Our list for today is all about books on pirates. Have you ever read anything about pirates? Maybe you’re already familiar with their impact on global trade and maritime history, but if not, we have plenty of titles to keep you entertained. Even if piracy is not your usual area of interest, we guarantee you’ll find something that will keep you up late at night. So, let’s get started!
What Are the Best Pirate Books Ever?
Treasure Island
By Robert Louis Stevenson
One of the most popular and best pirate books, Treasure Island, is an adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Even if you’re not a fan of pirate novels, you must have heard the story of Jim Hawkins, a young boy who sets sail on a perilous journey to find buried treasure. It’s a great novel full of action and amazing characters. It’s been adapted into numerous films and television shows, and it has influenced the popular perception of pirates to a great extent. Thanks to Treasure Island, we recognize treasure maps, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and parrots as concepts closely related to piracy. In other words, it’s a definite must-read!
A General History of the Pyrates
By Captain Charles Johnson
A General History of the Pyrates is considered one of the best pirate history books. It was published in 1724 and contains biographies of many contemporary pirates. This book has become one of the most influential works on piracy and is a valuable reference for all things pirate-related. It includes detailed accounts of the lives and adventures of notorious pirates such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, Edward Teach, Mary Read, and others. If you want to learn more about pirates and how they lived, this book is an excellent resource
The Golden Age of Piracy: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Popularity of Pirates
Edited by David Head
The Golden Age of Piracy: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Popularity of Pirates is an excellent book about pirate history. It’s a collection of essays that offers a view of piracy during the 17th and 18th centuries and provides insights into the real lives of pirates, their impact on the political and economic situation of the day, and the reasons behind the popularity of pirates as cultural icons. Reading this book will help you gain a better understanding of the real history of pirates.
Blackbeard: America’s Most Notorious Pirate
By Angus Konstam
Blackbeard: America’s Most Notorious Pirate is a detailed account of the life and career of the infamous Blackbeard, from the beginning to the final defeat in a great sea battle. The book is exceptional, as it provides vivid descriptions of Blackbeard’s attacks from the point of view of his few survived victims. It’s also a detailed overview of piracy as a business—bloody and brutal—despite all the romantic flair surrounding it.
Pirate Nation: Elizabeth I and Her Royal Sea Rovers
By David Childs
Pirate Nation: Elizabeth I and Her Royal Sea Rovers is one of the most unusual and thought-provoking books about the history of piracy. It delves into the complex relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the pirates who operated under her patronage. Some reviews even describe it as “a radical reassessment of Elizabethan maritime history.” So, if you want to take a different look at maritime history and the Elizabethan era and understand how much the English economy and piracy were connected at that time, we highly recommend this book.
Pirate Killers: The Royal Navy and the African Pirates
By Graham A. Thomas
Pirate Killers: The Royal Navy and the African Pirates will tell you all about the pirates of the Mediterranean and their interactions with the Royal Navy around Africa (e.g., the 1816 Battle of Algiers), shedding light on the 17th-century Mediterranean piracy in general and the rise of the Barbary pirate states in particular. You’ll also learn about the impact of piracy on the European balance of power.
Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
By Robert Kurson
If you’ve been looking for a piece of non-fiction about pirates, Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship is the book for you. It’s the story of the real-life quest to locate a sunken ship—the Golden Fleece—that belonged to the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. It was discovered by two American divers, John Chatterton and John Mattera, in Samaná Bay in 2008. The book blends engaging historical investigation and maritime adventure and will take you back to the days of the Golden Age of Piracy, as well as give plenty of details about modern-day treasure hunting.
Pirates: A New History from Vikings to Somali Raiders
By Peter Lehr
Pirates: A New History from Vikings to Somali Raiders is yet another non-fiction work about pirates. It will take you on a journey throughout history, examining the evolution of piracy across different cultures and time periods while also addressing contemporary issues. You’ll start with the Middle Ages and the Vikings and go all the way to the present-day Somali pirates, exploring their motivations and modus operandi. If you want to get a fresh perspective on piracy and an understanding of its impact on maritime history, we recommend this book.
What Are the Best Pirate Romance Books?
Daughter of the Pirate King
By Tricia Levenseller
Now, let’s move on from history to fiction and romance. If you’ve been looking for some pirate-related action, adventure, romance, and a strong female character, Daughter of the Pirate King will deliver all of it. You’ll meet a cunning heroine who allows herself to be captured by an enemy pirate ship to find an ancient hidden map. Perhaps this is the slow-burning romance you’ve been waiting for.
The Princess Bride
By William Goldman
The Princess Bride is an amazing book that combines elements of swashbuckling adventure and high-seas romance—even though it’s not entirely about piracy. The way the author presents the story is quite unique and fun—it’s an abridged version of a longer work by the fictional S. Morgenstern. The plot follows the journey of Buttercup and Westley, and it’s full of fencing battles, political intrigue, and kidnapping, among other things. Even though it’s not solely focused on piracy, The Princess Bride is considered one of the best pirate romance books ever written by numerous reviews. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed if you give it a try!
What Are the Best Pirate Fiction Books?
On Stranger Tides
By Tim Powers
If you haven’t read On Stranger Tides, you’re missing out on an epic adventure on the high seas and one of the best pirate fiction books ever! It takes place during the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century and follows the journey of Jack Shandy as he sets out to find the mythical Fountain of Youth. On his way, he has to face voodoo, zombies, and other supernatural elements that make his quest all the more challenging and exciting. You can fully expect swashbuckling pirate action, the search for eternal youth, and spine-tingling supernatural encounters, including a vivid depiction of Blackbeard’s death and beheading. It’s no wonder that the book has inspired some of the elements of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise.
Pirate Latitudes
By Michael Crichton
Pirate Latitudes is also considered one of the best pirate fiction books. Set in the Caribbean in 1665, it follows the adventures of Captain Charles Hunter, a privateer hired by the Governor of Jamaica to capture a Spanish treasure galleon. If you’ve been looking for an engaging mix of historical detail and action-packed narrative, you’ve chosen well. The book was published posthumously in 2009 and still remains a beloved classic, thanks to its captivating portrayal of 17th-century piracy and the New World.
What Are the Best Pirate Books for Young Adults?
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates
By David Cordingly
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates will reveal the truth about the lives of pirates in the Caribbean and the Americas without all this romantic flair and stuff. It is the perfect resource for those who want to understand how pirates lived. You will gain insights into the lives of famous pirates like Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Anne Bonny, Grace O’Malley, and many more. The book also provides a clear understanding of the evolution of piracy through economic, social, and cultural lenses. For those who are interested in learning about pirates but do not know much, this book is an absolute must-read.
Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled The Seven Seas
By Laura Sook Duncombe
Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled The Seven Seas covers both real and legendary women pirates, from Grace O’Malley, who terrorized shipping operations around the British Isles, to Cheng I Sao, who commanded a fleet of 400 ships off China in the early 19th century. These women came from diverse backgrounds, but they all shared a desire for freedom. We’re positive you’ll be excited to learn more about the history of piracy from an often-overlooked perspective. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in history, adventure, or just plain old girl power!
What Are the Best Pirate Books for Kids?
Finally, we have a recommendation regarding the best pirate books for kids. There’s truly an endless number of great books, but you can start with these three.
Never Mess with a Pirate Princess!
By Holly Ryan, illustrated by Sian Roberts
Start with Never Mess with a Pirate Princess! Its story follows young Princess Prudence, who discovers that her beloved teddy bear has been stolen by pirates. Uh-oh! Determined to rescue him, she embarks on a humorous and adventurous journey. The book is full of colorful illustrations and is a perfect read for your little ones. Who wouldn’t want to join a brave princess on her mission to get her beloved Teddy back? We know we would!
Captain Jack and the Pirates
By Peter Bently, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Captain Jack and the Pirates is a delightful story about three friends, Jack, Zack, and Caspar, who build a sand ship and set sail on an imaginary adventure. They meet an enemy pirate ship and other interesting things during their journey. Why do we offer this book for your kids? It’s a playful tale of high-seas adventure that can spark your children’s imagination with its vivid storytelling and colorful illustrations. Plus, you’ve been looking for a good pirate story, haven’t you?
DK Readers L2: Pirate Attack!
By Deborah Lock
So, finally, the last in the list of the best pirate books for kids and our entire pirate book list for today is DK Readers L2: Pirate Attack!, a children’s book that helps them build their reading skills and learn new vocabulary. The book will take your kids on an exciting adventure on the high seas, where they can experience what it’s like to attack another pirate ship! The book is part of the DK Readers Level 2 series, which means it’s filled with awesome photographs, diagrams, and great storytelling. It’s the perfect way to inspire kids to read and learn new things. If you’ve been looking for a book about pirates, give it a try. Your little ones will surely love it!
