A History Of Pirates

The hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean series, starring Johnny Depp, shows that swashbuckling sells and the recent resurgence of sea crime in the waters of Somalia, with the dramatic hijacking of huge oil tankers like the MV Sirius Star, and the MV maersk Alabama, has only served to heighten our fascination.

But what do we know about the real Captain Jack Sparrows of yesteryear? Who were they? Where did they come from? And what heinous and daring acts did they perform on the path towards riches and infamy?

A History of Pirates delves into the real lives of the men and women whose seafaring adventures have become legendary. It explores the criminal careers of some of the most fascinating scoundrels and scallywags ever to sail the seven seas, including Blackbeard, the Barbarossa Brothers, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonney and Mary Read.