Twenty Florida Pirates by Kevin M Mccarthy
Blackbeard, Jose Gaspar, Jean Lafitte--the names conjure up a romantic, swashbuckling figure with a black patch over one eye, a cutlass in his teeth, and a brace of pistols tucked into his waistband. Actors such as Errol Flynn did much to create that devil-may-care attitude glamorized on the silver screen, but in fact, real pirates were not so admirable; for the most part they were cruel, greedy, dastardly brigands, many of whom were slave traders or smugglers in addition to being pirates. Still, we continue to be fascinated by their lives and exploits, perhaps because they led such adventurous lives full of bravery, recklessness and daring.It is certainly more enjoyable-- and safer--to read about pirates than to encounter one. This book chronicles the lives and times of 20 notable Florida pirates, from the English privateers of the 1500s to present-day drug smugglers and "yachtjackers." Pirates have always found easy prey in the seas around Florida; not only did the treasure-laden ships on their way back to Europe have to sail close to Florida's shores to catch the currents east, but the treacherous Florida Reef foundered many a ship, making easy pickings.
Most of what we know about pirates comes from Navy records, newspaper accounts, or eyewitness statements from those whom the pirates spared. This book distills the most interesting facts from many sources into a book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in a different perspective on Florida's history.
McCarthy, Kevin: - Originally from the USA, Kevin McCarthy is the author of the highly acclaimed historical crime novel, Peeler (Mercier Press, 2010). Called a '...dark, brooding, morally complex masterpiece...' by The Belfast Telegraph, Peeler was selected by The Irish Times as one of its Top Ten Thrillers of 2010 and as a Read of the Year 2010 by the Philadelphia Inquirer. His short story Twenty-five and Out appears in Down These Green Streets: Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century. Irregulars, which features the Sean O'Keefe character, was published in June 2013 and shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book of the Year 2013. He blogs at www.kevinmccarthyauthor.blogspot.ie. He lives in Dublin with his family.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781561640508 |
| ISBN 10 | 1561640506 |
| Title | Twenty Florida Pirates |
| Author | Kevin M Mccarthy |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Rowman & Littlefield |
| Year published | 1994-10-01 |
| Number of pages | 96 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |