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Enemies of All: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Age of Piracy
A masterful narrative history of the dangerous lives of pirates during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, revealing their unique impact on colonialism and empire.
The pirates that exist in our imagination are not just any pirates. Violent sea-raiding has occurred in most parts of the world throughout history, but our popular stereotype of pirates has been defined by one historical the period from the 1660s to the 1730s, the so-called "golden age of piracy."
A groundbreaking history of pirates, Enemies of All combines narrative adventure with deeply researched analysis, engrossing readers in the rise of piracy in the later seventeenth century, the debates about piracy in contemporary law and popular media, as well as the imperial efforts to suppress piracy in the early eighteenth century.
The Caribbean and American colonies of Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands—where piracy surged across these decades—are the main theater for Enemies of All , but this is a global story. Evoking London, Paris, and Amsterdam, Curaçao, Port Royal, Tortuga, and Charleston, the narrative takes readers, too, from Ireland and the Mediterranean to Madagascar and India, from the Arabian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.
Familiar characters like Drake, Morgan, Blackbeard, Bonny and Read, Henry Every, and Captain Kidd all feature here, but so too will the less well-known figures from the history of piracy, their crew-members, shipmates, and their confederates ashore; the men and women whose transatlantic lives were bound up with the rise and fall of piracy.
Transforming how readers understand the history of pirates, Enemies of All presents not only the historical evidence but, more importantly, explains the consequences of piracy's unique influence on colonialism and European imperial ambitions.
The pirates that exist in our imagination are not just any pirates. Violent sea-raiding has occurred in most parts of the world throughout history, but our popular stereotype of pirates has been defined by one historical the period from the 1660s to the 1730s, the so-called "golden age of piracy."
A groundbreaking history of pirates, Enemies of All combines narrative adventure with deeply researched analysis, engrossing readers in the rise of piracy in the later seventeenth century, the debates about piracy in contemporary law and popular media, as well as the imperial efforts to suppress piracy in the early eighteenth century.
The Caribbean and American colonies of Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands—where piracy surged across these decades—are the main theater for Enemies of All , but this is a global story. Evoking London, Paris, and Amsterdam, Curaçao, Port Royal, Tortuga, and Charleston, the narrative takes readers, too, from Ireland and the Mediterranean to Madagascar and India, from the Arabian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.
Familiar characters like Drake, Morgan, Blackbeard, Bonny and Read, Henry Every, and Captain Kidd all feature here, but so too will the less well-known figures from the history of piracy, their crew-members, shipmates, and their confederates ashore; the men and women whose transatlantic lives were bound up with the rise and fall of piracy.
Transforming how readers understand the history of pirates, Enemies of All presents not only the historical evidence but, more importantly, explains the consequences of piracy's unique influence on colonialism and European imperial ambitions.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 27, 2024
This exciting new book takes the reader on a voyage of discovery, investigating who pirates were, describing their exploits and everyday lives, examining the origins of the myths surrounding them and their impact on history. Socially, economically, and politically, pirates and piracy moulded empires as they rose to global power in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Be honest, when you think of pirates, you think of the Hollywood version, don’t you? I certainly do, despite reading a few really good books on the subject (Enemies of All being one of them!). We conjure up an image of a great creaking ship with a weathered skull and crossbones flag billowing menacingly in the breeze. The captain is wearing an eyepatch, and he has a hook for a hand. He has a parrot sitting on his shoulder, squawking and staring judgementally at the crew. These are the stereotypes challenged in Richard Blakemore’s new book. (Although, there is some truth behind the skull and crossbones flag!)
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Enemies of All will challenge what you think you already know about pirates and perhaps change your opinion about some of them. It lifts the lid on piracy and looks to define what a pirate actually is. The author explains the difference between buccaneer, privateer and corsair. The reader is invited to look beyond the romanticized versions of the pirates we see in Hollywood and literature. There were double standards when it came to being a pirate. If you were plundering for the ‘right’ people, such as the royals, then it was deemed ok, but if not, then a pirate could be executed.
I liked how the book explored the origins of pirates and their expansion, and not just the popular and widely written about Golden Age of Piracy. All the famous names you might expect are mentioned, such as Anne Bonny and Blackbeard, but there were also some names unfamiliar to me. Media is something also discussed in the book, which I enjoyed, as this is how most of us discovered pirates! The author talks about the lasting legacies and impact these people left behind.
.
Richard Blakemore has studied pirates for a decade, from his PhD to his role as Associate Professor in Social and Maritime History at the University of Reading. You can tell a massive amount of time, research and passion went into the writing of this book. And even though it is incredibly informative, it is not a dry read. Enemies of All is accessible and entertaining. I would love to read more by this author. A highly recommended read!
.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!
.
Be honest, when you think of pirates, you think of the Hollywood version, don’t you? I certainly do, despite reading a few really good books on the subject (Enemies of All being one of them!). We conjure up an image of a great creaking ship with a weathered skull and crossbones flag billowing menacingly in the breeze. The captain is wearing an eyepatch, and he has a hook for a hand. He has a parrot sitting on his shoulder, squawking and staring judgementally at the crew. These are the stereotypes challenged in Richard Blakemore’s new book. (Although, there is some truth behind the skull and crossbones flag!)
.
Enemies of All will challenge what you think you already know about pirates and perhaps change your opinion about some of them. It lifts the lid on piracy and looks to define what a pirate actually is. The author explains the difference between buccaneer, privateer and corsair. The reader is invited to look beyond the romanticized versions of the pirates we see in Hollywood and literature. There were double standards when it came to being a pirate. If you were plundering for the ‘right’ people, such as the royals, then it was deemed ok, but if not, then a pirate could be executed.
I liked how the book explored the origins of pirates and their expansion, and not just the popular and widely written about Golden Age of Piracy. All the famous names you might expect are mentioned, such as Anne Bonny and Blackbeard, but there were also some names unfamiliar to me. Media is something also discussed in the book, which I enjoyed, as this is how most of us discovered pirates! The author talks about the lasting legacies and impact these people left behind.
.
Richard Blakemore has studied pirates for a decade, from his PhD to his role as Associate Professor in Social and Maritime History at the University of Reading. You can tell a massive amount of time, research and passion went into the writing of this book. And even though it is incredibly informative, it is not a dry read. Enemies of All is accessible and entertaining. I would love to read more by this author. A highly recommended read!
.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 20, 2024
When I think of a "pirate", there is an instant evocation of swashbuckling adventures, peg legs, cutlasses, parrots sitting on the shoulder and black flags. It is all very Treasure Island. Associate Professor in Social and Maritime History at the University of Reading, Richard Blakemore is here to set the record straight.
The realities of a pirate - or perhaps better known as a "buccaneer", "corsair", or "privateer" - was far from the romantic and idealised version in fiction and film. Traitors, murderers and exiles, these figures were often enemies of the state. Blakemore covers topics such as the origins of the pirate, the lasting impacts of pirate activity, and how this shaped social and political landscapes. From the infamous pirates to the obscure, the author is limitless in their knowledge of this deeply fascinating and utterly captivating period of history.
Engaging, fresh, and completely accessible, Enemies of All delivered an essential record that is of the highest quality.
Thank you to @thehistorypressuk who kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.
The realities of a pirate - or perhaps better known as a "buccaneer", "corsair", or "privateer" - was far from the romantic and idealised version in fiction and film. Traitors, murderers and exiles, these figures were often enemies of the state. Blakemore covers topics such as the origins of the pirate, the lasting impacts of pirate activity, and how this shaped social and political landscapes. From the infamous pirates to the obscure, the author is limitless in their knowledge of this deeply fascinating and utterly captivating period of history.
Engaging, fresh, and completely accessible, Enemies of All delivered an essential record that is of the highest quality.
Thank you to @thehistorypressuk who kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews