Pirates and Privateers: A Swashbuckling Compendium of Seafaring Scoundrels (Volume 17) (Oxford People, 17)

This book provides a handsome introduction to piracy. The volume is illustrated and has a coloration imitating an old volume. The introduction provides a realistic picture of piracy and the author explains the difference between piracy and privateering. The heart of the book is a reasonably accurate collection of biograpical sketches, although occasionally speculation is treated as fact. For example, there is no basis for concluding where Blackbeard was born, what his real name was or anything about his early life. Ms. Montague also includes an interesting chapter on modern piracy and a helpful glossary. This book would make a nice gift for someone interested, but knew to the subject of piracy.

i like to look at pirates books and read them!

Been loving this book.... Images are nice, two page spread on each pirate or privateer. Nice easy read... Fun to learn about the history of actual pirates bit by bit.

EVERY THING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PIRATES AND THE FAMOUS CHARACTERS THAT SAILED THE SEVEN SEAS. REALLY WELL PRODUCED WITH QUALITY PAPER, PRINT AND PHOTOGRAPHS. A MUST FOR EVERY LAD'S LIBRARY.

I am a pirate story lover and this book is quite complete and interesting to read.

I was browsing tourist shops in downtown Galveston while on vacation when I found this book. Being as it was small, less than 200 pages, I was hesitant to grab it. There are a lot of pirate books out there about the history. I decided to buy it and it is a great book.It is very much an introduction on pirate and privateer history. Being as I know little to nothing of the history, it was a fun and entertaining read, something I could read again and again. The book has different sections. Introduction, then a section on the pirates, then a section on a pirate code as well as punishment for being a pirate, finally the privateer section, a "female only" pirate section, and then modern day pirate information as well as pirates in fictional literature/film.The basic lay out of a pirate or privateer is this. First, they aren't in any particular order from what I can tell. They cover MOSTLY European pirates, but it does have an African, Asian and Indian pirates listed. However most of it is European. So, you have a person listed. It starts off with the name on the left page, a brief "eye" catcher of the person, and on the right a drawing. Then when you turn the page, typically across 2 pages (with a few exceptions) it talks about the person. Where they were born, what they did before the trade, what got them into the trade, what was the big mistake (or big success), and the fate of the person, be it they die of old age, get killed in battle, arrested, etc.Then on to the next story.So it's basically 2 pages (again with a few exceptions) of each person. Not a lot of detailed information about them, which personally for an introduction book is great. It lets you see if a person catches your eye and if so, you can go out and do more research on them. Also by doing this, it keeps you into the book because every few minutes you are on a fresh, new story with a different person, different circumstances and different fate.The book is printed wonderfully on very nice paper. It has beautiful art work throughout the book and the way it was printed, it was printed to make it look older than it was. Graphics on the page designed to make it older, but the pages themselves are very smooth, with no roughness to them. The art as well makes it enjoyable.I am surprised the book does not seem to be in print anymore. I find it an entertaining read and a great introduction to the history of pirates and privateers.

I knew almost nothing about privates or privateers but found this at a discount and grabbed it up. Thankfully it turned out to be a treasure. (see what I just did there ;)It is a very visually pleasing book with just a few pages about each pirate or privateer (or sometimes both, as the case may be) and the author writes in an interesting way that keeps you engaged. Nothing boring here at all, and no filler.I don't think it would be good for younger kids because it talks of the ways pirates (and also their capturers) torture others, and of violence and rape.

THIS BOOK IS REALLY INTERESTING AND COLOURFUL , AND ITS WELL WORTH A READ.T MASON .

If you want to know about the real pirates and you love history then this is your book the real deal they were just as mad and bad as you've seen in any film.

Very good summary/overview of key figures in the pirate/privateer world, against the historical background. Concise, well-written and engaging, it throws also up some quirks of the 'Pirate Code' that you'd never have imagined.

A good albeit brief description of piracy and pirates, a good introduction to piracy for the beginner. Well worth a read.

great book very intresting told of things not many people would know about i would recomend it to anyone intrested in history