Pirates

Children's Literature - Leona Illig

Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, beware. This book contains the non-varnished, non-Hollywood story of pirates the world over, from the thieves that sailed the Mediterranean in 700 B.C. to those who plundered the South China Sea in the 1840s. Some of the pirate groups described include the Vikings, the Barbary Corsairs, the Tortuga Buccaneers, female pirates, and Chinese pirates, as well as a host of others. A chapter typically consists of a two or four large-page spread. A brief history of each pirate group is provided, and large, colorful illustrations are included. There are numerous sidebars and inserts that add details about the pirates' ships, clothing, weapons, and attack strategies. In many cases, a short fictional story is included to help bring the facts to life. Websites are listed for additional reading about each pirate group. There are also chapters about pirate fiction (the one place where you will find Captain Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, and Captain Hook), modern day treasure hunters, and a section describing ways in which readers can investigate pirate history on their own. A glossary and an index are included. This book is an excellent resource for readers who need a quick, concise, and unvarnished history of pirates. As might be expected in a book of this sort, there are references (and sometimes illustrations) of beheadings, hangings, and corpses swinging in the wind. Readers who would like more detailed information about pirates should also investigate the beautifully illustrated book, A Thousand Years of Pirates by William Gilkerson. Reviewer: Leona Illig