The Pirate Ship 1660–1730

Osprey New Vanguard #70

by Angus Konstam, Tony Bryan (Illustrator)

The deeds and personalities of famous pirates have received significant attention in recent however, no detailed depiction of their vessels has ever been produced. This title redresses the imbalance, conducting a detailed exploration of the wide variety of pirate vessels that sailed the high seas during the 'golden age' of piracy (1690–1730), from gun-bristling warships to smaller craft such as sloops, brigantines and early schooners. It incorporates the latest archaeological evidence to produce a fascinating account of these vessels, detailing their origins, development and tactical engagement. Packed with contemporary illustrations and superbly detailed colour artwork, the ships of the 'golden age' are brought vividly to life.

Genres: History, Pirates, Nonfiction, Naval History, Military History, Reference

48 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2003

About the author

Angus Konstam is a Scottish writer of popular history. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised on the Orkney Islands, he has written more than a hundred books on maritime history, naval history, historical atlases, with a special focus on the history of piracy.

Reviews

[Geoffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regrettably short, for the price, but is slickly produced like most of the Osprey titles, and a good jumping off point for more items. Aside from the five plates inside, it does contain a good book bibliography for additional research (and makes mention of ongoing studies to be aware of).

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic, but not bad for what it is.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good introduction pirate ships, author Angus Konstam and illustrator Tony Bryan do not disappoint. The Osprey books are known for their accurate technical texts and illustrations.

Konstam has the technical background that includes a good knowlege of recent marine archeological findings of pirate wrecks. The former Royal Navy officer worked as the curator of weapons at the Tower of London and chief curator of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum.

Among his other works are The History of Pirates , Piracy: The Complete History , and The World Atlas of Piracy . For the Osprey New Vanguary series he wrote Buccaneers: 1620-1700 and Pirates: 1660-1730 .

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and fast the pirate ship was made to be fast enough to overcome merchant ships and faster than any naval ship sent to stop it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

PIRATES

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was easy to read but had good detail. I just wish there were more pictures to show the difference in riggings for ships.