David Cordingly è un distinto storico navale inglese, ampiamente considerato un'autorità leader sulla pirateria. Il suo ampio lavoro approfondisce il romanticismo e la realtà della vita in mare, separando i fatti storici da miti e leggende. Gli scritti di Cordingly esplorano le vite dei marinai e i ruoli delle donne nella storia marittima, basati su ricerche meticolose e narrazioni avvincenti. Le sue analisi offrono ai lettori un'immersione profonda nell'affascinante mondo dell'avventura marittima e degli eventi storici significativi.
The image of the pirate is one that has never failed to capture the imagination, but behind the melodramatic portrayals of such villains as Long John Silver, with wooden leg and eye-patch, lies a much harsher reality. This book is the first port of call for anyone keen to separate the fact from the fiction.
Examines the popular image of pirates in modern times and compares it with the real world of pirates, who were more often murderers and thieves than romantic heros.
For this rousing, revisionist history, the former head of exhibitions at England's National Maritime Museum has combed original documents & records to produce a most authoritative & definitive account of piracy's Golden Age. As he explodes many accepted myths (i.e. walking the plank is pure fiction), Cordingly replaces them with a truth that is more complex & often bloodier. 16 pages of photos. Maps.