A General History of the Pyrates

by Daniel Defoe

Overview

Immensely readable history by the author of Robinson Crusoe incorporates the author's celebrated flair for journalistic detail, and represents the major source of information about piracy in the early 18th century. Defoe recounts the daring and bloody deeds of such outlaws as Edward Teach (alias Blackbeard), Captain Kidd, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, many others. New Introduction provides insights into the origins and significance of this important historical work. Commentary and Notes. Indexes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781717134257
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	04/19/2018
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

London-born Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) pursued a variety of careers including merchant, soldier, secret agent, and political pamphleteer. He wrote books on economics, history, biography, and crime. But he is best remembered for his fiction, which he began to write late in his life and which includes the novels Moll Flanders, Roxana, and the celebrated Robinson Crusoe.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Editor's Introduction
A Note on the Text
Sailing Ships
I. A Description of a Ship with all her Tackling
2. Definitions of Old Sea-Craft
Volume I A General History of the Pyrates
The Preface
The Contents of Volumes I and II
The Introduction
Chap. I Of Captain Avery and his Crew
II Of Captain Martel and his Crew
III "Of Captain Teach, alias Black-beard"
IV Of Major Stede Bonnet and his Crew
V Of Captain Edward England and his Crew
VI Of Captain Charles Vane and his Crew
VII Of Captain John Rackam and his Crew
The Life of Mary Read
The Life of Anne Bonny
VIII Of Captain Howel Davis and his Crew
"A Description of the Islands of St. Thome, Del Principe, and Annobono"
IX "Of Captain Bartho, Roberts and his Crew"
"A Description of Brazil, &c."
The Tryals of the Pyrates
X Of Captain Thomas Anstis and his Crew
XI Of Captain Worley and his Crew
XII Of Captain George Lowther and his Crew
XIII Of Captain Edward Low and his Crew
XIV Of Captain John Evans and his Crew
XV Of Captain John Phillips and his Crew
XVI Of Captain Francis Spriggs and his Crew
XVII Of Captain John Smith and his Crew
A Relation of five Men setting up for a Company of Pyrates
"An Account of the Pyracies and Murders committed by Philip Roche, &c."
"An Abstract of the Civil Law and Statute now in Force, in Relation to Pyracy"
Volume II
Chap. I Of Captain Mission
II Of Captain Tew and his Crew
III Of Captain William Kid
IV Of Captain John Bowen
V Of Captain Halsey and his Crew
VI Of Captain Thomas White and his Crew
VII Of Captain Thomas Howard and his Crew
VIII Of Captain David Williams and his Crew
IX Of Captain Samuel Burgess and his Crew
X Of Captain Nathaniel North and his Crew
XI A Description of Magadoxa
XII Of Captain Condent and his Crew
XIII Of Captain Bellamy and his Crew
XIV Of Captain Lewis and his Crew
XV Of Captain Cornelius and his Crew
XVI Of Captain William Fly and his Crew
XVII Appendix to the First Volume
XVIII The Tryal of the Pyrates at Providence
Commentary and Notes
Postscript to the Dover Edition
Indexes

Editorial Reviews

Despite varying titles, these are essentially the same book. Published in 1724, Defoe's chronicle of the scourges of the sea was a smashing success, finding a wide audience eager for tales of those cutthroat sailors who flew the skull and crossbones. The Dover edition is more scholarly, including several essays on Defoe, indexes (ships, names, and places), photos, and a postscript. If you don't need any of that, save a couple of bucks and go with the Carroll & Graf edition. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

<:st> Cited in An affordable, unabridged version of this classic history. Defoe's lively tales of Blackbeard, Mary Read, and other seafaring rascals are a blend of fact and fiction<-->incorporating journalistic details with those gleaned from interviews with surviving pirates. The editor provides a lengthy introduction as well as a postscript offering insight into the recent popularity of pirates. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

Booknews