Written by Pirates, Privateers and their Contemporaries
Being contemporary accounts, often first-hand, by pirates and those who encountered pirates. Given the distance of time, and the uncertainty of authenticity in some cases, these sources should be approached skeptically, and with knowledge of the various biases of the authors.
( ** = Book is in editor's library)
(# = While not possessing it, editor has read the book)
Barlow, Edward, Barlow’s Journal, Vol. I and 11. [Transcribed by Basil Lubbock. Hurst and Blackett, 1934]. As captain of the "Sceptre", Barlow encountered Kidd in the Indian Ocean, and documented it.
Dampier, William, A New Voyage 'Round the World, [ reprinted London, Argonaut Press, 1927]. A fascinating narrative of a privateering voyage in the 1680's by a participant.** Online version Another Online Version
--, Voyages and Descriptions, [ 1st printed in 1699]. A Supplement of the Voyage round the world, describing the countreys of Tonquin, Achin, Malacca, &c., their product, inhabitants, manners, trade, policy, &c. 2. Two voyages to Campeachy, with a description of the coasts, product, inhabitants, logwood-cutting, trade, &c. of Jucatan, Campeachy, New-Spain, &c. 3. A discourse of trade-winds, breezes, storms, seasons of the year, tides and currents of the torrid zone throughout the world; with an account of Natal in Africk, its product, negro's, &c.# Online version
--, A Voyage to New Holland, [ 1st printed 1729]. Captain Dampier's new voyage to New Holland in 1699.# Online version
--, A Continuation of a Voyage to New Holland, [ 1st printed 1729]. Part 2 of A Voyage to New Holland. Captain Dampier's account of visits to Timor, New Guinea, Borneo, Java, and finally Ascension, where the ship is lost, but the men are all saved, and eventually rescued.# Online version
De Lussan, Raveneau, Raveneau de Lussan's Voyage to the South Seas, [1930 translation by Marguerite Eyer Wilbur] A translation into English of his "Journal of a Voyage into the South Seas in 1684 and the following years with the Filibusters". Online excerpt from Perkins, Oliver I. Title: The history of the buccaneers of America; containing detailed accounts of those bold and daring freebooters; chiefly along the Spanish Main, in the West Indies, and in the great South Sea, succeeding the civil wars in England, 1856 edition, (p. 314-364).
Drury, Robert, Madagascar; Or, Robert Drury’s ]ournal. [1890; (reprinted, Negro Universities Press, 1969)]. Drury was shipwrecked on Madagascar for 15 years. His journal is a first-hand account of life among the pirates there.
Exquemelin, A. O. (aka John Esquemeling), History of the Buccaneers of America, [Rio Grande Press, 1992 (reprinted from 1684 ed.)]. The author (born 1645) had been a Huguenot buccaneer. The author seems to have been an eyewitness of much of what he reports, but he is a prejudiced and inaccurate historian. He had a great dislike for Henry Morgan, and thus should not be relied upon where Morgan is concerned. He was consciously writing for a popular audience. Nevertheless, he supplies details found nowhere else. Exquemelin supplies the framework for our understanding buccaneering in the West Indies. Along with Johnson’s "General History ... of .. Pirates", this book is referred to by almost all modern books of piracy.** Online Dutch version with English translation and illustrations. Another online version from a reprint of one of the English editions of Exquemelin's De Americaensche zee-roovers, apparently from the London edition of 1698-1699. University of Michigan Library Name Resolver Service)
Johnson,
Captain Charles, (thought by many to be Daniel Defoe), A General History of the
Robberies and Murders of
the Most Notorious Pirates,. [a.k.a. A
General History of the Pirates]. First published in 1724, this publication was
contemporary with the Golden Age of Piracy. Though not all of this book may be strictly
factual, it is important both for its contents and its tone. Much of his research comes
from pirate trials of the period, and from his numerous maritime connections (having once
been a ship-owner himself). More recent books on piracy that rely heavily on this book and
Exquemelin’s book, without corroboration of other documentation should be considered
questionable at best. Capt. Johnson came out with four different editions
-- the latter ones with extra chapters added. Sample
chapter from the book on Blackbeard. Several current editions are
available. Here's descriptions of two of them.
Edited
by Manuel Schonhorn - [1972, 1999] Probably one of the most thorough
editions available. Almost 50 pages of intro material, and over 100 pages
of appendices and postscripts. Also well indexed.**
Edited by David
Cordingly - [1998] - a well illustrated, handsome book, but not as complete at
the Schonhorn edition. Eight pages of introduction, and six pages of
notes. No index.**
Labat, Pere, Memoirs 1693-1705 (London, 1970). Jesuit Father who spent time with the buccaneers. Introduction by Philip Gosse.
Leslie, Robert C. (ed.), The Journal of Captain Woodes Rogers 1708-11 (London, 1894). Privateer who explored & pillaged the Pacific coast of America.
Le Golif, Louis, Memoirs of a Buccaneer, [translated by Malcom Barnes, reprinted by Simon and Schuster, 1954 (recently discovered, & heavily edited)]. The author, other wise known as Borgne-Fesse ("Half-Arse", because one buttock had been shot off by a cannon-ball) had been a French buccaneer. He tells about many of the extraordinary characters to be found among the buccaneer captains, such as Roche Braziliano and Montbars. It seems that it is not certain whether this book is authentic or a hoax, but is a good reference nevertheless.**
Montauban, --- de, A relation of a voyage...on the coast of Guinea, in the year 1695, Online version from Perkins, Oliver I. Title: The history of the buccaneers of America; containing detailed accounts of those bold and daring freebooters; chiefly along the Spanish Main, in the West Indies, and in the great South Sea, succeeding the civil wars in England, 1856 edition, (Montauban's narrative - p. 464-484).
Ringrose, Basil, The history of the buccaneers of America; containing detailed accounts of those bold and daring freebooters; chiefly along the Spanish Main, in the West Indies, and in the great South Sea, succeeding the civil wars in England.. Online version from Perkins, Oliver I. Title: The history of the buccaneers of America; containing detailed accounts of those bold and daring freebooters; chiefly along the Spanish Main, in the West Indies, and in the great South Sea, succeeding the civil wars in England, 1856 edition. [Ringrose's narrative (p. 180-313)]
Rogers, Woodes, A Cruising Voyage Round the World (1712), [reprint London, 1928 and also reprint from Dover, 1970]. Journal of privateer expedition around the world in 1708-1711. They captured a Spanish galleon and rescued Alexander Selkirk (the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe), from Juan Fernandez Is.**
Smith, Aaron, The Atrocities of the Pirates, [1997] In the early 1800's Aaron Smith had been captured by pirates and forced to join them. Later, after he escaped, he was put on trial for piracy.**
Stephens, John Richard, ed. , Captured by Pirates: 22 Firsthand Accounts of Murder and Mayhem on the High Seas, [Fern Cyn. Press, 1996] This exciting new nonfiction book contains twenty-two dramatic, real-life adventures written between 1500 and 1850 by pirate captives. These are true tales of terror as told by men and women who unexpectedly found themselves helpless victims on the open seas with death suddenly staring them straight in the face. Definitely fascinating reading. **
Williams, Robert, Memoirs of a Buccaneer, [Rio Grande Press, 1990 (reprint of 1900 ed.)] Purports to be the memoirs of a seventeenth-century buccaneer who voyaged with Capt. Pemberthy, sacking Nicaragua and attacking a Spanish galleon.**
(** = Book is in editor's library)
(# = While not possessing it, editor has read the book)
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