The History of Piracy: True Story Accounts of the Most Notorious Pirates

The History of Piracy: True Story Accounts of the Most Notorious Pirates

by Daniel Defoe and Captain Charles Johnson
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date: 13/11/2022

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The History of Piracy: True Story Accounts of the Most Notorious Pirates is a compelling anthology that delves into the infamous world of piracy through a rich tapestry of narrative styles and historical reflections. This collection features vivid accounts of piracy, revealing its brutal yet intriguing allure across varied oceans and cultures. The pieces carefully selected echo the thematic intricacies of adventure, greed, and lawlessness, providing a panoramic view of piracy. Noteworthy works within the collection offer dramatic tales of sea life that promise both learned insights and gripping storytelling, although specific authorship is not the focus, allowing the collective voice to shine. The anthology draws from the rich literary contributions of renowned authors like Daniel Defoe and Captain Charles Johnson, whose vivid narratives have significantly shaped our understanding of the golden age of piracy. Their combined accounts encapsulate the historical and cultural transformations of the 17th and 18th centuries, offering insights into the evolution of piracy as it resonates with larger themes of colonialism and trade. The collaborative effort in this anthology fortifies the longstanding literary tradition of documenting and romanticizing pirates, shaping cultural perceptions with their captivatingly diverse perspectives. Engaging with this anthology presents a unique opportunity for readers to explore the compelling world of piracy through a multiplicity of voices and narrative techniques. The book offers not only educational insights into the lives of history's most notorious pirates but also the cultural milieu in which they thrived. Readers are invited to delve into these stories to appreciate the innovation and diversity of pirate tales and to understand the complex web that connects these maritime renegades. This volume is an essential exploration for anyone intrigued by the tumultuous history of piracy, promising a wealth of knowledge and literary enjoyment.

ISBN:
8596547389989
8596547389989
Category:
Literary essays
Format:
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date:
13-11-2022
Language:
English
Publisher:
DigiCat
Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe was a Londoner, born in 1660 at St Giles, Cripplegate, and son of James Foe, a tallow-chandler. He changed his name to Defoe from c. 1695. He was educated for the Presbyterian Ministry at Morton's Academy for Dissenters at Newington Green, but in 1682 he abandoned this plan and became a hosiery merchant in Cornhill. After serving briefly as a soldier in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, he became well established as a merchant and travelled widely in England, as well as on the Continent.

Between 1697 and 1701 he served as a secret agent for William III in England and Scotland, and between 1703 and 1714 for Harley and other ministers. During the latter period he also, single-handed, produced the Review, a pro-government newspaper. A prolific and versatile writer he produced some 500 books on a wide variety of topics, including politics, geography, crime, religion, economics, marriage, psychology and superstition. He delighted in role-playing and disguise, a skill he used to great effect as a secret agent, and in his writing he often adopted a pseudonym or another personality for rhetorical impact.

His first extant political tract (against James II) was published in 1688, and in 1701 appeared his satirical poem The True-Born Englishman, which was a bestseller. Two years later he was arrested for The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters, an ironical satire on High Church extremism, committed to Newgate and pilloried. He turned to fiction relatively late in life and in 1719 published his great imaginative work, Robinson Crusoe. This was followed in 1722 by Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year, and in 1724 by his last novel, Roxana.

His other works include A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, a guide-book in three volumes (1724–6; abridged Penguin edition, 1965), The Complete English Tradesman (1726), Augusta Triumphans, (1728), A Plan of the English Commerce (1728) and The Complete English Gentleman (not published until 1890). He died on 24 April 1731. Defoe had a great influence on the development of the English novel and many consider him to be the first true novelist.

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