The Pyrates
George McDonald Fraser
Despite some of his later anti-global warming diatribes, Michael Crichton was for the most part an excellent writer. Which is why I’m sure he came to his senses and chose never to release his book Pirate Latitudes. Published posthumously, the book seems to be ripped straight from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean… the ride. The plot is nearly nonexistent and every pirate related legend is crammed haphazardly into the book. Stories of the kraken and headhunter tribes are tacked on like literary post-its. After wading through this dreck, I had to reread an old favorite (and far superior book) The Pyrates.
Rivaling Terry Pratchett for the...
Pirates
A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates -”Captain Charles Johnson”
Such a day, rum all out – our company somewhat sober, a damnedd confusion amongst us! Rogues a plotting – great talk of separation. So I looked sharp for a prize – such a day took one, with a great deal of liquor on board; so kept the company hot, damnedd hot, then all things went well again.
- Edward “Blackbeard” Teach
First published in 1724, this book was an instant smash hit. Numerous editions followed, jam packed with lurid tales of murder, robbery, riches beyond measure and barbarism. Virtually any pirate story you have read or seen has...