Blackbeard the Pirate: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times

Very interesting historical review, focusing on his death and trial of his men.

The very best story about one of the world's most notorious pirates and his real life. I was impressed.

This book changed the way I looked at pirates. Dr. Lee brings the era to life in a very informative way that takes the reader back in time, and adds a cultural background to the age of piracy.

This was not what I expected, but it was a good read anyway. The book covered a lot of his life but seemed more intent on telling the storey of life after his death. If your into pirate history it’s not a bad read.

Excellent research into the life and times of Blackbeard

Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, was likely the most infamous ofall pirates, to such a degree that his name has become almost mythical. Robert E. Lee (not the Civil War general) has done an outstanding jobof digging into documented history to separate fact from fiction in thistelling of the notorious pirate captain's life. Lee's writing style is suchthat this historical perspective is both informative and fascinating; areal page-turned of a history book. Also, beyond the accounting ofEdward Teach, the book gives us a look into the society of England andher American colonies of the time, giving us a better understanding ofpirates and piracy in general.

"Have you heard of Teach the Rover, / And his Knavery on the Main; / How of Gold he was a Lover, / How he lov'd all ill got Gain."His name is that of the world's most disreputable pirates. His final years in and around North Carolina and Virginia bring a certain romantic twist to the colonial history of New England.Robert E. Lee's purpose in writing this book was to quell the exaggerated lore behind the captain. He does so gallantly, without making references to incorrect legends (which could serve to confuse the reader). His research and references are excellent and explained in the preface.Lee commences from the beginning, and the introduction to Blackbeard suggests it was sea faring fate for the boy. Lee admits information on the young Edward Teach is in short supply, but his reasoning behind the liminal inspirations make sense: Bristol, Teach's hometown, was a maritime village. Popular 17th century publications blazoned a world of extravagant adventure, filling landlubbers' heads with images of buccaneers brandishing firearms and blades; these were not unlike the effects of modern naval histories upon today's readers.The exciting piratical escapades are not delayed for long. Within the first chapter, Lee will already dive into a 1717 attack by Blackbeard and his mentor, Hornigold. The plunder was enormous, and to this day it has yet to be recovered. These are the tales we all love to hear and read about that evoke a trembling thrill deep within us. There's still treasure to be had!As Blackbeard matures and grows in the deviant (but sometimes necessary) career, Lee finds less and less records to recount. His explanation: Teach came from a well-to-do family and would not keep records of his travels/attacks/plunders lest his ancestry is traced and his family's name tarnished. One of the most exciting chapters is, naturally, the conquest for Blackbeard's body.The reader must take care to note the subtitle of the book: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times. In truth, Blackbeard does not fill the pages of this book; rather, the 250 pages depend on a textbook-like account of Virginia's and the Carolina's histories that were briefly defiled or abetted by Blackbeard's presence. There is a lot of politics to sift through and, while it reads like a legal thriller at times, the reader should not be fooled by the book's self-description as an "exciting swashbuckler." That said, the way Blackbeard's crew (especially his quartermaster) is brought to justice, or pardoned, is as twisted as any fiction.Pirates are a brotherhood that seem curiously strange and most intriguing to pretty much anyone alive. Why did they do what they did? Why did Blackbeard become Blackbeard? In his preface, Robert E. Lee doesn't try to explicate these outlaws. Rather, he asks the reader to not "judge the historical figures of a past age by the moral standards of the present." Instead, the reader will see just how these men were judged when in their own element.One very cool thing is the inclusion of a lengthy poem, "The Downfall of Piracy" (excerpted above, from Appendix A), believed to have been written by a 12 year old Benjamin Franklin.

This is a compact but entertaining book on the life of Blackbeard. Lee describes how being a pirate was not so notorious during Blackbeard's time when they were virtually raiders on commission. But Blackbeard seems to be the first that self promotes himself as a fearful pirate with a his unique for times long Blackbeard and during an attack of a ship he would curl lit fuses behind his ears to promote a frightful look of a bearded pirate with a frightening haze about his face. This is a man that once fired two pistols at the kneecaps of two fellow card players from under the table disabling one merely to ensure his reputation as a scoundrel. As Lee points out he was a rascal recognizing the value of his reputation which assisted him in closing off Charleston and holding it for ransom and he loaned his reputation to many ladies by making over 13 woman as his wife to provide them their own fearful reputation as Mrs. Blackbeard. Sad ending for the semi retired pirate and friend of the governor of N. C. who meets his demise when Governor Spotswood of Virginia organizes his death. Final interesting query, where is Balckbeard's head today after it one was hung on a pike in Hampton and allegedly used as a punch bowl in Williamsburg? Lee covers his life and notes he was an entrepreneur as well as a pirate. A great read while visiting Nags Head and the Outer Banks where he lurked in semi retirement.

Very happy apart from book cover was tipped but I did buy second hand

Mainly about the area Blackbeard haunted. I understand that there isn't a huge amount of detail known about Edward Teach's life (even if that's his name!) but I found it a bit tedious and more of a description of the East coast of America. Perhaps mistitled more than anything.

My husband also liked this book very much and it arrived without any problem