THE PIRATE MENACE: Uncovering the Golden Age of Piracy

1-243290

Explores the most notorious pirates in history (Blackbeard, 'Calico Jack' Rackam, Charles Vane, Bartholomew Roberts, etc) and how their rise and fall can be traced back to a single pirate haven, Nassau. Looks at how the growth of piracy led to a major surge in attacks in the Caribbean and along North America's Atlantic seaboard, threatening major ports and bringing trade to a standstill until the British government declared war on the pirates. Draws on extensive research and a wide range of first-hand accounts to recount the heyday of historical piracy. Contains 8-page plate section in color.

Contents: Acknowledgments; List of Illustrations in Plate Section; A Note on Time, Nation and Distance; Maps; Prologue; Introduction; 1. Beyond the Line; 2. Henry Jennings; 3. Piracy in the Bahamas; 4. Benjamin Hornigold; 5. Profile of a Pirate; 6. A Commune of Pirates; 7. Edward Thatch; 8. Sam Bellamy; 9. Stede Bonnet; 10. The Carrot and the Stick; 11. Woodes Rogers and Charles Vane; 12. The Pirate-hunter; 13. Pursuing the Die-hards; 14. The Buck Legacy; 15. The Great Pyrate; 16. The Enemies of Mankind; Notes; Bibliography; Index.