Pirate: The Buccaneer's (Unofficial) Manual

Ancient Warrior Guide

by Stephen Turnbull

A lively yet historically accurate how to dress like a pirate, what to expect of life on the high seas, and how to capture treasure The Buccaneer’s (Unofficial) Manual is a witty, informative, and highly entertaining guide to how to be a pirate, combining historical accuracy with an irreverent but revealing look at the eighteenth-century world of piracy and buccaneering. Included are chapters on the history of piracy, stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome; essentials of language and dress; notable pirate role models, including Blackbeard and Captain Kidd; what to expect of life at sea; the best weapons to have; how to capture a prize on the high seas and much more. Author Stephen Turnbull has studied the archives and traveled to pirate locations around the world in researching this fictionalized account, written as a pirate’s training manual for a young recruit based in the year 1793―a golden age for piracy. Illustrated throughout with artifacts, documents, and prints of the time as well as modern reconstructions, this lively and engaging manual provides answers to all the questions readers may have wondered about―did they really walk the plank, keep parrots, or bury treasure and mark it with an X on the map? The Buccaneer’s (Unofficial) Manual answers these questions and more, covering with authority every aspect of what it was really like to be a pirate. 155 illustrations, 20 in color plus 2 maps

Genres: Pirates, Nonfiction, History

216 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2018

About the author

Stephen Richard Turnbull is British a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. His books are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects. He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree. He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is currently a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions. He has also written a number of books on other medieval topics. He is semi-retired but still holds the post of Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies at Akita International University in Japan.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I can be a pirate!

[Shaun "AceFireFox" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was stylistically written as to be written by an old educated pirate veteran to prospective pirates to let them know the ropes. How a ship is run, different roles, different figures to take notes from, what pirates get up to. It doesn't just cover West Indies Pirates but also Chinese and Japanese pirates and, to a lesser degree, Barbary Corsairs.

It was light on detail at times, but that was all part of the style of things. The author doesn't know everything, he was just an ex-pirate from the 1790s that likely had gotten most of his information from stories told by others or reading the sources at the time. He didn't have the much wider wealth of knowledge that we have now. He even makes mention of names that I hadn't even heard of before.

This was fun and it was interesting, as most books on pirates tend to be about the actors and their deeds, not the actual day to day running of things, techniques and weapons to use. I'm glad I picked this one up a while back when on the 'big pirate book hunt' two years ago, now.

[Bohdana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirate: The Buccaneer's (Unofficial) Manual is written from the point of view of a retired pirate who gives an overview of the history of piracy and the life of a pirate up until death or retirement. I liked the illustration which often matched with the book's colour scheme. Overall, it was interesting to see the various parts of a pirate's life.

[Simon Curling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an "unoffical" manual, - others include Vikings, Gladiators and Legionaires. Its written almost as instruction manual for someone wanting to be a pirate in the Golden age of Piracy. In doing so its full of historical facts and information so its a easy and accessible read.

[Darth Miky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertente, scorrevole e molto istruttivo!

[Antón · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well edited and written, though the writer makes up a great deal of facts (To present William Kidd as a psychopath for example)

[Kenia Sedler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now when I return to Catalina Island's Buccaneer Days, I know that I'll be even better at being a Pirate!

[Kale Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun! Very surface level overview of pirate history and habits. Told from POV of an unnamed pirate from 1700s which added some whimsy.