the various words for pirates and looks at where pirates prey. Different types of pirate ships and how to navigate them are also discussed. There are short biographies on Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Sam Bellamy, and Bartholomew Roberts. The book also covers fictional pirates, shipwrecks, and piracy today.

The uninitiated reader will find a lot of useful details and depth about piracy here, but not all the facts are as well researched as they should be. For example, the author refers to Marque of Letters, whereas most historians and pirate aficionados know privateers carried Letters of Marque. Some of the quartermaster’s duties actually belong to the boatswain. The difference between the red flag and the black one are reversed. The statement that experts believe pirates wear earrings to improve their eyesight is false. Another problem is that dates aren’t always provided, which leaves the reader thinking the information pertains to all time periods, when in actuality the opposite is true.

Unlike many picture books, the material is geared for older children who want more information but still like wonderful illustrations that show true pirates. The book is a good introduction to piracy, but readers should consult other books as well.

Piratepedia
by Alisha Niehaus and Alan Hecker
DK Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7566-2660-0, US $12.99 / CAN $15.99

Sample page (Source:
Publisher, used with permission,
copyrighted image)

Travel through time to visit the history of piracy. From Ancient Greece to Scandinavia to the Mediterranean Sea to France to the Spanish Main to the South China Sea, readers learn about pirates, their hunting grounds, their victims, life at sea, and the penalties the sea rogues suffer when captured. Piratepedia also explores modern maritime piracy and the swashbucklers of Hollywood and literature. Maps locate where you are, while compasses show you when in time. Signs and advertisements take you on side trips and provide you with tidbits to help you during the journey. Wanted posters highlight notorious pirates, while the "Pirate Times" provides current events of the day. A poster of Jack Rackham’s Jolly Roger is also included.

The vivid and colorful images of artifacts, ships, weapons, treasure, places, tools, and food bring the world of piracy to life. Black-&-white portraits match the faces of individual pirates to their names, allowing readers to observe that your eyes don’t always see the evilness beneath the skin. Although published by the same company as Eyewitness Books (Richard Platt’s Pirate is an example), Piratepedia is geared toward older children and is a wonderful resource for beginning your piratical journey through history. A rare treat is the inclusion of historical tidbits rarely found in other books on this subject.

One drawback is that on occasion the authors give a lopsided view. For example, they mention that Mediterranean corsairs – both Christian and Barbary – enslave people, but portray the Barbary Corsairs as villains, whereas the Knights of Malta come across more as the good guys. In reality, these corsairs are sometimes more brutal toward the many Muslims they enslave than the Barbary Corsairs are to Christians. Also, no mention is made of the fact that Muslims permitted Christian captives to convert and be free, or that many corsairs are renegadoes, Christians who become Muslims and attack the ships and towns of Europe. Someone versed in the history of pirates will also discover some facts that aren’t quite true – such as William Kidd being captured in New York – but these are minor infractions.

Sample page from
Piratepedia (Source:
Publisher, used with
permission, pages are
copyrighted)

Sample page
(Source: Publisher, used with permission)

The cover is eye-catching. Through the eye of the skull one can see a ship outlined against a cloudy, blue sky – ripe pickings for any pirate. Inside is an ominous warning, “Only the brave or the foolish dare enter here . . . .” Both entice readers to delve into the unsavory world of sea villains. Several treasures at the end of the book make Piratepedia a worthy addition to pirate collections. Since the authors include information on piracy today, readers learn about the shipwreck discoveries of Sam Bellamy’s Whydah and Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Historical collections on sea rogues do not usually include excerpts from “Classical Pirate Literature.” Piratepedia does. Each selection begins with an overview of the story and its importance in piratical history, a brief biography of the author, and a list of characters. The pirate stories included here are Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Captain Sharkey. Other authors are mentioned, so adventurous young pirates can delve into other noteworthy stories.

Sample Page (Source:
Publisher, used with
permision, copyrighted image)

Sample page
(Source: Publisher, used with permission)

Pirates
by John Reeve Carpenter
Sterling, 2008, 978-1-4027-6311-3, US $9.95 / CAN $10.95

Pirates primarily focuses on piracy in the early 18th century, the golden age, but also incorporates other time periods. The intent is to separate myth from reality. Chapter one delves into the history from ancient times through the 1800s. The next chapter examines what life is like on a pirate ship, from the social structure to the code of conduct to living conditions at sea. Chapter three discusses battle tactics and weaponry, while the following chapter concentrates on types of ships, Jolly Rogers, and pirate attire. The last chapter presents a who’s who of pirates, beginning with the Barbarossa brothers and ending with Cheng I Sao. The book also includes four appendices: pirate superstitions, pirate legends, fictional pirates, and pirate lore. There is a glossary but no index.

This is a beautifully designed book with wonderful pictures that capture the imagination or skillfully illustrate a particular feature in the text. The pages are the color of parchment and give the impression of aged documents. The fearsome cover art draws the eye and the sturdy binding will stand much abuse.

The information is well organized, neatly arranged, and absorbing to read. This is classified as a reference book, but the lack of an index makes it difficult to find specific information without paging through the book. While the majority of material presented in Pirates is a treasure trove, there are several nuggets of inaccuracy. For example, jealousy over Cheng I Sao’s choice of husband isn’t the reason for the demise of her pirate confederation. She doesn’t remarry until after her husband dies. A few historians claim Lauren de Graff is black; most dispute this claim and there is no proof to verify the color of his skin. Keelhauling is a form of punishment, but not one pirates of the golden age use. It is primarily implemented by navies. The reason for the large number of men on a pirate ship isn’t to replace crew members who died from sickness or injury, but rather they are needed to capture and man prize ships. Gambling, while popular, is forbidden by many codes of conduct while on board a pirate ship because of the conflicts that can arise. There is no evidence Blackbeard tortures captives for sport. Privateers aren’t licensed to attack foreign ships rather enemy ships.

Pirates remains a treasure as long as readers don’t rely on it as their sole source of information on piracy.

Pirates: Facts, Figures & Fun
by Ian Zaczek
Facts, Figures & Fun, 2007, ISBN 978-1-904332-67-1, US $5.95 / UK £5.99

Within the pages of this small book, Zaczek explores the realm of piracy during the 16th and 17th centuries, with particular emphasis on their activities in the Caribbean. After a brief introduction to set the stage worldwide, he interweaves facts with fiction to show readers the truth about such legendary pirates as Henry Avery, Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, William Kidd, and many others. He includes notorious women sea rogues, as well as pirate hunters. In the final two chapters, he examines the image of pirates and their place in popular culture. The final page provides a list of recommended books and websites where readers can find more information.*

One thing to keep in mind is that this book is a British publication. This is why many titles mentioned in the last chapter are ones with which Americans probably won’t be familiar. Also, the author uses “pressurised” for “pressured” when talking about how Kidd's men forced him into attacking several vessels. In no way does this detract; in fact, it provides readers with a refreshing examination of popular culture. Written primarily for teenagers and older children, this book is reminiscent of David Cordingly’s Under the Black Flag.

Information about Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, is a tad confusing, only because the author fails to provide the original name of the vessel until four pages later and the intervening dates may give the reader pause. The chart on pirate trials says fifteen of Blackbeard’s men are tried for piracy, but only provides the outcome for fourteen of them. These are minor issues.

This book is a fast and entertaining read with oodles of information packed into ninety-four pages. Its size is about the same as a paperback, so it is easily carried. The chapter on popular culture includes the Pirates of the Caribbean series and Talk Like a Pirate Day. What I particularly like is the tidbits of information not often found in other pirate books like this. Pirates: Facts, Fiction & Fun is a great introduction to golden age piracy and a worthy addition to your collection, especially if you’re looking for a brief overview that will lead you to further exploration.

*It is an honor to find Pirates and Privateers among the sites listed.

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar

Real World of Pirates
The History of Pirates by Allison Lassieur (ISBN 978-0-7368-6423-7)
The Pirate Code by Liam O’Donnell (ISBN 978-0-7368-6424-4)
Pirate Gear by Liam O’Donnell (ISBN 978-0-7368-6425-1)
Pirate Hideouts by Allison Lassieur (ISBN 978-0-7368-6426-8)
Pirate Ships by Liam O’Donnell (ISBN 978-0-7368-6427-5)
Pirate Treasure by Liam O’Donnell (ISBN 978-0-7368-6428-2)
Capstone Press, 2007, US $23.93 (individual titles) or US $143.58 (set)

This new series introduces pirate apprentices who read chapter books to the world of pirates. Each book is divided into four chapters that concentrate on some aspect of the general topic. Illustrations and photographs are captioned, and a three-point-introduction flag begins each chapter. Special facts are highlighted on a black background with white text, reminiscent of the pirates’ Jolly Roger. The books also contain special features that include a glossary, suggested reading list, an index, and information on how to access FactHound*, a safe-for-children internet site that lists age-appropriate pirate websites.

The History of Pirates examines who they are, how people become pirates, how they live, and what happens to pirates. Much of the material concentrates on the golden age of piracy, but there are two pages on modern maritime piracy. The Pirate Code provides a closer look at what it is like to be a pirate. It includes more details on becoming a pirate and their codes of conduct than History does. It also includes a page on women pirates. Pirate Gear looks at tools pirates use in battle and aboard a ship. The final chapter discusses how pirates entertain themselves while at sea. Pirate Hideouts explores where the pirates hide and where they find safe havens. The book also looks at the notorious Port Royal, Jamaica. Pirate Ships covers ships and how pirates obtained them. Pirate Treasure explains how pirates search for targets, ways in which they steal the treasure, and different types of booty.

According to the publisher, the reading level is grades 3-4 and the interest level is grades 3-9. While no information is provided on the authors, Sarah Knott, the Director of the Pirate Soul Museum in Key West (now the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum in St. Augustine), Florida, serves as the series’ consultant. A few times, the generalization of facts do not quite ring true because they don’t apply to pirates throughout history, but pirate apprentices just beginning to learn about pirates won’t be aware of this. On the whole, the information provided is accurate and the presentation is absorbing. The interesting narrative flows from one page to the next, and the stunning artwork captures the reader’s eyes. While the price is a bit dear, there are few pirate books written for pirate apprentices who have graduated from picture books, but aren’t quite ready for volumes aimed at older children and young adults. It is an excellent introduction to piracy that may spur pirate apprentices to investigate the topic further.

Meet Liam O'Donnell

Cover Art: Ripley's
Pirates Believe It or
Not!

Ripley’s Pirates Believe It or Not!
by Camilla de la Bedoyere
illustrated by John Graziano
Ripley Publishing, 2015, ISBN 978-1-60991-139-3, US $12.95 / CAN $14.95

Within the pages of this book young pirate apprentices can learn all kinds of facts about piracy. Colorful, double-page spreads cover a wide array of topics from famous pirates throughout history and around the world to how to be a scurvy dog and life aboard a pirate ship.

The opening pages explain what readers will find inside the book. First, there’s a table of contents followed by explanations of what to look for. Each entry contains a brief explanation, and then youngsters can explore the various circles, inkblots, rectangles, and diagrams that contain more information.

"Big Word Alerts" identify important words and their definitions.

"Ripley’s Believe It or Not! messages" alert readers to amazing facts, feats, and other “wow!” items. (My favorites are the pirate ship sculpture that is smaller than the eye of a needle, the Floridian who builds a home theater that looks like the inside of a pirate ship, and the father who waves his teenage son off to school each morning wearing a costume. There are over 170 messages in all.)

"Key Facts" provide pertinent information about what’s pictured.

"Twist It! columns" highlight unbelievable facts about pirates.

"Lingo scrolls" give examples of words to use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. (There are also suggestions for creating your own pirate outfit.)

"Ripley Explains . . . boxes" include pertinent information from pirate experts.

The book also includes a pirate newspaper with a few pirate facts but mostly tongue-in-cheek advertisements.

There are some questionable choices included in the book. The "Golden Age of Pirates" pages include a square-rigged ship with three masts even though the label says that many pirates sail sloops, which are smaller vessels with one or two masts. Why Mary Celeste is pictured is puzzling since pirates have never been connected to the merchant ship whose crew disappears. The fact that sailors sometimes refer to casks of rum as “Nelson’s blood” only occurs after 1805 when Admiral Nelson is killed during the Battle of Trafalgar, long after the golden age of piracy.

There are a few errors, too. "Fiibustier" should be spelled flibustier. Henry Morgan is the lieutenant-governor rather than the governor of Jamaica. A frigate carries, at most, fifty guns instead of the ninety guns mentioned under “Types of Sailing Ships.” Rather than being placed in bird-like cages while alive, captured pirates are placed in iron cages after they are dead and these are made to fit their corpses.

Ripley’s Pirates is part of the Twist series, because readers sometimes have to twist the book around to read some of the information. Overall, this hardback book is a treasure trove of trivia and facts about pirates from ancient times to present day. Young pirate apprentices aged seven to eleven will enjoy exploring all the pages.

Roanoke: The Mystery of the Lost Colony
by Lee Miller
Scholastic, 2007, ISBN 978-0-439-71266-8, US $18.99 / CAN $22.99

In 1584, two English ships, guided by a Portuguese pilot named Simon Fernandez, arrive in the New World. They seek a place to claim for Queen Elizabeth, so that England can acquire the same riches Spain takes from the Caribbean and Spanish Main. The man behind this expedition and others is Sir Walter Raleigh, one of the queen’s favorites who feels the best way to attack Spain is from the sea. After all, Spain, which has the most powerful navy, amasses an armada that will eventually attack England.

The following year, another expedition arrives at Roanoke Island to establish a military base. Sir Richard Grenville befriends the Secotan, while John White draws the people, flora, and fauna found in this country. Grenville intends to remain here, but seawater damages their cargo and food, so he returns home. Ralph Lane refuses to go with him. He remains behind to build the fort. He also wages war against the Indians, for he believes he will find gold and silver where the Secotan acquire their copper.

Overcrowding in London and the beauty and serenity of the New World convince John White to establish a colony along Chesapeake Bay. With Raleigh’s backing and the queen’s blessing, he and 117 men, women, and children set sail in 1587, to establish a new home. Among the passengers are his pregnant daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Ananias Dare. Misfortune plagues the voyage almost from the start and their pilot, Simon Fernandez, refuses to take them to Chesapeake Bay. Instead, he deposits them at Roanoke Island, a dangerous place because of Lane’s treatment of the Indians.

Fernandez’s refusal to acquire the needed food and supplies to survive the winter forces White to sail to England after the birth of his granddaughter, Virginia Dare, the first white person born in this New World. Once there, circumstances prevent him from returning for three years. Why doesn’t White return in time to save his family and friends? Why does Fernandez sabotage the voyage at every opportunity? Who hates White enough to endanger the lives of 117 innocent people? Or is someone else the actual target and White and the colonists are merely a convenient means to bring about that person’s ruin? What happens to the colonists and what does the message “Croatoan” mean?

Although pirates play only a peripheral part in the story of the Lost Colony, people like Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth are names well-known to those who follow the Sea Dogs who prey on Spanish treasure ships and towns in the 16th century. Written for older children, anyone will find this narrative of the events surrounding the founding of the colony and the colonists’ subsequent disappearance fascinating. Miller incorporates information from primary documents and asks probing questions that allow readers to attempt to unravel the mystery as they read the book. While definitive answers aren’t available, the colonists and others leave clues to follow and the narrative provides readers with a logical and comprehensive understanding of the circumstances and people who play roles in what happens. Paintings, drawings, and photographs, including White’s sketches, enhance the story and make it more real for the reader. Roanoke: The Mystery of the Lost Colony is a fascinating look into the past and an engrossing examination of an unsolved mystery.

The Story of Pirates
by Rob Lloyd Jones
illustrated by Vincent Dutrait
EDC Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7945-1618-5, US $8.99

Part of the Usborne Young Reading series, “which combines good stories with easy reading text,” The Story of Pirates introduces readers to the history of piracy in six chapters. The journey begins with ancient pirates, which includes those of the Roman Empire, the Vikings, and the Barbary Corsairs. The golden age chapter begins with the discovery of the New World and talks about life as a pirate during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Chapter three covers pirate attacks, covering the Jolly Roger to treasure to articles of agreement. “Cruel Captains” discusses l’Olonnais and Blackbeard, while “Pirates Defeated” covers Bartholomew Roberts and William Kidd. The final chapter touches on modern piracy, Asian piracy, and pirates in fiction. The book closes with an annotated list of ten other famous pirates and privateers.

While chapter one is misnamed, since it covers far more than ancient times, it is a good introduction to key pirates of the past. While the author discusses the cruelty meted out on Christian slaves, he fails to mention that Christian corsairs are equally brutal with their treatment of Muslim slaves. There are also some minor errors in the text. For example, Viking longships do not have flat bottoms. When repairing leaks on the hull of a ship, rotten planks are replaced before oakum and tar are applied, as opposed to just stuffing the leaks with old rope and applying tar. Blackbeard wrecks Queen Anne’s Revenge before he battles Lieutenant Maynard. William Dampier does not maroon Alexander Selkirk; Thomas Stradling does.

Overall, the information presented is easy to read and holds your attention. What adds special panache to the book are the color illustrations. They vividly portray pirates and their lives at sea in a realistic manner. They bring the text to life. The Story of Pirates is a good introduction to pirates for early readers ready for longer books and for reluctant readers. On the last page within the fine print, there is a website where readers can go to learn more about pirates.

Warriors
by James Harpur
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4169-3951-1, US $21.99 / CAN $26.99

Noble is the man who falls in the front line, fighting for his native land.
-- Tyrtaeus, Spartan poet*

Throughout history men have trained to be warriors and have given their lives to defend their homelands, and sometimes to conquer new territories. Within the pages of this oversized book reminiscent of John Matthews’ Pirates, young readers meet warriors of the past: Assyrians, Spartans, Alexander the Great and the Macedonians, Celts, Romans, Gladiators, Vikings, Samurai, Ninja, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, Medieval Knights, Aztecs, and Zulus.

The adventure begins when you open the front cover. Inside is a full-color poster depicting each warrior in traditional garb and armed with the weaponry of his time. The double-page spreads are in full color on glossy, heavy paper that will survive many readings. The pages combine text with artifacts, maps, weapons, and spotlights for each group of fighters. Some pages also have foldouts, tabs to pull, and two groups are found behind the closed gates of their fortresses. The Vikings include a three-dimensional image of a longship, while the Ninja have cards depicting stealth tactics and the Medieval Knights have cards shaped like shields that depict symbols associated with these warriors. The timeline at the end of the book begins with 753 B.C. when Rome is founded, and ends in 1879 when the British defeat the Zulus.

The details, writing, and illustrations provide a gripping introduction to warriors throughout history and the world. Although written for children ages 3-6, adults will find this book just as rewarding and absorbing. Warriors will bring hours of fun and learning for the whole family, and in the process spark interest in exploring each and every one of these warriors further.

*The dates given for this poet are circa 685-68 B.C. This would mean he lived 617 years, which I doubt.
It is the only error I found in the text.