Book Review
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates
by David Cordingly
Under the Black Flag may be the best general introduction to pirates currently in print.
In Brief...
We liked:
- Information, information, information
- Organized for reference
- Facts and figures on pirate attacks, hangings, and ships
- Balanced look at pirates, pirating, and popular culture
Things we weren’t so keen on:
- Dense writing style—definitely for adults
- Focus almost exclusively on major pirates of the day
- Exclusive focus on pirates and pirating from the British perspective
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Our Review
Under the Black Flag may be the best general introduction to pirates currently in print.
David Cordingly focuses primarily on pirates in the Caribbean, North America, Africa, and England, and provides an excellent overview of the personalities, activities, and strategies used by the major pirates and pirate hunters, from Henry Morgan to the public hanging of John Upton in 1729. This book has an essential place in the library of anyone looking for a handy reference.
We would, however, have liked to see more discussion of minor pirates. More than 2,000 pirates likely plied the waters of the Caribbean in the 18th century, yet we don’t learn much about the character and personalities of minor figures during this period.
While Cordingly is rightfully regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on pirates, this book provides little insight into how countries other than England (e.g., Spain or France) dealt with pirates attacking their shipping.
We would also have liked a bit more discussion of how the “glory days” of pirating compares to contemporary periods.
