Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates

Written by Eric Jay Dolin

Narrated by Paul Brion

Set against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration, Black Flags, Blue Waters reveals the dramatic and surprising history of American piracy's "Golden Age"—spanning the late 1600s through the early 1700s—when lawless pirates plied the coastal waters of North America and beyond. Bestselling author Eric Jay Dolin illustrates how American colonists at first supported these outrageous pirates in an early display of solidarity against the Crown, and then violently opposed them. Through engrossing episodes of roguish glamour and extreme brutality, Dolin depicts the star pirates of this period, among them towering Blackbeard, ill-fated Captain Kidd, and sadistic Edward Low, who delighted in torturing his prey. Also brilliantly detailed are the pirates' manifold enemies, including colonial governor John Winthrop and evangelist Cotton Mather. Upending popular misconceptions and cartoonish stereotypes, Dolin provides this wholly original account of the seafaring outlaws whose raids reflect the precarious nature of American colonial life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Oct 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781684413850

Reviews for Black Flags, Blue Waters

[Matthew Coryell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Literally the best history book out there, a good book to read alongside is The Whydah, which when cross referenced has some falsehoods but largely a good supplement to this book. I loved learning so much about American pirates so I read it again.

[Kellen Love · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This rating is not about the content, but about the reader’s voice. I couldn’t stand it and had to abandon the book just minutes in.

[Eva Matijevic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit dry in the beginning but that could as well be its most important compliment. I took this as light reading material, which is not - the author did excessive research and he presented his facts in a best way possible. I recommend this wholeheartedly as a both leisure read and a reference book, and I will definetly be rereading (and buying!) it.

[Jim Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Highly informative factual account of Pirates which is highly enjoyable to listen too.

[Nick Landry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good book on pirates, but not my first choice

I love reading about the golden age of piracy and the general history of pirates. This is not my first book on the topic, nor will it be my last. While this book is quite good and well researched (over 30% of the book consists of footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographical references), it lacks a mission, a passion for the topic, a conductive thread for the reader. It reads more like a list of notorious/infamous pirates throughout the golden age of piracy from the mid-to-late 1600's to the 1720's, covering a bit of their life, their exploits, their struggles, their prizes, and (in most cases) their demise. Done. Then it's off to the next pirate.

If I were to recommend a single book on the topic, to date my recommendation would still be Colin Woodard's 'The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down', which is quite thoroughly researched and written with such mastery as to take the reader through a historical journey on the high seas. Woodard goes in much more depth, but also limits himself to the shorter period of the most influential 10-or-so years of the golden age (which was quite short to begin with). Dolin's book acts as a good complement as he casts a wider net, covering a longer period of history, starting with Sir Francis Drake in the 1500's and up to about 1726 when the golden age is known to have ended.

The main privateers & pirates covered include Drake, Morgan, Tew, Philipse, Kidd, Avery, Quelch, Bellamy, Teach, Bonnet, Low, Roberts, Phillips, and many more, with short mentions on Hornigold, Rackham, Bonny, and Read. I also enjoyed the epilogue which covers many works of fiction and non-fiction about pirates across mediums.

There's a decent amount of historical illustrations/engravings in this book, which is a nice touch. If you listen to the audiobook, you'll miss out. I had to go back to the eBook version to enjoy these. The audiobook reading by Paul Brion is of very good quality, but the performance is quite monotonous, completely lacking in enthusiasm for what is typically a very exciting topic.

If you enjoy reading pirate books and are looking to read more than one, then I definitely recommend this one.

[brumby18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellence story with truths untold. very good history of nth american pirates and the relationship between Spain England Portugal and the American colonies.

[asukamaxwell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Before diving into the Golden Age of Piracy, Dolin sets the scene with the Treaty of Tordesillas and the circumnavigation of the globe by Drake, which was summed up quite nicely.. Then from the 1640s to the 1680s he describes how the American colonies developed a profitable relationship with pirates. Even Puritan Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts welcomed them with open arms. "Red Sea Men" as they were called, brought in the first silver bullion and hundreds of America's earliest slaves. Besides the more infamous names, we're introduced to Dixie Bull, Thomas Paine, Michel Landresson, Thomas Pound, Thomas Tew, Adam Baldridge, John James, John Quelch, Lewis Guittar and more. Then of course there are the determined pirate hunters: Thomas Thacker, William Dyer, Captain Pease, Robert Snead, Lord Bellomont and even Salem Witch Trial judge Samuel Sewall. But with pirate booty lining the pockets of prominent merchants and royal governors, it would take new laws and a complete political overhaul to reel in the pirates' success.

Dolin really delivers here. Black Flags, Blue Waters fills in some of the gaps that other pirate histories leave behind. I appreciated that this one stuck to the American colonies, rather than focusing solely on Jamaica and Madagascar. People tend to forget that the pirates may have raided int he Caribbean but they unloaded in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Charleston. But Dolin doesn't overpower the reader with every little prize taken or world politics either. He effectively proves that pirates had a direct effect on the economy, the local government and inter-colonial relationships. The colonies were as active in the Golden Age of Piracy as any island in the Caribbean.

[danjlaf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating look back at the Pirate era and the reasons for Pirates and how they helped colonies at times economic wise