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If a Pirate I Must Be...
In a page-turning tale brimming with adventure, author Richard Sanders tells of the remarkable exploits of Bartholomew Roberts (better known as Black Bart), the greatest of the Caribbean pirates. He drank tea instead of rum. He banned women and gambling on his ships. He never made his prisoners walk the plank, instead inviting them into his cabin for a friendly chat. And during the course of his extraordinary two-and-a-half-year career as a pirate captain, he captured four hundred prizes and brought trade in the eastern Caribbean to a standstill. In If a Pirate I Must Be..., Richard Sanders tells the larger-than-life story of Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart. Born in a rural town, Roberts rose from third mate on a slave ship to pirate captain in a matter of months. Before long, his combination of audaciousness and cunning won him fame and fortune from the fisheries of Newfoundland to the slave ports of West Africa. Sanders brings to life a fascinating world of theater and ritual, where men (a third of whom were black) lived a close-knit, egalitarian life, democratically electing their officers and sharing their spoils. They were highly (if surreptitiously) popular with many merchants, with whom they struck incredibly lucrative deals. Yet with a fierce team of Royal Navy pirate hunters tracking his every move, Roberts’ heyday would prove a brief one, and with his capture, the Golden Age of pirates would pass into the lore and legend of books and movies. Based on historical records, journals and letters from pirates under Roberts’ command, and on writings by Roberts himself, If a Pirate I Must Be... is the true story of the greatest pirate ever to sail the Caribbean.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2007
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2357 people want to read
About the author
Richard Sanders
1 book9 followersRichard Sanders is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who first became fascinated with pirates while living in Columbia during the 1990s. He now lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 23, 2015
Shiver me timbers! Thar be a book worth the read! Arrr!
I had only a small idea what to expect when I picked up If a Pirate I Must Be: The True Story of Black Bart, "King of the Caribbean Pirates" by Richard Sanders. A selection for my book club (known as the Manly Book Club by its members, but more on that another time), it had been described as containing some surprising insights into pirates that weren't commonly known. And this was true: I learned a lot about the men who sailed the seas of the early 18th century.
What's more, I found If a Pirate I Must Be an entertaining, page-turning, and well-written history. Sanders' history of Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts feels authentic, well-researched, and accurate. He relies on histories and accounts written at the time, including the journals of victims of the pirates, letters between colonial authorities writing to their masters in England beseeching them for relief from the marauders, and other documents of the period, including court testimony of pirates captured and tried.
Black Bart himself did not start out as a pirate, but his story mirrors that of many of the time. An aging sailor on a slaver ship, he was pressed into service when his slave ship was captured by pirates off of the coast of West Africa. Because of his experience as a seaman, he was a prize that an enterprising pirate crew could not pass up--and yet, his story is not unique. Pirates would frequently capture ships and force some number of the captured crew into their own, though often it was unnecessary. Slavers treated their own sailors more poorly than the slaves, because the slaves were worth more. Meanwhile, pirates would appear from over the horizon, capture and board the ship dressed in better clothing, and promise an equal share of gold and rum to any who joined their number. Their government was democratic, and even the captain was elected from among their number, losing his spot at just the vote of the men if they felt he was not guiding them to victory.
And yet, Bart did not go willingly. It would take some time before he would adopt his new place among the pirates, but not long before he was at their head. He would go on to rob the Portuguese treasure fleet off the shores of Brazil, lose all of it to deserters back in the Caribbean (where he would be near-marooned by his crew), and rebuild it all again to become one of the most prolific and successful of pirates of the era.
A few observations, then:
- Piracy, and pirates, looks a lot more like the depictions of Disney and Johnny Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" than I would have expected, even down to pirates' sexual ambiguity. Indeed, Sanders history depicts Black Bart as being almost chaste compared to the rest of his crew, though he appears to have developed an extremely close relationship with one of the sailors/passengers of a ship that he captured, the only thing that appears to reflect a romantic relationship that he formed during his reign.
- No one lived long. Whether they died from disease, malnutrition, battle, or any of the myriad of other causes, people were dying fast. Sanders mentions the especially high mortality rate in West Africa, noting that an English doctor had moved his family to a fort to serve a British slaving company there and within just a few months the entire family of six was dead from disease. This appears to be a common scenario of the time.
- In addition to democracy, pirates were incredibly egalitarian and rule based. They drafted and signed articles for each crew to govern their enterprise. Rules included not bringing women on board, each member receiving an equal share of loot (the captain getting a double and the quartermaster and surgeon a share and half), and, on Black Bart's ships, no gambling.
- Punch. These men drank as much, or more, as you've seen depicted in the movies. In fact, [SPOILER ALERT] Bart's fall finally came when he split his crew to pursue what they thought they were pursuing a ship carrying sugar, necessary for making rum.
- The golden age of piracy, extending from about 1715 to 1725, was brief and seems to have been largely due to economic forces around the end of the Spanish - British War that ended directly before. At the end of hostilities, large numbers of men were released from service in the British Navy, and with nowhere else to go, and, no other training or experience, many turned to piracy.
- A lot of the piracy seems to be as much "wink wink nod nod" with merchants working in cahoots with pirates as it was pirates capturing unsuspecting ships. In fact, few appeared to actually have fought back against the pirates. Rather, most seemed to roll over as soon as Black Bart flew out the skull and cross-bones (and yes, they did fly some version of this...several versions, actually).
If a Pirate I Must Be: The True Story of Black Bart, "King of the Caribbean Pirates" is a fun, fascinating, and interesting story. It's an age lost to history, full of pirates distinctly different from those who capture tankers off the coast of East Africa today, probably built out of the economic and historic factors of the age. Sanders has caught the flavor of the era with a history that is enjoyable and gripping to the very end of Black Bart's ignoble end.
I had only a small idea what to expect when I picked up If a Pirate I Must Be: The True Story of Black Bart, "King of the Caribbean Pirates" by Richard Sanders. A selection for my book club (known as the Manly Book Club by its members, but more on that another time), it had been described as containing some surprising insights into pirates that weren't commonly known. And this was true: I learned a lot about the men who sailed the seas of the early 18th century.
What's more, I found If a Pirate I Must Be an entertaining, page-turning, and well-written history. Sanders' history of Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts feels authentic, well-researched, and accurate. He relies on histories and accounts written at the time, including the journals of victims of the pirates, letters between colonial authorities writing to their masters in England beseeching them for relief from the marauders, and other documents of the period, including court testimony of pirates captured and tried.
Black Bart himself did not start out as a pirate, but his story mirrors that of many of the time. An aging sailor on a slaver ship, he was pressed into service when his slave ship was captured by pirates off of the coast of West Africa. Because of his experience as a seaman, he was a prize that an enterprising pirate crew could not pass up--and yet, his story is not unique. Pirates would frequently capture ships and force some number of the captured crew into their own, though often it was unnecessary. Slavers treated their own sailors more poorly than the slaves, because the slaves were worth more. Meanwhile, pirates would appear from over the horizon, capture and board the ship dressed in better clothing, and promise an equal share of gold and rum to any who joined their number. Their government was democratic, and even the captain was elected from among their number, losing his spot at just the vote of the men if they felt he was not guiding them to victory.
And yet, Bart did not go willingly. It would take some time before he would adopt his new place among the pirates, but not long before he was at their head. He would go on to rob the Portuguese treasure fleet off the shores of Brazil, lose all of it to deserters back in the Caribbean (where he would be near-marooned by his crew), and rebuild it all again to become one of the most prolific and successful of pirates of the era.
A few observations, then:
- Piracy, and pirates, looks a lot more like the depictions of Disney and Johnny Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" than I would have expected, even down to pirates' sexual ambiguity. Indeed, Sanders history depicts Black Bart as being almost chaste compared to the rest of his crew, though he appears to have developed an extremely close relationship with one of the sailors/passengers of a ship that he captured, the only thing that appears to reflect a romantic relationship that he formed during his reign.
- No one lived long. Whether they died from disease, malnutrition, battle, or any of the myriad of other causes, people were dying fast. Sanders mentions the especially high mortality rate in West Africa, noting that an English doctor had moved his family to a fort to serve a British slaving company there and within just a few months the entire family of six was dead from disease. This appears to be a common scenario of the time.
- In addition to democracy, pirates were incredibly egalitarian and rule based. They drafted and signed articles for each crew to govern their enterprise. Rules included not bringing women on board, each member receiving an equal share of loot (the captain getting a double and the quartermaster and surgeon a share and half), and, on Black Bart's ships, no gambling.
- Punch. These men drank as much, or more, as you've seen depicted in the movies. In fact, [SPOILER ALERT] Bart's fall finally came when he split his crew to pursue what they thought they were pursuing a ship carrying sugar, necessary for making rum.
- The golden age of piracy, extending from about 1715 to 1725, was brief and seems to have been largely due to economic forces around the end of the Spanish - British War that ended directly before. At the end of hostilities, large numbers of men were released from service in the British Navy, and with nowhere else to go, and, no other training or experience, many turned to piracy.
- A lot of the piracy seems to be as much "wink wink nod nod" with merchants working in cahoots with pirates as it was pirates capturing unsuspecting ships. In fact, few appeared to actually have fought back against the pirates. Rather, most seemed to roll over as soon as Black Bart flew out the skull and cross-bones (and yes, they did fly some version of this...several versions, actually).
If a Pirate I Must Be: The True Story of Black Bart, "King of the Caribbean Pirates" is a fun, fascinating, and interesting story. It's an age lost to history, full of pirates distinctly different from those who capture tankers off the coast of East Africa today, probably built out of the economic and historic factors of the age. Sanders has caught the flavor of the era with a history that is enjoyable and gripping to the very end of Black Bart's ignoble end.
June 22, 2008
I'm reading this for my A-Level history personal investigation, and it's really good for facts. A great combination of quotes and other evidence, explanations of how everything was at the time, little sashays off into the lives of other important figures such as Blackbeard or Calico Jack, and impressive storytelling make this a great book for either study or just interest.
Not only that, but you will undoubtedly find yourself becoming attached to the pirates, and when the inevitable conclusion comes, it doesn't seem that their punishment was really fair, considering the surprisingly low severity of their crimes - most were involved only in a small amount of robbery.
For myself, I grew to love Roberts himself, Valentine Ashplant, Henry Glasby, and George Wilson; though their eventual ends gave me a considerable amount of pity.
It also seems useful to pick up Captain Johnson's book in companionship to this one - most of Sanders' evidence came from there, though he will help you pick the fact from the fiction.
Not only that, but you will undoubtedly find yourself becoming attached to the pirates, and when the inevitable conclusion comes, it doesn't seem that their punishment was really fair, considering the surprisingly low severity of their crimes - most were involved only in a small amount of robbery.
For myself, I grew to love Roberts himself, Valentine Ashplant, Henry Glasby, and George Wilson; though their eventual ends gave me a considerable amount of pity.
It also seems useful to pick up Captain Johnson's book in companionship to this one - most of Sanders' evidence came from there, though he will help you pick the fact from the fiction.
October 2, 2007
I've never been too interested in pirates, but late one night on the History Channel, I saw a special about pirates and became intrigued by the story of Black Bart. So I went to his Wikipedia site and found out what sources people were referencing and found this book.
I found myself rooting for the pirates every time the author recounted how they took a prize or (much more rarely) found themselves in battle. He was really good at conveying the personalities of certain members of Roberts' crew, and yet it never felt like a movie or an old overblown story - it always felt real (as non-fiction should).
My only complaints: 1. I wish this had been more comprehensive. I think this author should consider writing a new authoritative work on the history of pirates. There was a lot of information in that special I mentioned above that helped bring the beginnings of Caribbean piracy into context for me that was lacking here. 2. Also, it dragged on a bit at the end, but I can't really fault the author for that. At a certain point, the adventures of early successes and mutinies have to take a back burner to things like malaria. As a reader, it makes it less entertaining but no less informative.
All in all, this is probably the first work of non-fiction that I couldn't put down and I think that says it all.
I found myself rooting for the pirates every time the author recounted how they took a prize or (much more rarely) found themselves in battle. He was really good at conveying the personalities of certain members of Roberts' crew, and yet it never felt like a movie or an old overblown story - it always felt real (as non-fiction should).
My only complaints: 1. I wish this had been more comprehensive. I think this author should consider writing a new authoritative work on the history of pirates. There was a lot of information in that special I mentioned above that helped bring the beginnings of Caribbean piracy into context for me that was lacking here. 2. Also, it dragged on a bit at the end, but I can't really fault the author for that. At a certain point, the adventures of early successes and mutinies have to take a back burner to things like malaria. As a reader, it makes it less entertaining but no less informative.
All in all, this is probably the first work of non-fiction that I couldn't put down and I think that says it all.
May 9, 2017
A year or so ago, I read Black Barty: The Real Pirate of the Caribbean, which covers almost the exact same material. I found that book difficult to read because of myriad typographical errors and some confusing passages. By contrast, If a Pirate I Must Be... is far more concise and reads much better, but is somewhat drier than Aubrey Burl's book.
This is probably due to the amount of information available about Bartholomew Roberts; Burl chose to use far more detail in his account, while Sanders goes for pace of narrative. The Postscript of If a Pirate is pretty punchy and ends the book well; the pirates are cleaner and better behaved in Sanders than in Burl.
I gave Burl 2.49 stars in that review; Sanders gets 3.33 stars, and I'd recommend this book above Black Barty. But if you have the time and interest, go on and read both to edit them into a four-and-a-half starred book in your head.
This is probably due to the amount of information available about Bartholomew Roberts; Burl chose to use far more detail in his account, while Sanders goes for pace of narrative. The Postscript of If a Pirate is pretty punchy and ends the book well; the pirates are cleaner and better behaved in Sanders than in Burl.
I gave Burl 2.49 stars in that review; Sanders gets 3.33 stars, and I'd recommend this book above Black Barty. But if you have the time and interest, go on and read both to edit them into a four-and-a-half starred book in your head.
June 19, 2011
I bought this on a whim during Amazon's summer sale for Kindle books, and it ended up being a solid reminder to always download a sample first, even if the book's really cheap.
It's not that the the book was horrible; it offered some insights into pirating activity in the early 18th century. The flow of the writing just wasn't as strong as the other books I've been reading lately, and for that reason it wouldn't have passed the sample test. The author too often pointed out uncertainty in his own research and brought extra attention to the parts of narrative that couldn't be completely verified. Each time this happened it broke the flow of the read. I'd have enjoyed the book more had the author just pretended to certainty; this might have made for less-honest history, but it would have made for a much better read.
It's not that the the book was horrible; it offered some insights into pirating activity in the early 18th century. The flow of the writing just wasn't as strong as the other books I've been reading lately, and for that reason it wouldn't have passed the sample test. The author too often pointed out uncertainty in his own research and brought extra attention to the parts of narrative that couldn't be completely verified. Each time this happened it broke the flow of the read. I'd have enjoyed the book more had the author just pretended to certainty; this might have made for less-honest history, but it would have made for a much better read.
June 4, 2020
Well shiver me timbers!! I have read a few pirate books... and I would say this is the best of them. It covers the story of Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart). Unlike most pirate books, it sticks to HIS story mostly. Most of the other books I've read about pirates spends more time talking about general pirate life and lore. Of course, as with any history book, some parts are filled in as best as can be considering lack of information or the credibility of certain sources, but over all this is a well researched and written book. If you like pirate stories... this is a good one. It's a great book about one of the greatest pirates that ever sailed the clear blue.
December 6, 2014
Well written and entertaining in clear and easy to read way. A good slice of history of pirate life as well as the slave trade. Very interesting and shows how myth and reality are mixed with today's idea of what pirates are like with historical documentation mixed in.
May 9, 2017
Interesting read
Very informative. I've enjoyed pirate stories and treasure hunts since childhood, and this book well documents the life of infamous Black Bart the pirate captain. The book gives background as to his becoming a pirate as well as several others pirates mentioned. You can tell a vast amount of research was done in an effort to be as correct as possible. Many myths are debunked and the average life of an 18th century pirate is writte making a very engrossing, history book.
Recommend to history buffs. Well done.
Very informative. I've enjoyed pirate stories and treasure hunts since childhood, and this book well documents the life of infamous Black Bart the pirate captain. The book gives background as to his becoming a pirate as well as several others pirates mentioned. You can tell a vast amount of research was done in an effort to be as correct as possible. Many myths are debunked and the average life of an 18th century pirate is writte making a very engrossing, history book.
Recommend to history buffs. Well done.
July 28, 2025
Finished this book while scuba diving in Little Cayman, the perfect setting to a story about Bartholomew Roberts. It was great learning about the most successful, yet also overlooked, pirate of early 1700s.
September 6, 2017
Recommended
Well written and resourced. Very readable. Provides a more in-depth look at early 18th century pirate life than can be gleaned from sensationalist histories.
Well written and resourced. Very readable. Provides a more in-depth look at early 18th century pirate life than can be gleaned from sensationalist histories.
February 13, 2025
This one really appealed to my inner scurvy dog. My only knowledge of ‘Barti Ddu’ came from the Welsh rum from the coats of Pembrokeshire of the same name. The tastiness of the rum has always made me wonder about this figure, who unbeknownst to the majority was the most prolific pirate that ever lived.
If a Pirate I Must Be… provides an unadorned view of pirate life. This was not the cliche epic seven-sea adventure, although Roberts’ life was definitely adventurous. Instead it touched on the relationships, struggles, roles, and the unknown facts of everyday pirating life. This is why the book doesn’t get a perfect rating from me, simply because I was expecting something a bit more fantastical.
Still, it’s a great read for anyone wanting to understand how pirates went about capturing, recruiting, looting and, surprisingly very rarely, killing during the golden age of piracy.
If a Pirate I Must Be… provides an unadorned view of pirate life. This was not the cliche epic seven-sea adventure, although Roberts’ life was definitely adventurous. Instead it touched on the relationships, struggles, roles, and the unknown facts of everyday pirating life. This is why the book doesn’t get a perfect rating from me, simply because I was expecting something a bit more fantastical.
Still, it’s a great read for anyone wanting to understand how pirates went about capturing, recruiting, looting and, surprisingly very rarely, killing during the golden age of piracy.
Read
February 12, 2012One of the better historical books I've read. Intriguing for anyone about the early 1700s this book captures the life of the most famous pirates and reveals conditions on ship for the British French and slaves in West Africa. This is well written and engaging and I was on my seat the whole time despite it being non fiction. The Europeans are lucky there weren't more dynamic pirate leaders because their reign was tenuous and sloppy at best and a couple more Bart's could have taken them down for decades. Most fascinating is the insight into slave trading and Western African life shown by the pirates who were the only form of freedom in the area. Great book. I'd expect this to be a movie as you couldn't write this stuff.
August 14, 2012
I picked this up off the "new" book table at my local library, remembered being intrigued with pirates as a kid, playing a video game called "Pirates", etc. and thought I'd give it a try. This is well researched non-fiction presented as an adventure story, or as close to an adventure story as the facts will allow. Speculation is identified as speculation, with reasons why it might or might not be valid, and the story serves as a window into life in the early eighteenth century.
My three star rating has more to do with the casual nature of my interest, rather than any weakness in the writing. I found it worth reading, interesting, fun, enlightening. It didn't rock my world, but I didn't expect it too. Good stuff - maybe great for those with a deeper interest than mine.
My three star rating has more to do with the casual nature of my interest, rather than any weakness in the writing. I found it worth reading, interesting, fun, enlightening. It didn't rock my world, but I didn't expect it too. Good stuff - maybe great for those with a deeper interest than mine.
January 8, 2009
One of the best books I have read on piracy.
Not only is the text easy to read - none of the dull academic dryness; but it is full of excellent information.
Unlike most pirate books, there is little rehashing of the same stories. Sanders looks at things critically and makes arguments about piracy and commerce. He also critically discusses the two leading primary sources on pirates in relation Black Bart Roberts. It is an excellent work of nonfiction that reads like a novel.
Not only is the text easy to read - none of the dull academic dryness; but it is full of excellent information.
Unlike most pirate books, there is little rehashing of the same stories. Sanders looks at things critically and makes arguments about piracy and commerce. He also critically discusses the two leading primary sources on pirates in relation Black Bart Roberts. It is an excellent work of nonfiction that reads like a novel.
January 11, 2014
As I have been going to the Renaissance Festival with my siblings, dressed as pirates, I thought reading a good about a real pirate would be interesting. I was not disappointed - although being real pirate back in the Golden Age of Piracy was not really like Captain Jack Sparrow. I enjoyed it immensely. Most pirates had very short lives - not a good career choice.
August 18, 2007
Meh. When will historians learn that history doesn't have to bore the reader to tears? Throwing innumerable facts and figures at a person doesn't make one want to continue to turn pages. Bleah. Don't read this. If I could've made this NO stars, I would've.
June 19, 2017
Entertaining book about Bartholomew Roberts, AKA Black Bart. Full of facts about his life as a pirate in the Caribbean, Africa and off the coasts of Brazil and Newfoundland. A little different than the movies and other books. He never drank rum, only tea, and he didn't allow women on his ships.
February 4, 2009
The book started out well and was engaging, but then lost steam by the middle. I found that it just became a dry recitation of events after a while.
March 7, 2012
A fun summer read. Reads more like a Travelog than a history book and was great fun. would recommend it to people who want to know more about actual pirates instead of Hollywood's version.
March 27, 2020
This book reminded me anew why l love pirate history...a great read, and nicely researched.
December 20, 2020
Richard Sander's history of Bartholomew Roberts, aka John Roberts, aka “Black Bart," gets off to a bit of a slow start before taking off, in much the same way as Roberts' own career.
Unlike Blackbeard, whose likeness and story is plastered over much of the Caribbean, and Captain Morgan, who warranted his own run, I didn't actually know anything about Roberts before I read this book. Pirate tales being a bit removed from my usual reading, I can't even say how I came across it. I started it once and abandoned it for a time, feeling a bit bogged down by the details of Robert's upbringing and time as a mate on a slaver. Picking it back up, I discovered I'd quit at the wrong time - within a few pages, Roberts was a full-fledged pirate captain, and his story became much more interesting.
What Sanders does especially well is to tell the story of pirates - how they came into existence, their codes and rules, the necessities of punch (sugar ships were especially vulnerable to pirates, sugar being one of the key ingredients in the pirates' favorite drink), and how they operated as, essentially, a society unto themselves. In this way, Roberts is an actor in a much larger story, and one that is far more interesting than any single pirate's biography. Sanders also provides insight into the relations between the British, French, Spanish, and Portuguese empires, as well as the early operation of the slave trade, particularly the deplorable conditions on the ships - for crew, as well as slaves. His conclusion: it's no wonder so many sailors deserted the slavers for the life of a pirate.
Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum.
Unlike Blackbeard, whose likeness and story is plastered over much of the Caribbean, and Captain Morgan, who warranted his own run, I didn't actually know anything about Roberts before I read this book. Pirate tales being a bit removed from my usual reading, I can't even say how I came across it. I started it once and abandoned it for a time, feeling a bit bogged down by the details of Robert's upbringing and time as a mate on a slaver. Picking it back up, I discovered I'd quit at the wrong time - within a few pages, Roberts was a full-fledged pirate captain, and his story became much more interesting.
What Sanders does especially well is to tell the story of pirates - how they came into existence, their codes and rules, the necessities of punch (sugar ships were especially vulnerable to pirates, sugar being one of the key ingredients in the pirates' favorite drink), and how they operated as, essentially, a society unto themselves. In this way, Roberts is an actor in a much larger story, and one that is far more interesting than any single pirate's biography. Sanders also provides insight into the relations between the British, French, Spanish, and Portuguese empires, as well as the early operation of the slave trade, particularly the deplorable conditions on the ships - for crew, as well as slaves. His conclusion: it's no wonder so many sailors deserted the slavers for the life of a pirate.
Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum.
February 10, 2022
This book was a solid look into the life of Captain Bartholomew Roberts, a figure who's often mentioned as a contemporary in other books but just as soon dismissed. The author does a fine job of discussing the various sources of information, presenting multiple accounts while still suggesting what they consider to be likely. As far as can be researched, the life of Roberts was tracked from beginning to end, the ups and downs presented in an understandable way with glimpses into the time they occurred in to give weight. The author went to lengths to paint a picture of what life would have most likely been, suggesting numerous moments that while not directly recorded by history, could be inferred.
One topic I consider of note that was touched on in this book was the presence of homosexuality in the all-male environments of sailors, buccaneers, and pirates. Several other books on pirates had nothing to say on the topic, and I appreciate this author taking a stance on what they thought occurred.
I would recommend this to those with an interest in pirates, history, sailing, and the slave trade. I may read this again as reference, and will keep it on my bookshelf for research purposes.
One topic I consider of note that was touched on in this book was the presence of homosexuality in the all-male environments of sailors, buccaneers, and pirates. Several other books on pirates had nothing to say on the topic, and I appreciate this author taking a stance on what they thought occurred.
I would recommend this to those with an interest in pirates, history, sailing, and the slave trade. I may read this again as reference, and will keep it on my bookshelf for research purposes.
April 25, 2024
Such an extremely well researched history of piracy through the story of the dreadful pirate Roberts!
First of all, that's the pirate from The Princess Bride!
Second, the actual history of pirates is no less intriguing if not more than the adventure books we read on childhood.
There are so many things I learned from this book:
- the conditions of slavers on slave boats were so dreadful that they often volunteered to be pirates
- there was a female pirate Mary Read
- Robinson Crusoe was drawn upon a real person who survived on an uninhabited island on his own for 4 years - captain Woodes Rogers
- pirates' favorite drink was punch
- there was no walking the Plank and pirates in general were not as murderous as literature and movies describe, their biggest crime being thievery
- they had the most democratic set up on board on their ships were booty was divided equally and where slaves were working with them as equals (though they would not get any money/prize)
And much much more. A super interesting book to read.
First of all, that's the pirate from The Princess Bride!
Second, the actual history of pirates is no less intriguing if not more than the adventure books we read on childhood.
There are so many things I learned from this book:
- the conditions of slavers on slave boats were so dreadful that they often volunteered to be pirates
- there was a female pirate Mary Read
- Robinson Crusoe was drawn upon a real person who survived on an uninhabited island on his own for 4 years - captain Woodes Rogers
- pirates' favorite drink was punch
- there was no walking the Plank and pirates in general were not as murderous as literature and movies describe, their biggest crime being thievery
- they had the most democratic set up on board on their ships were booty was divided equally and where slaves were working with them as equals (though they would not get any money/prize)
And much much more. A super interesting book to read.
August 16, 2017
Not at all what I expected...
This book popped up as a recommended purchase. I was hesitant at first to buy it, but after reading the description and some reviews, I decided to get it.
I was hoping for so much more, and was sadly disappointed. I've had an interest in the history of piracy for several years and was looking forward to learning more about "Black Bart". This is book is very dry...to the point I had to stop reading at times because I was falling asleep. Honestly, the book dealt very little with Bart and his rise to piracy. It would start talking about his career, and just as it would start getting interesting, the author would ever off on a tangent about other things going on at the moment. The best parts of the book were the prologue and last two chapters.
I would recommend that you borrow this book or save yourself some time and just read the Wikipedia page.
This book popped up as a recommended purchase. I was hesitant at first to buy it, but after reading the description and some reviews, I decided to get it.
I was hoping for so much more, and was sadly disappointed. I've had an interest in the history of piracy for several years and was looking forward to learning more about "Black Bart". This is book is very dry...to the point I had to stop reading at times because I was falling asleep. Honestly, the book dealt very little with Bart and his rise to piracy. It would start talking about his career, and just as it would start getting interesting, the author would ever off on a tangent about other things going on at the moment. The best parts of the book were the prologue and last two chapters.
I would recommend that you borrow this book or save yourself some time and just read the Wikipedia page.
January 27, 2023
Honestly I am not sure where I found this book or why I had it on my Kindle. A biography of a pirate? Not my usual genre. But I was looking through my available books and tired of historical fiction and mysteries so I thought, why not? I am so glad I did.
This was a very well written and well researched book. At times, it read briefly like a novel, but the author always backed up his suppositions with facts. It is actually amazing that there was so much first hand knowledge of those 1720s pirates recorded. While this is mainly the story of John Bartholomew, “Black Bart” Roberts, we are treated to the whole scene of pirates in the time period. I learned a lot, and am surprised that in many cases Hollywood seems to have gotten it right.
If you have even the slightest interest in pirates, I highly recommend this book.
This was a very well written and well researched book. At times, it read briefly like a novel, but the author always backed up his suppositions with facts. It is actually amazing that there was so much first hand knowledge of those 1720s pirates recorded. While this is mainly the story of John Bartholomew, “Black Bart” Roberts, we are treated to the whole scene of pirates in the time period. I learned a lot, and am surprised that in many cases Hollywood seems to have gotten it right.
If you have even the slightest interest in pirates, I highly recommend this book.
July 19, 2020
Discounted | The real Dread Pirate Roberts turns out to be fascinating | There's so much here that's deeply interesting, but if I started to recount it I'd just quote the whole book. I have many times seen reference to the fact that pirate crews were often one-third black, indicating how "egalitarian" they were, it was helpful to get a more accurate picture of the treatment of black men aboard a pirate ship, since they had more rights than they did aboard the slave ships, but not as many as the white pirates. It's surprising how much specific and detailed information we have, and that information helps understand where the men were coming from. "Ambiguous" is a generous way to describe their morals, but their opposition was as bad or worse in their own ways.
December 30, 2024
Very interesting insight into pirate life and particularly Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart. Given the misery most sailors were subjected to, it's no wonder pirate life appealed. I think one stat said 1 in 8 transported slaves died but 1 in 5 sailors on a slaver ship died. Ironically, the presence on pirates kept down the numbers of slaves transported. And at the end, it's implied the Navy Captain and Captain of a Slaver ship secretly split the gold of Robert's captured slip. Interesting too that the pirates killed very few and in some ways seemed to "tax" the captured more than plundered in total. Also interesting was there probable homosexual lifestyle for many. Altogether a lot to think about including how birth station and year of birth seem to force your destiny.
June 13, 2017
This was an interesting look at the heyday of the Caribbean pirates; who they were, where they came from, why they did it, how they lived, how they were caught, how it all worked. Spots were a little dry and repetitive. Well researched, with just the right amount of supposition and clearly explained inferences from scant historical data. Most memorable to me was the last chapter with Black Bart's lifetime pirate statistics: clearly he was carrying the whole team and an overachiever.
If you want some insight into the Johnny Depp character and the setting of the Pirates movies, this is a good start.
If you want some insight into the Johnny Depp character and the setting of the Pirates movies, this is a good start.
May 31, 2018
This is a must read book for anyone interested in pirate life. I read it primarily because my church uses Patch the Pirate materials and I object to glorifying anything related to pirates. While the book set me straight on many modern mythologies regarding pirates, I still believe pirates are poor examples of Christian living.
That said, it is clear Disney and other Hollywood studios have done pirates a disfavor. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but read and find out where Hollywood got it wrong. Black Bart, as he was later known as, is a prime example of piracy. Think Errol Flynn rather than Johnny Depp.
That said, it is clear Disney and other Hollywood studios have done pirates a disfavor. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but read and find out where Hollywood got it wrong. Black Bart, as he was later known as, is a prime example of piracy. Think Errol Flynn rather than Johnny Depp.
August 6, 2018
An absolutely fascinating book about the life and career of Bartholomew Roberts -- aka Black Bart, aka Dread Pirate Roberts. This is not the sort of book I usually read, but on a long, crowded flight it was the first book on my Kindle, and I'm glad I found it. So many "who knew?" details. Leaders elected by their men. Signed agreements. Bans on women, gambling, more. A pirate king who avoided liquor in favor of tea. No walking the plank. No wanton murders. Equitable distribution of spoils. Well, okay, they were pirates -- but in many ways no worse than legitimate seafarers. Excellent research, many primary sources, well-documented. Read it and be surprised.
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