Popular culture has long represented piracy with the well-known images of peg legs, black flags, and hidden riches. However, a recent book by Richard Blakemore explores the nuanced and sometimes ignored history of piracy, challenging these misconceptions.
Blakemore, an Associate Professor in Social and Maritime History at the University of Reading, has devoted over a decade to studying pirates. His expertise ranges from his Cambridge Ph.D. to teaching historical relationships between human societies and the maritime environment, with a particular emphasis on the periods spanning the 16th through the 18th centuries.
The book "Enemies of All" explores pirates' origins, identities, and impact, revealing their significant influence on social, economic, and political landscapes during the 17th and 18th centuries. Pirates were viewed as human foes who committed treachery, oppression, murder, and theft; they were far from idealized characters. This voyage of discovery offers a new perspective on piracy, shedding light on its profound effects on shaping modern society and leaving behind enduring legacies.
In a recent article on The Conversation, Blakemore discussed Charles Johnson's "A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates." The book, published 300 years ago, transformed the public's perception of piracy. Johnson aimed to give a detailed account of famous pirates such as Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read, using vivid descriptions that fascinated readers.
The book became very popular, leading to many reprints and translations. Its success coincided with the tail end of the 'golden age of piracy,' adding to its topical appeal.
Pirate crews were a diverse mix of individuals from different walks of life. For instance, Walter Kennedy hailed from Wapping in London and had humble beginnings as a pickpocket. At the same time, Stede Bonnet was described as being wealthy from his sugarcane plantation in Barbados, as noted in Johnson's 1724 book.
Despite their differences, what bound these pirates together was their shared aspiration to acquire wealth. Pirates had the potential to earn significantly more than Anglo-American sailors, with some achieving fortunes ranging from 100 to 1,000 times the salary of a regular sailor.
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Johnson published another book in 1734, which also provides an account of notorious pirates. Together with an earlier volume from 1724, Johnson's works are considered highly influential cultural artifacts that have significantly shaped our enduring perceptions of pirates.
The 1724 edition gained widespread popularity amidst a surge in pirate attacks, contributing to the creation of mythical pirate figures prevalent in 18th-century literature. Despite the decline in piracy-related incidents by 1730, Johnson's 1734 publication serves as a valuable historical record, documenting the events and characters of the era.
Johnson's work chronicled pirate exploits and shaped the enduring image of pirates in popular culture. He introduced concepts like the 'Jolly Roger' flag and pirate codes, presenting pirates as part of a democratic brotherhood. Characters like Bonny and Read were prominently featured, and their stories were embellished to captivate readers. However, the accuracy of Johnson's accounts is questionable, blending fact with fiction.
Theories about Captain Johnson's identity abound, pointing to writers such as Nathaniel Mist or Daniel Defoe. The book depicts pirates as emblems of governmental corruption, consistent with Mist's political satire. Despite its intentions, the book's portrayal of pirates has persisted in literature, movies, and video games. Johnson's fictitious representation of pirates, which still captivates people's imaginations, ironically overshadows his political message.
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