The Republic of Pirates

Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down

By: Colin Woodard

Narrated by: Lewis Grenville

The untold story of a heroic band of Caribbean pirates whose defiance of imperial rule inspired revolt in colonial outposts across the world.

In the early 18th century, the Pirate Republic was home to some of the great pirate captains, including Blackbeard, "Black Sam" Bellamy, and Charles Vane. Along with their fellow pirates - former sailors, indentured servants, and runaway slaves - this "Flying Gang" established a crude but distinctive democracy in the Bahamas, carving out their own zone of freedom in which servants were free, Blacks could be equal citizens, and leaders were chosen or deposed by a vote. They cut off trade routes, sacked slave ships, and severed Europe from its New World empires. And for a brief, glorious period, the Republic was a success.

©2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2015 Blackstone Audiobooks

fantastic

this was a great book for history and entertainment. I didn't know I would learn so much.

TMI

Well written and researched - a person into names date, facts and details would probably love this book. But several hours in I had to ask 'do I care' and had to admit that I did not...

Maybe not quite as fun as a pirate movie, but close

This book is a lot of fun. Perhaps not as much fun as a pirate movie, but it's bound to change one's view of pirates as a group, and give the reader a greater understanding of who the pirates really were, and that their time in the world spotlight was actually quite short.

For all of their libertine tendencies, the most successful pirates captains, namely Samuel Bellamy and Edward Teach (a.k.a. Blackbeard), were quite disciplined and fair in the way they treated the ships they attacked, and how they treated and shared treasure with their crews. Blackbeard, despite his menacing appearance and reputation, was extremely reluctant to shed blood, unless it was that of the Royal Navy. However, the reader may be dismayed to learn of the pirates' somewhat callous approach to dealing with African slaves, although free black crew members generally enjoyed the same privileges and rights of their fellow pirates.

The audio presentation is enjoyable, but the dry humor in the text is almost lost due to the competent but straight reading of the material. A younger, perhaps English or Welsh narrator, might have served the book better. Definitely listen to it at 1.2X normal speed. Recommended.

Awesome

This book was so good. It paints an amazing picture of life as a pirate and of those alive during this time in history.

Great audiobook

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and if you have watched black sails this book is like a deeper dive into that.