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Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders
A global account of pirates and their modus operandi , from the Middle Ages to the present day
In the twenty-first century piracy has regained a central place in Western culture, thanks to a surprising combination of Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as well as the dramatic rise of modern-day piracy around Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
In this global history of the phenomenon, maritime terrorism and piracy expert Peter Lehr casts fresh light on pirates. Ranging from the Vikings and Wako pirates in the Middle Ages to modern-day Somali pirates, Lehr delves deep into what motivates pirates and how they operate. He also illuminates the state’s role in the development of piracy throughout from privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth to pirates operating off the coast of Africa taking the law into their own hands. After exploring the structural failures which create fertile ground for pirate activities, Lehr evaluates the success of counterpiracy efforts—and the reasons behind their failures.
In the twenty-first century piracy has regained a central place in Western culture, thanks to a surprising combination of Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as well as the dramatic rise of modern-day piracy around Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
In this global history of the phenomenon, maritime terrorism and piracy expert Peter Lehr casts fresh light on pirates. Ranging from the Vikings and Wako pirates in the Middle Ages to modern-day Somali pirates, Lehr delves deep into what motivates pirates and how they operate. He also illuminates the state’s role in the development of piracy throughout from privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth to pirates operating off the coast of Africa taking the law into their own hands. After exploring the structural failures which create fertile ground for pirate activities, Lehr evaluates the success of counterpiracy efforts—and the reasons behind their failures.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 21, 2020
The topic of this book is extremely interesting, but the writing here left much to be desired for me.
Author Peter Lehr is a lecturer in terrorism studies at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
Peter Lehr:
Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders is as its title suggests - a history of piracy. The book begins with a story about the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. It then unfolds in a somewhat chronological manner, educating the reader about the Middle Age Barbary pirates and Viking raiders.
This is a topic full of possibilities, and I was excited to see where the author would take this book.
Sadly, although the subject matter covered here is interesting, I found the writing here to be way more long-winded and dry than a book about pirates has any right to be.
The historical writing here is somewhat tragically typical of many of its contemporaries: It rattles off names, dates, locations, and then more names dates, and locations. Rinse and repeat.
This makes the reading a somewhat arduous task. Thankfully this wasn't any longer than it was, or I would have put it down...
The formatting of this book also left much to be desired for me. The writing jumps around; from the Caribbean to Asia, to North Africa, to Europe, etc - which is a very effective formula to completely lose the reader in the weeds...
I would not recommend this one.
1.5 stars.
Author Peter Lehr is a lecturer in terrorism studies at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
Peter Lehr:
Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders is as its title suggests - a history of piracy. The book begins with a story about the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. It then unfolds in a somewhat chronological manner, educating the reader about the Middle Age Barbary pirates and Viking raiders.
This is a topic full of possibilities, and I was excited to see where the author would take this book.
Sadly, although the subject matter covered here is interesting, I found the writing here to be way more long-winded and dry than a book about pirates has any right to be.
The historical writing here is somewhat tragically typical of many of its contemporaries: It rattles off names, dates, locations, and then more names dates, and locations. Rinse and repeat.
This makes the reading a somewhat arduous task. Thankfully this wasn't any longer than it was, or I would have put it down...
The formatting of this book also left much to be desired for me. The writing jumps around; from the Caribbean to Asia, to North Africa, to Europe, etc - which is a very effective formula to completely lose the reader in the weeds...
I would not recommend this one.
1.5 stars.
October 9, 2021
I definitely went in into this with a romanticized view of Pirates. I am aware of the great violence, pillaging, slave trading, and raping involved. After watched Black Sails and reading David Graeber talk about the relatively democratic nature of a ship's power dynamics, the injury pay, I wanted a little acknowledgment that while terrible harm was done on one hand, that on the other these were often people trying to carve out a life out from under the yoke of abusive empires.
The book was pretty detailed though a little dry. Lots of information on how pirates operated in sort a grey area of law and occasional state sponsorship of their activities. It did a good job of covering over a 1000 years of piracy in both the west and the east, but it would have been nice to learn a little more about the social structure of a crew, things like injury pay, queer piracy, and the like, but I suppose those are probably only relevant to very short golden age of piracy and very specific geographic region. Shout out to the mentions of Anne Bonney, Jack Rackham, and Mary Read. Also very cool to learn about Ching Shih, a prostitute turned Pirate Queen of sorts commanding over 80,000 men in the early 18,000.
The book was pretty detailed though a little dry. Lots of information on how pirates operated in sort a grey area of law and occasional state sponsorship of their activities. It did a good job of covering over a 1000 years of piracy in both the west and the east, but it would have been nice to learn a little more about the social structure of a crew, things like injury pay, queer piracy, and the like, but I suppose those are probably only relevant to very short golden age of piracy and very specific geographic region. Shout out to the mentions of Anne Bonney, Jack Rackham, and Mary Read. Also very cool to learn about Ching Shih, a prostitute turned Pirate Queen of sorts commanding over 80,000 men in the early 18,000.
September 22, 2024
An excellent look at the diversity of piracy—historically, regionally, nationally, by goal. Nigerian pirates are much more violent than the Somalian pirates. Pirates can be aiming for valuables, hostages for ransom, ships themselves. They can be independent of government, hand-in-hand with governments (like privateers) or paying off corrupt governments. Conquering piracy demands an understanding of these differences.
March 30, 2024
I’m not really sure how to rate this book.
Did I enjoy it? Kind of.
Was it informative? Yes.
Do I wish the content in this book was just a 6 hour long YouTube video essay? Absolutely.
I wanted to gain knowledge on a subject I was interested in, and I did just that. So I cannot really complain. However, the meat and potatoes of this book were akin to a lightly seasoned flank and burnt fries: they will get the job done but I cannot help but want something different.
I believe I may have been too bullish on my projection for gaining pleasure from a nonfiction book at this stage in my reading career, being a third through an epic fantasy series.
Overall I’m glad I read it. I have niche knowledge that will definitely come in handy in some sort of conversation. If anything, easy read to add another for my 2024 goal.
Rating: ⭐️
WIR: No, just watch Pirates of the Caribbean
Did I enjoy it? Kind of.
Was it informative? Yes.
Do I wish the content in this book was just a 6 hour long YouTube video essay? Absolutely.
I wanted to gain knowledge on a subject I was interested in, and I did just that. So I cannot really complain. However, the meat and potatoes of this book were akin to a lightly seasoned flank and burnt fries: they will get the job done but I cannot help but want something different.
I believe I may have been too bullish on my projection for gaining pleasure from a nonfiction book at this stage in my reading career, being a third through an epic fantasy series.
Overall I’m glad I read it. I have niche knowledge that will definitely come in handy in some sort of conversation. If anything, easy read to add another for my 2024 goal.
Rating: ⭐️
WIR: No, just watch Pirates of the Caribbean
March 7, 2024
For some reason the way this was written threw me off. He kept on going back and forth back and forth to the same events and people even when he was moving for ward chronologically. And the topics kept repeating. Last section on modern piracy was better. The fact that pirates had to pirate and store drinking water threw me
Read
January 4, 2024some tips for aspiring pirates of what historically characterizes successful pirates:
be savvy about the political winds of fortune, and known when and which home to sail to based on the timing and political constellation at home that's proven welcoming and expedient (i.e. see the contrast between the fates of Sirs Raleigh and Francis Drake)
be fluid in your religious alignment based on which port you find yourself in, and what reigning monarch there is most rewarding or forgiving (ie, Christendom vs. the Sultanate)
make one's brand, by instilling ghastly tales of fear in the local populace, so they will know not to oppose you in your forays on land to collect booty
know the havens that are most likely locales of concentrated, portable loot (such as churches and monasteries) rather than wasting time razing dotted villages and poor neighborhoods
be driven by greed and desperation, not values-- the conduct and transport of slavery was often done by pirates
clearly have no care for your subordinates, who are often ritually hazed by acts of violence that bound them to piracy, with no chance of return by remorse
know that you are most likely to die by violence, as you have raised your fortunes by violence and greed-- pirates have earned caches of millions, only to lose it all in close battles where their entrails end up spilling
ultimately, piracy was not a life of romantic adventure in the high seas, rather they were coordinated acts of loot by those with no easy way out of poverty, and who sacrifice all care of humanity in the process, dumping all fealty to homeland, prisoners, fellow pirates, and engaging in acts of brutality that are vainglorious in the end.
be savvy about the political winds of fortune, and known when and which home to sail to based on the timing and political constellation at home that's proven welcoming and expedient (i.e. see the contrast between the fates of Sirs Raleigh and Francis Drake)
be fluid in your religious alignment based on which port you find yourself in, and what reigning monarch there is most rewarding or forgiving (ie, Christendom vs. the Sultanate)
make one's brand, by instilling ghastly tales of fear in the local populace, so they will know not to oppose you in your forays on land to collect booty
know the havens that are most likely locales of concentrated, portable loot (such as churches and monasteries) rather than wasting time razing dotted villages and poor neighborhoods
be driven by greed and desperation, not values-- the conduct and transport of slavery was often done by pirates
clearly have no care for your subordinates, who are often ritually hazed by acts of violence that bound them to piracy, with no chance of return by remorse
know that you are most likely to die by violence, as you have raised your fortunes by violence and greed-- pirates have earned caches of millions, only to lose it all in close battles where their entrails end up spilling
ultimately, piracy was not a life of romantic adventure in the high seas, rather they were coordinated acts of loot by those with no easy way out of poverty, and who sacrifice all care of humanity in the process, dumping all fealty to homeland, prisoners, fellow pirates, and engaging in acts of brutality that are vainglorious in the end.
January 6, 2022
Sekizinci yüzyılda Vikinglerden günümüz Somali, Nijerya, Güney Çin ve Malakka boğazı korsanlarına kadar bütünsel bir çalışma. Zamanı sekizinci yüzyıldan 1500 yılına, 1500'den 1914'e ve oradan da günümüze şeklinde üçe bölerek incelemiş. Bu her üç zamanda korsanlık faaliyetlerinin yoğunlaştığı belli bölgeler mevcut. Akdeniz ve Tunus, Cezayir, Tripolis limanları, Karayipler, Güney Çin Denizi ile Malakka boğazı ve Kuzey Denizi.
Bu zaman ve mekan bölümlerinde korsanlığın doğuşu, gelişmesi, olgunluk dönemi ve düşüşü inceleniyor. Korsanlığın ortaya çıkış sebepleri için push and pull faktörleri mercek altına alınmış. Bu Greed and Grievance şeklinde özetlenebilir. Toplumun periferinde yer alan fakir balıkçıların ve ticaretten uzak kalmış sahil popülasyonunun kolay para kazanma yolu olarak görüldüğü zamanlar ve yerler olmuş. Donanmada yahut sivil gemilerde çalışarak kazanılacak para ve çekilecek çile ile, korsanlığın şiddet içeren riskleri ve getirisi arasında tercihini ikinciden yana kullananlar mevcut. Bir de "a short and merry life" büyüsüne kapılan hırslılar mevcut.
Tabi bu faktörlerin yanında işbirliği içinde olan yerel otoriteler ve yerele gücünü taşımaktan aciz merkezi otorite gibi çevresel etkilerin de bu faktörleri desteklemesi gerek.
Korsanların shock and awe taktiği ile aslında çok da fazla kılıç sallamadıkları, genel olarak acımasızlık öykülerinin korkutucu gücünden faydalanarak kansız baskınlarda bulundukları, bazen de kendilerinden güçlü gemilere, korsan olduklarını saklayıp basit bir ticaret gemisi taklidi yaparak yaklaştıkları ve ani bir baskınla gemiyi ele geçirdiklerinden korsanlık metodları bahsinde söz ediliyor.
Bunun dışında korsanlık niçin bitmiyor. Korsanların nicelik ve niteliği ile tek bir devletin donanmasının bunlarla baş edebilme kudretinden yoksun oluşu, Devletlerin korsanlara karşı bir ittifak kuramayışı vs sebepler anlatılıyor. Korsan ve korsan avcılığı geçişlerinden bahsediliyor.
Elbette pirate - piraveteer ayrımından bolca söz ediliyor. Tüm bunlar anlatılırken tarihteki büyük ve önemli korsanların kişisel öykülerinden de sıklıkla yararlanılıyor. Bu da kitabı sıkıcı kılmayan ögelerden biri.
Son bölüm yoğunlukla Somali korsanlarına ayrılmış. 90larda ilk ortaya çıkışlarında büyük trawl gemilerinin yasadışı balıkçılık faaliyetleri neticesinde iyice fakirleşen, bunun yanında Somali devletinin bir failed state haline gelişinin de çevresel olarak ortamı elverişli kılması neticesinde tepkisini korsanlık faaliyeti olarak gösteren bir halktan bahsediliyor. Bu işin grievance kısmı. ilerleyen yıllarda, yani korsanlığın doğuşunun ardından gelişme evresinde bir özel yattan 2 milyon dolar fidye alınması, iç savaşta pişmiş açgözlü milisleri korsanlığa çekiyor. Bu da işin greed kısmı.
En son günümüz korsanlığının metodlarından bahsediliyor. Ana gemi veya sahile bağlı olarak küçük skiff botlarıyla büyük gemilerden düz hırsızlık, fidyecilik ve doğrudan gemi hırsızlığı şeklinde değişen eylem türleri mevcut. Buna karşı alınan önlemlerden bahsediyor. Tarihteki konvoy yönteminin diriltilişi, başarısız ittifak güçleri vs. En son tabi bu işe sebep olan kök sorunların çözümü öğüdüyle kitap bitiyor.
Bu zaman ve mekan bölümlerinde korsanlığın doğuşu, gelişmesi, olgunluk dönemi ve düşüşü inceleniyor. Korsanlığın ortaya çıkış sebepleri için push and pull faktörleri mercek altına alınmış. Bu Greed and Grievance şeklinde özetlenebilir. Toplumun periferinde yer alan fakir balıkçıların ve ticaretten uzak kalmış sahil popülasyonunun kolay para kazanma yolu olarak görüldüğü zamanlar ve yerler olmuş. Donanmada yahut sivil gemilerde çalışarak kazanılacak para ve çekilecek çile ile, korsanlığın şiddet içeren riskleri ve getirisi arasında tercihini ikinciden yana kullananlar mevcut. Bir de "a short and merry life" büyüsüne kapılan hırslılar mevcut.
Tabi bu faktörlerin yanında işbirliği içinde olan yerel otoriteler ve yerele gücünü taşımaktan aciz merkezi otorite gibi çevresel etkilerin de bu faktörleri desteklemesi gerek.
Korsanların shock and awe taktiği ile aslında çok da fazla kılıç sallamadıkları, genel olarak acımasızlık öykülerinin korkutucu gücünden faydalanarak kansız baskınlarda bulundukları, bazen de kendilerinden güçlü gemilere, korsan olduklarını saklayıp basit bir ticaret gemisi taklidi yaparak yaklaştıkları ve ani bir baskınla gemiyi ele geçirdiklerinden korsanlık metodları bahsinde söz ediliyor.
Bunun dışında korsanlık niçin bitmiyor. Korsanların nicelik ve niteliği ile tek bir devletin donanmasının bunlarla baş edebilme kudretinden yoksun oluşu, Devletlerin korsanlara karşı bir ittifak kuramayışı vs sebepler anlatılıyor. Korsan ve korsan avcılığı geçişlerinden bahsediliyor.
Elbette pirate - piraveteer ayrımından bolca söz ediliyor. Tüm bunlar anlatılırken tarihteki büyük ve önemli korsanların kişisel öykülerinden de sıklıkla yararlanılıyor. Bu da kitabı sıkıcı kılmayan ögelerden biri.
Son bölüm yoğunlukla Somali korsanlarına ayrılmış. 90larda ilk ortaya çıkışlarında büyük trawl gemilerinin yasadışı balıkçılık faaliyetleri neticesinde iyice fakirleşen, bunun yanında Somali devletinin bir failed state haline gelişinin de çevresel olarak ortamı elverişli kılması neticesinde tepkisini korsanlık faaliyeti olarak gösteren bir halktan bahsediliyor. Bu işin grievance kısmı. ilerleyen yıllarda, yani korsanlığın doğuşunun ardından gelişme evresinde bir özel yattan 2 milyon dolar fidye alınması, iç savaşta pişmiş açgözlü milisleri korsanlığa çekiyor. Bu da işin greed kısmı.
En son günümüz korsanlığının metodlarından bahsediliyor. Ana gemi veya sahile bağlı olarak küçük skiff botlarıyla büyük gemilerden düz hırsızlık, fidyecilik ve doğrudan gemi hırsızlığı şeklinde değişen eylem türleri mevcut. Buna karşı alınan önlemlerden bahsediyor. Tarihteki konvoy yönteminin diriltilişi, başarısız ittifak güçleri vs. En son tabi bu işe sebep olan kök sorunların çözümü öğüdüyle kitap bitiyor.
February 2, 2022
I have to say I was disappointed with this book. There was an excess of stories, not particularly well told, that simply overwhelmed the few discussions that take a wider look at the problem of piracy. The general observations about piracy would fit in a book a fourth of this size and would probably have been a better read. I would also have preferred fewer but more detailed stories rather than the list of dates and battles fought by an uncountable number of forgettable people. I don’t discount the author’s obvious research of a myriad stories of piracy but I can find fault in way he presents it.
October 24, 2020
The books provides some overall helicopter view of the subject, but I am not a friend of the structure. Divided into three time periods is ok, but every chapter is always jumping from Europe to Caribic and Asia, really disturbing the flow of the narrative.
Czech translation is bad, from failures to use correct nautical terms (e.g.: armada as flotila) through incorrect use ("little flotilla") to downright invention of new ones (what should a "rychloloď" stand for I really have no idea).
Czech translation is bad, from failures to use correct nautical terms (e.g.: armada as flotila) through incorrect use ("little flotilla") to downright invention of new ones (what should a "rychloloď" stand for I really have no idea).
March 2, 2020
Book #6 of 2020. This was a well researched and comprehensive account of the history of piracy. I thought the author did a solid job of covering the specific timeframes and geographic locations that piracy was dominant in. I also liked that he looped Vikings into the piracy discussion. It was well written and enjoyable.
December 19, 2020
[AUDIOBOOK]
3.7
The topic is well researched, but the writing in a lot of places was going in loops.
The same reasonings for why one would become a pirate are chewed over and over. Still, a decent listen for all pirate fans.
3.7
The topic is well researched, but the writing in a lot of places was going in loops.
The same reasonings for why one would become a pirate are chewed over and over. Still, a decent listen for all pirate fans.
February 15, 2022
Decent academic overview of piracy from a terrorism expert. Useful, but not necessarily engaging.
February 21, 2023
Un ensayo bastante repetitivo...
February 6, 2024
the politics of piracy and piracy as a political tool werent things i thought about before 2023/4 so it was helpful to explore those things here. i didnt like the narrator of the audiobook and that made it hard to get through despite my interest in the material.
May 2, 2024
Not enough booty talk 🍑 but still gets 5 "Skull and Bones" out of 5 ☠️
March 6, 2024
I believe I stuggled with what a lot of other reviews have already mentioned. The book danced around different areas and vastly different time ranges (though the were some separations of time ranges into three broad groups). It was very jarring to read about pirates in the Mediterranean and in the next sentence talking about a pirate that was stationed in the Caribbean. This would have been better if there was a very clear and concise way that the two pirate stories connected, but at times it was tenuously related.
It is very obvious that the author is very passionate about this subject and has a very wide range of knowledge concerning it. I love how he split the book into three broad time categories, but honestly I do wish that there was at least a little more structure with the layout of the book. My idea would either to lie out the book based on different geographic regions OR lay it out in different strategies on how pirating happened (corsairs in early times, "grab and go" pirates, etc.). This would help me personally relate how each one of the regions of pirates were different and similar.
Overall, I wish that the structure of the book was a lot different. It was hard at times to remained focused on the text at hand. There were quite a few names/facts thrown around with very little context. We would get a name and then we wouldn't get any great stories about them. I am not coming into the book expecting to be a tale of pirate adventures, but a little composition of thje pirate's lives would make it signifgantly more entertaining and easier to remember.
As I said, Lehr is obviously very knowledgable on the subject and I think this book could be good for someone who is more interested on the societal and political factors of piracy.
It is very obvious that the author is very passionate about this subject and has a very wide range of knowledge concerning it. I love how he split the book into three broad time categories, but honestly I do wish that there was at least a little more structure with the layout of the book. My idea would either to lie out the book based on different geographic regions OR lay it out in different strategies on how pirating happened (corsairs in early times, "grab and go" pirates, etc.). This would help me personally relate how each one of the regions of pirates were different and similar.
Overall, I wish that the structure of the book was a lot different. It was hard at times to remained focused on the text at hand. There were quite a few names/facts thrown around with very little context. We would get a name and then we wouldn't get any great stories about them. I am not coming into the book expecting to be a tale of pirate adventures, but a little composition of thje pirate's lives would make it signifgantly more entertaining and easier to remember.
As I said, Lehr is obviously very knowledgable on the subject and I think this book could be good for someone who is more interested on the societal and political factors of piracy.
July 22, 2022
Un libro escrito con un lenguaje vivo y claro, bien documentado, con un aporte gráfico curioso, histórico e instructivo, y que se lee como un texto lleno de aventura y conocimiento de una realidad que conforma todavía, en parte, una forma de la economía actual, global.
La narración es sin duda amena, pero los continuos saltos temporales del autor hacen algo confusa la lectura. Hay una continua sensación de blanqueamiento del relato, pues el autor parece obviar que detrás de cada asalto a buque o población costera, además del robo, había asesinatos, secuestros, violaciones, torturas, destrucciones, incendios y todo tipo de vilezas.
La primera parte está dedicada a la piratería medieval europea y asiática, la segunda a la piratería moderna, y la tercera parte a la piratería actual, en particular a los casos somalíes, nigerianos, filipinos e indonesios, con algunos ejemplos modernos pinceladas a sus causas como pesca ilegal occidental, corrupción local, estados fallidos.
Mi conclusión es que es una obra que no aporta casi nada nuevo y peca mucho de anglocentrismo y blanqueamiento. Además está llena de omisiones flagrantes (los corsarios, los negreros), la forma de combatir la piratería (guardacostas, convoyes, infantería de marina embarcada) y un recordatorio merecido a sus miles de víctimas.
La narración es sin duda amena, pero los continuos saltos temporales del autor hacen algo confusa la lectura. Hay una continua sensación de blanqueamiento del relato, pues el autor parece obviar que detrás de cada asalto a buque o población costera, además del robo, había asesinatos, secuestros, violaciones, torturas, destrucciones, incendios y todo tipo de vilezas.
La primera parte está dedicada a la piratería medieval europea y asiática, la segunda a la piratería moderna, y la tercera parte a la piratería actual, en particular a los casos somalíes, nigerianos, filipinos e indonesios, con algunos ejemplos modernos pinceladas a sus causas como pesca ilegal occidental, corrupción local, estados fallidos.
Mi conclusión es que es una obra que no aporta casi nada nuevo y peca mucho de anglocentrismo y blanqueamiento. Además está llena de omisiones flagrantes (los corsarios, los negreros), la forma de combatir la piratería (guardacostas, convoyes, infantería de marina embarcada) y un recordatorio merecido a sus miles de víctimas.
October 16, 2022
This book dispenses with the typical approach to pirate writing, which consists of pointless series of anecdotes and far-off, confusing narratives intended to produce a feeling of adventure, escape, or to stoke the embers of an inaccurate morbid fantasy.
Instead, the author writes a history which is everything you'd expect from an intelligent discussion of piracy (and privateering). The book takes sociology and history seriously, applies the ideas and topics surrounding piracy to the modern world and to our own political realities, and provides avenues of solution which any progressive thinker can appreciate and take with them into further discussions.
The book is very well researched, thoroughly cited throughout, and contains an extensive bibliography which gives a lot of great options for further reading.
The archaic mode of discussing and thinking about piracy is foolish and fantastic from an adult point of view. We need to move on from this immature frame of mind and begin to take piracy seriously, both as a fact of historical life and a problem we will likely continue to face for a long time. This book does a fantastic job of moving the discussion of piracy towards something more realistic, stronger, and more effective and is accessible to all ages and educational backgrounds.
Instead, the author writes a history which is everything you'd expect from an intelligent discussion of piracy (and privateering). The book takes sociology and history seriously, applies the ideas and topics surrounding piracy to the modern world and to our own political realities, and provides avenues of solution which any progressive thinker can appreciate and take with them into further discussions.
The book is very well researched, thoroughly cited throughout, and contains an extensive bibliography which gives a lot of great options for further reading.
The archaic mode of discussing and thinking about piracy is foolish and fantastic from an adult point of view. We need to move on from this immature frame of mind and begin to take piracy seriously, both as a fact of historical life and a problem we will likely continue to face for a long time. This book does a fantastic job of moving the discussion of piracy towards something more realistic, stronger, and more effective and is accessible to all ages and educational backgrounds.
June 11, 2024
Repetitive with some interesting moments but almost cured my insomnia in a fluorescent-lit hospital room.
May 1, 2024
As I delved into Peter Lehr's 'Pirates: A New History,' I found myself sailing through centuries of maritime mayhem, from the plundering Vikings to the modern-day raiders off the coast of Somalia. Lehr's ambitious endeavor to offer a fresh perspective on piracy is commendable, yet it left me with mixed feelings and a few reservations.
First and foremost, Lehr's meticulous research and attention to detail are undeniable. His exploration of piracy's evolution alongside global shifts in power dynamics and trade routes is comprehensive and illuminating. However, at times, the sheer volume of historical minutiae can feel overwhelming, drowning out the narrative flow. I found myself longing for more concise summaries amidst the sea of facts and anecdotes.
Moreover, while Lehr's interdisciplinary approach is refreshing, I couldn't shake the feeling that certain sections of the book lacked depth. For instance, his analysis of the socio-economic factors driving individuals to piracy is intriguing but feels somewhat superficial. I yearned for a more nuanced exploration of the underlying motivations and complexities, rather than a surface-level examination.
Additionally, while Lehr humanizes pirates by presenting them as products of their time and circumstances, I couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of romanticization. The swashbuckling tales of daring raids and hidden treasures are undeniably captivating, but they sometimes overshadow the harsh realities of piracy, including violence, exploitation, and the devastating impact on victims.
Despite these criticisms, 'Pirates: A New History' is undeniably a valuable addition to the literature on piracy. Lehr's ability to challenge conventional assumptions and offer fresh insights is commendable. His narrative is engaging, peppered with vivid anecdotes and colorful characters that bring the history of piracy to life.
In conclusion, 'Pirates: A New History' is a voyage worth undertaking for those fascinated by the high seas and the rogues who roam them. While it may not be without its flaws, Lehr's book offers a thought-provoking journey through the complex world of piracy, leaving readers with a deeper appreciation for its enduring allure and enduring impact on history.
First and foremost, Lehr's meticulous research and attention to detail are undeniable. His exploration of piracy's evolution alongside global shifts in power dynamics and trade routes is comprehensive and illuminating. However, at times, the sheer volume of historical minutiae can feel overwhelming, drowning out the narrative flow. I found myself longing for more concise summaries amidst the sea of facts and anecdotes.
Moreover, while Lehr's interdisciplinary approach is refreshing, I couldn't shake the feeling that certain sections of the book lacked depth. For instance, his analysis of the socio-economic factors driving individuals to piracy is intriguing but feels somewhat superficial. I yearned for a more nuanced exploration of the underlying motivations and complexities, rather than a surface-level examination.
Additionally, while Lehr humanizes pirates by presenting them as products of their time and circumstances, I couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of romanticization. The swashbuckling tales of daring raids and hidden treasures are undeniably captivating, but they sometimes overshadow the harsh realities of piracy, including violence, exploitation, and the devastating impact on victims.
Despite these criticisms, 'Pirates: A New History' is undeniably a valuable addition to the literature on piracy. Lehr's ability to challenge conventional assumptions and offer fresh insights is commendable. His narrative is engaging, peppered with vivid anecdotes and colorful characters that bring the history of piracy to life.
In conclusion, 'Pirates: A New History' is a voyage worth undertaking for those fascinated by the high seas and the rogues who roam them. While it may not be without its flaws, Lehr's book offers a thought-provoking journey through the complex world of piracy, leaving readers with a deeper appreciation for its enduring allure and enduring impact on history.
April 15, 2024
The first part is about the history of piracy, but it is very shallow and wide, with a lot of name-throwing in a somewhat chronological order.
If it stopped there I would have given this book two stars at the most.
I really enjoyed the last three quarters, when the author talks about the modern pirates, their motivations and the countermeasures taken by different governments.
I would have much preferred a book all about this last part, as it seems like what the author is really passionate and knowledgable about.
His book Violence at Sea: Piracy in the Age of Global Terrorism is probably what I am looking for, so that's going in the TBR list.
Overall not a bad book if you have never read about Pirate History
If it stopped there I would have given this book two stars at the most.
I really enjoyed the last three quarters, when the author talks about the modern pirates, their motivations and the countermeasures taken by different governments.
I would have much preferred a book all about this last part, as it seems like what the author is really passionate and knowledgable about.
His book Violence at Sea: Piracy in the Age of Global Terrorism is probably what I am looking for, so that's going in the TBR list.
Overall not a bad book if you have never read about Pirate History
April 4, 2024
I felt that the author’s thesis are unimaginative at best and reduce piracy down to greed and grievance (although at one point, it’s suggested some of the most famous women pirates entered into piracy by “coincidence,” rather than conviction). The author claims to analyze from the actor’s point of view, but this is another book about pirates that fails to fully grapple with pirates’ point of view, whether modern or historical. I was especially disappointed in the lack of critical analysis of globalization, when the author referred to Nigerians as “losing the globalisation lottery” suggesting it was sheer luck that colonizing Europeans arrived at their political and financial influence. I’m sorry to write such a negative review, but I kept hoping the book would get better and it only got worse. Overall, a disappointing read.
March 10, 2025
X marks surprising discoveries
So, I am not a person who has ever been particularly interested in pirates, but I do love history. This book will almost certainly surprise you, with a bunch of revelations that you probably won't anticipate. It actually made me feel sorry for Somali pirates... and a number of other pirate groups.
So, I am not a person who has ever been particularly interested in pirates, but I do love history. This book will almost certainly surprise you, with a bunch of revelations that you probably won't anticipate. It actually made me feel sorry for Somali pirates... and a number of other pirate groups.
April 29, 2025
Incredibly repetitive. This was probably the case because the book is organized into topics within parts covering specific eras of piracy. Writing is so dry it took me a lot longer to slog through a book of comparable length and topic. Stay away from this book if you are looking for an engaging story. This book is really written for piracy scholars. Not the general public.
January 4, 2024
Interesting but quite repetitive in the content. It has the ambition of covering the stories of pirates from all over the globe however it can’t really get into details on anything.
March 25, 2024
It was ok. Turns out I'm not that interested in pirates.
July 1, 2024
3.5, rounded down. Informative and funny at times.
February 8, 2025
It's a little dry, but it's a thorough examination of piracy through the ages without getting bogged down in the weeds.
April 25, 2025
Giving this two stars - one star more than it may deserve - for its stunning ability to make pirates boring.
April 28, 2025
very useful and lot of good info
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