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Bucaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts
When the Spaniards heard of this new industry which had arisen within the limits of their possessionsthey pursued the vessels of the buccaneers wherever they were seenand relentlessly destroyed them and their crews.' (Excerpt from Chapter 1)
Paperback
First published January 1, 1898
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About the author
Frank R. Stockton
439 books69 followersFrank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century. Stockton avoided the didactic moralizing common to children's stories of the time, instead using clever humor to poke at greed, violence, abuse of power and other human foibles, describing his fantastic characters' adventures in a charming, matter-of-fact way.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 10, 2016
Very entertaining
April 7, 2014
Finally! The last of the pirate-related books that I picked up at the Pirates of the Caribbean section of Disney World. I think that I just about overdosed myself. This book was written primarily for young people. In fact, the author begins by saying, “When I was a boy I strongly desired to be a pirate, and the reason for this was the absolute independence of that sort of life. Restrictions of all sorts had become onerous to me, and in my reading of the adventures of the bold sea-rovers of the main, I had unconsciously selected those portions of a pirate's life which were attractive to me, and had totally disregarded all the rest. In fact, I had a great desire to become what might be called a marine Robin Hood. I would take from the rich and give to the poor; I would run my long, low, black craft by the side of the merchantman, and when I had loaded my vessel with the rich stuffs and golden ingots which composed her cargo, I would sail away to some poor village, and make its inhabitants prosperous and happy for the rest of their lives by a judicious distribution of my booty.” Thus, while the book is written with historical accuracy, it does not contain the kind of graphic, gruesome detail that might make it inappropriate for young children.
Buccaneers and Pirates is not intended to be a complete book of pirate lore from all times and places but an account of the more well-known, and some not so famous, buccaneers of the New World from the mid-seventeenth century into the early eighteenth century. In these true tales, along with a few legends, of history's sea-faring scoundrels and their daring deeds, the reader will meet Blackbeard, who reveled in shooting down members of his own crew; Henry Morgan, the infamous pirate who eventually became Deputy-Governor of Jamaica; Jean Lafitte, master of an enormously profitable piracy ring even though he only boarded a ship twice in his life; Captain William Kidd, whose evil exploits continue to raise goose bumps; and even two women whose courage and cunning were a match for any man's. One may not agree with Stockton’s picture of Christopher Columbus as a pirate-like figure plundering the “simple-hearted, inoffensive” people of the West Indies “who did not know how to fight and who did not want to fight.” Columbus may have had his faults, but the various tribes of Native Americans had been butchering and massacring each other for thousands of years before he arrived. Otherwise, these authentic stories, sometimes humorous, sometimes chilling, but always interesting, are quite readable for those who enjoy learning about the notorious brigands who plundered North American coasts.
Buccaneers and Pirates is not intended to be a complete book of pirate lore from all times and places but an account of the more well-known, and some not so famous, buccaneers of the New World from the mid-seventeenth century into the early eighteenth century. In these true tales, along with a few legends, of history's sea-faring scoundrels and their daring deeds, the reader will meet Blackbeard, who reveled in shooting down members of his own crew; Henry Morgan, the infamous pirate who eventually became Deputy-Governor of Jamaica; Jean Lafitte, master of an enormously profitable piracy ring even though he only boarded a ship twice in his life; Captain William Kidd, whose evil exploits continue to raise goose bumps; and even two women whose courage and cunning were a match for any man's. One may not agree with Stockton’s picture of Christopher Columbus as a pirate-like figure plundering the “simple-hearted, inoffensive” people of the West Indies “who did not know how to fight and who did not want to fight.” Columbus may have had his faults, but the various tribes of Native Americans had been butchering and massacring each other for thousands of years before he arrived. Otherwise, these authentic stories, sometimes humorous, sometimes chilling, but always interesting, are quite readable for those who enjoy learning about the notorious brigands who plundered North American coasts.
September 4, 2014
Somewhat dated -- it was written in 1898 -- but very entertainingly told, this book traces piracy in American waters from Columbus to Captain Kidd. Stockton is pretty fair-minded, and speaks of Columbus' second voyage as the first serious piratical expedition in the New World. He avoids dwelling on gore and outrages, even when discussing L'Olonnais. Instead he attmepts to give an historical overview of the buccaneers, Brethren of the Coast, and privateers, with entertaining narratives of particular pirates. He concludes with two chapters devoted to Captain Kidd -- the first to the legend, and the second to the reality.
As Stockton relies partly on period accounts and partly on later historical work, he tends to dwell on the romanticism of swashbuckling and adventure, especially in the early chapters. As he proceeds through history, he grows less sympathetic of the pirates, as their targets expand from the Spanish war and treasure ships to include more merchants and civilians, and with increasing cruelty.
I listened to the LibriVox recording of this, which was a collaborative effort but all the readers were good.
As Stockton relies partly on period accounts and partly on later historical work, he tends to dwell on the romanticism of swashbuckling and adventure, especially in the early chapters. As he proceeds through history, he grows less sympathetic of the pirates, as their targets expand from the Spanish war and treasure ships to include more merchants and civilians, and with increasing cruelty.
I listened to the LibriVox recording of this, which was a collaborative effort but all the readers were good.
April 21, 2015
Buccaneers and Pirates is a unique reading. It may be childish or naive at times, certain gruesome historical facts are omitted, but it is after all a book for youngsters. It is an amazing experience in this respect that it allows the reader to reveal two types of history at once: facts and history of the American pirates,and the attitude towards young people at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.
Taking into consideration the target audience of the book, as well as the time in which the book was written, it's easier to turn a blind eye on certain gaps and omissions in the narration. This book is, most of all, a cautionary tale.
Being interested both in the culture and lifestyle of the 19th c. and the subject of pirates, I found this book to be very enjoyable.
Taking into consideration the target audience of the book, as well as the time in which the book was written, it's easier to turn a blind eye on certain gaps and omissions in the narration. This book is, most of all, a cautionary tale.
Being interested both in the culture and lifestyle of the 19th c. and the subject of pirates, I found this book to be very enjoyable.
September 26, 2012
Published in 1898 by The Macmillan Company and written by Frank R. Stockton, Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coast was written to appeal to and acquaint children with history and the seafaring life in time gone by. Although it is predominantly factual, the life and times of the sea rovers of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic coast was also shrouded in a mist of fable. The book gives a chronological and comprehensive history of both men and women that took to a life as highwaymen and women of the sea. I found it interesting, clear and comprehensible, shedding light on a time long past and filled with the dash and daring you would and should expect. I think everyone could enjoy this little known publication.
March 20, 2008
While it pains me to give just two stars to any book teeming with pirates, matey, this book simply didn't work for me, as it failed to fulfill any one of the three requirements one looks for in a nonfiction book about pirates and buccaneers: enough tawdry detail to make it a guilty pleaure, the type of analysis needed to understand the politics and economics of piracy, or descriptions of pirates and their lives by a first-hand witness. Still, though, it's not a terrible place to start for someone seeking a basic history of the golden age of piracy off American shores.
January 17, 2014
Pretty interesting but a bit too much *bad men!!!!*.
Everyone loves a pirate and we all know they were brutal so the constant moralising gets a bit boring, the author says things like "wicked things were done but we'll not list them here" which is rubbish as he's refusing to write the juicy bits which we're all reading the book for in the first place!
Captain Johnson's book is much better, but still, this was entertaining :)
Everyone loves a pirate and we all know they were brutal so the constant moralising gets a bit boring, the author says things like "wicked things were done but we'll not list them here" which is rubbish as he's refusing to write the juicy bits which we're all reading the book for in the first place!
Captain Johnson's book is much better, but still, this was entertaining :)
June 24, 2016
Страхотна четиво, което обхваща накратко зараждането на пиратството и проследява историите на дузина от най-популярните пирати в историята. Всичко е представено сравнително кратко и необстоятелствено, но също така са включени редица вълнуващи случки, които да те накарат да се поинтересуваш повече от някой или някои от морските разбойници.
Препоръчвам за хора, които искат да навлязат в света на пиратите!
Препоръчвам за хора, които искат да навлязат в света на пиратите!
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August 22, 2013A non-fiction book on pirates for kids, the main drive of which is to tell children that pirates were not colourful adventurers but rather brutal robbers. So Stockton gives a series of cautionary accounts of real pirates, with the minimum of context or detail. I could only get about halfway through; it's not a patch on Stockton's Bee-Man of Orn.
May 2, 2014
Really fun read but I wish there was more colorful description of the events being described. I would guess this book was definitely aimed at older children seeing as how so many gory and brutal details are left to the imagination and the stories are presented as cautionary tales, where the author is constantly pointing out how brutish and immoral pirates were rather than glorifying them.
November 26, 2014
This is a 1960 edition of Frank R. Stockton's 1898 classic book of piracy for young adults. It uses Exquemelin's and Johnson's works as source materials, so most fans of pirate tales will be familiar with these. It is considerably livened up by drawings from the pencil of Bernard Krigstein, who made his name drawing for EC Comics.
September 24, 2015
An interesting book about the history and the lives of the most known pirates. Unfortunately this Librivox recording is at times annoying. Some readers have bad recording equipment which results in a very soft sound.
January 24, 2014
3.5/5 I really wish they'd allow half star ratings.
February 25, 2017
I found this book to be very one-sided.
May 14, 2017
Classic pirate lore
Good old fashioned pirate stories! Most of the pop culture, movies etc seem to based on stories from this collection.
Good old fashioned pirate stories! Most of the pop culture, movies etc seem to based on stories from this collection.
June 6, 2017
I enjoyed this because it offered up facts and stories from history that most people will never know about.
October 21, 2020
Do you have a sheet for grade five
May 14, 2021
Great book that I had the pleasure of translating into Portuguese for the first time. Love it.
July 13, 2023
Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftxk5...
July 1, 2024
I enjoyed reading this history. Some names were familiar and many were not. It was very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews