Rating: 
Summary: A good overview, but it leaves you wanting more
Review: I liked this one. It is more of an overview of the the history of piracy and of the period than the in depth study for which I hoped, but it is presented in no nonsense manner with many references to resources should you wish to go farther into any of the myriad of topics the David Cordingly inroduces. His writing style is in the more popular vein (for an historian) and he supplies many anecdotes and popular myths about pirates in general and some specific characters as well. In places he seems to draw heavily on "A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most Notorious Pirates" by Defoe or Johnson (which ever you prefer). For people not willing to wade through Defoe's (or Johnson's) style - it is a good synopsis of those chapters, even if the common conseptions of the time have been removed. He over states his point that Hollywood, Stevenson and others have romantisized the pirate life and proceeds to give the reader a quick dose of reality. However, I think for people approaching this book with the idea it is history, it is an overdose. There are too many regressions and comparisons to popular novels and movies. While the title implies such comparisons - they are rather obvious ones. My main critique of this book is similar to others I have seen here. It was to much and too little. If you want an introduction to the history of piracy and some of the better known pirates - then this book is perfect. If you want an in depth study of the lives or even of the marauding of specific pirates sprinkled with eye witness accounts and embroidered in the telling - read Johnson (or Defoe) instead. But the book holds many gems of information that may not be found in other histories and analysies. I just wish that some topics had been better developed. It is almost as if the book is a preparation for other books that will go further in depth on various aspects. I found the information gleaned from the archeological excavations of ships fascinating and wanted more. Perhaps there will be more forthcoming -especially now that they are working on Kidd's ship? I would recommend this book though as an introduction to those who wish to get a good tast of what life was like in that time.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable & Informative Account of The Golden Age of Piracy.
Review: Much mythologized but little understood, pirates have for centuries been a dangerous fact of life for those living and traveling on the high seas. In "Under the Black Flag", David Cordingly has written a superb examination of the legends and realities of Pirates and Piracy. He concentrates primarily on pirates of the Western world during The Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1650 to 1725, although there are some notable exceptions made for Chinese and Barbary pirates. Cordingly has included privateers, buccaneers, corsairs , as well as regular old pirates in his study, as they are inherently related. The word "pirate" implies a crime, whereas privateers were licensed by their king to plunder and seize any ship belonging to a "hostile" nation. They were, in effect, legally sanctioned pirates. Buccaneers were pirates who operated in the Caribbean and South America during the 17th century and were descended from French hunters of the region. Corsairs, although addressed only briefly in the book, were pirates of the Mediterranean, most famously the Barbary Coast, who were authorized by their rulers to attack ships from Christian nations. "Under the Black Flag" starts out by examining the mythology of pirates in Western literature and how the perceptions of fictional pirates compared with reality. Then the author moves on to explore the history of real pirates, starting with the quest for Aztec and Inca gold in Central America in the 16th century and moving on to the privateers of the 17th century -most famously Sir Henry Morgan- who plundered Spanish port cities in the Caribbean. There is a chapter on women amongst pirates, featuring the infamous Mary Read and Anne Bonny, who were tried and convicted of piracy in the Caribbean, as well as stories of prominent female pirates in Scandinavia and in China, home to the woman who is sometimes called the greatest pirate of all time, Mrs. Cheng. Cordingly describes the conditions of life at sea for pirates and the significance of the notorious pirate flag. And he analyzes the use of violence, torture and marooning by pirates on their victims. He separates fact from fiction in examining the legends of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and buried treasure. And then Cordingly tells us how and why The Golden Age of Piracy came to an abrupt end in the early 18th century, including the legendary battle in which the infamous Blackbeard was defeated. Typical of David Cordingly's writing style, "Under the Black Flag" starts out in one place -in this case with pirates in popular culture, fans outward to explore the subject in depth, which eventually leads us back to where we started. This approach is extremely effective in emphasizing relationships between all of the topics that are being addressed and in securing the reader's interest for the course of the book. "Under the Black Flag" is an excellent overview of The Golden Age of Piracy, but it isn't exhaustive on all subjects. As always, Mr. Cordingly includes a list of recommended further reading in his acknowledgments, for those who would like to study Piracy in more depth. "Under the Black Flag" is a fascinating, insightful account of the peculiar subculture of piracy and the role it played for centuries in the seafaring life. It's an enjoyable and informative book for the general reader as well as for the maritime enthusiast.
Rating:
Summary: Finally an interesting history book!
Review: For anyone that's interested in the lifestyles of pirates, this is your book. This book is both a good read and informative. Almost everything you want to know is compiled here. I'm currently writing a novel about pirates, and this book is a wonderful reference. It goes into detail about pirate myths and truths, why we think of them the way we do, and what life was REALLY like for these swashbuckling blackguards. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The most accurate and best researched book on pirates
Review: David Cordingly's "Under the Black Flag, The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates" constitutes the best researhed book on pirate history I have ever read. The information provided about the lives of this notorious anti-heroes, the reality of the life among them and the world of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is amazingly accurate, and backed up with an extensive bibliography and footnotes. For those interested in pirate history throughout the ages, and specially the Golden Age of Piracy, this book constitutes a fundamental tool for understanding the pirate reality. When uncovering how the real people like Edward Teach and Calico Jack were, this book has no equal. Cordingly separates the myths from the real individuals behind them, proving that the reality is much more interesting than the romance, when uncovered. At the same time, the author discusses how the myths surrounding Blackbeard, the Women Pirates or Kidd's treasure, were formed and have survived through the years, becoming important elements of popular culture. Cordingly establishes why in our hearts, pirates were not sadistic villans, but rather "...romantic outlaws living far from civilization on some distant sunny shore," something most of us would dream to be.
Rating:
Summary: Jolly Roger of a good book
Review: Cordingly has done his homework on the subject of the pirates. The text is very informative, historically acurate, and an easy read.You will learn all there is to know about these sea rogues. The author seperates fact from fiction that helps paint a clearer picture of those who sailed under the black flag. He dispells a variety of myths that surround some of the most famous pirates including Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. Cordingly takes you back to a vanished age when pirates ruled the seas. You'll journey with them across the oceans and share in their adventures,living the life of a pirate. Tally Ho!!!
Rating:
Summary: The most accurate and best researched book on pirates
Review: David Cordingly's "Under the Black Flag, The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates" constitutes the best researhed book on pirate history I have ever read. The information provided about the lives of this notorious anti-heroes, the reality of the life among them and the world of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is amazingly accurate, and backed up with an extensive bibliography and footnotes. For those interested in pirate history throughout the ages, and specially the Golden Age of Piracy, this book constitutes a fundamental tool for understanding the pirate reality. When uncovering how the real people like Edward Teach and Calico Jack were, this book has no equal. Cordingly separates the myths from the real individuals behind them, proving that the reality is much more interesting than the romance, when uncovered. At the same time, the author discusses how the myths surrounding Blackbeard, the Women Pirates or Kidd's treasure, were formed and have survived through the years, becoming important elements of popular culture. Cordingly establishes why in our hearts, pirates were not sadistic villans, but rather "...romantic outlaws living far from civilization on some distant sunny shore," something most of us would dream to be.
Rating:
Summary: Aarrr! Good tale of pirates, if a little disorganized
Review: Whenever historical figures such a pirates are so common in popular culture, I often wonder how accurate the representation is. This book engagingly answers these questions. Not surprisingly, there is some truth to the modern image of a pirate (they often dressed that way), as well as much poetic license taken (they were largely brutal criminals, not jovial romantic figures). With such a fragmentary history, the big challenge is to present a coherent picture of pirate history. Cordingly doesn't always pull this off. I found the book disorganized in places, and some of the chapters have fairly loose threads holding the material together. A lot of the excursions into analyzing popular culture and not particularly insightful, and interfere with the strength of the book, telling the story of pirates. Overall, a fun and interesting read on a criminal class that is well recognized, if not well known.
Rating:
Summary: Pirates Ye Be Warned
Review: Ahoy, reader, the pirates you know today from movies and stories are not too far from the originals, but are wonderful and romanticized caricatures of the buccaneers and corsairs of the 18th century. This we learn from the excellent book Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly, in which the author tells the stories of the lives of real pirates of old. Cordingly goes into great color and detail about the reality of pirates and their history. In the first chapter, entitled Wooden Legs and Parrots, Cordingly describes the actual appearance of buccaneers and corsairs. From the stories of Robert Louis Stevenson we first accepted the image of pirates personified by Long John Silver and Captain Hook. Pirates were linked with, pirate maps, black schooners, tropical islands, and one legged seaman with parrots on their shoulders. Cordingly identifies peg legs, parrots, filth, and harsh captains wearing dashing clothes. Who were these lavishly-dressed, smelly, unkempt, vagabonds of the sea? David Cordingly catergorizes pirates in two ways. Buccaneers were pirates from the Carribean and Corsairs were pirates from the Mediteranean.He also goes into depth about specific people such as, Bartholomew Roberts, Sir Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Henry Morgan, and Captain Kidd. In to battle and back to the sea, this is the life of a pirate; David Cordingly elaborated well on this fact in his book Under the Blak Flag. By reading his book you can tell he is an experienced writer and a more-than-credible authority on pirates. He uses sources and quotes very well in this book, and organizes the main points rather well. His writing style is easy to read and you find yourself being caught up in his stories of pirate history and legend. I found that on some points he strayed a little of subject and drew my attention away from the emediate points. Nonetheless I enjoyed his descriptions of the pirates' appearance, their background, and their history. I would suggest reading David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag for all those who idolize, ador, and dream about pirates.
Rating:
Summary: Under the Black Flag
Review: Under the Black Flag entertained me. I really enjoyed reading this book. I was 17 when I read it. This was before Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean came out. After seeing the movie, I had to laugh because Disney did keep the real story behind a pirates life as G rated as possible. I recommend this to anyone who loves non-fiction books about pirates.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable & Informative Account of The Golden Age of Piracy.
Review: Much mythologized but little understood, pirates have for centuries been a dangerous fact of life for those living and traveling on the high seas. In "Under the Black Flag", David Cordingly has written a superb examination of the legends and realities of Pirates and Piracy. He concentrates primarily on pirates of the Western world during The Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1650 to 1725, although there are some notable exceptions made for Chinese and Barbary pirates. Cordingly has included privateers, buccaneers, corsairs , as well as regular old pirates in his study, as they are inherently related. The word "pirate" implies a crime, whereas privateers were licensed by their king to plunder and seize any ship belonging to a "hostile" nation. They were, in effect, legally sanctioned pirates. Buccaneers were pirates who operated in the Caribbean and South America during the 17th century and were descended from French hunters of the region. Corsairs, although addressed only briefly in the book, were pirates of the Mediterranean, most famously the Barbary Coast, who were authorized by their rulers to attack ships from Christian nations. "Under the Black Flag" starts out by examining the mythology of pirates in Western literature and how the perceptions of fictional pirates compared with reality. Then the author moves on to explore the history of real pirates, starting with the quest for Aztec and Inca gold in Central America in the 16th century and moving on to the privateers of the 17th century -most famously Sir Henry Morgan- who plundered Spanish port cities in the Caribbean. There is a chapter on women amongst pirates, featuring the infamous Mary Read and Anne Bonny, who were tried and convicted of piracy in the Caribbean, as well as stories of prominent female pirates in Scandinavia and in China, home to the woman who is sometimes called the greatest pirate of all time, Mrs. Cheng. Cordingly describes the conditions of life at sea for pirates and the significance of the notorious pirate flag. And he analyzes the use of violence, torture and marooning by pirates on their victims. He separates fact from fiction in examining the legends of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and buried treasure. And then Cordingly tells us how and why The Golden Age of Piracy came to an abrupt end in the early 18th century, including the legendary battle in which the infamous Blackbeard was defeated. Typical of David Cordingly's writing style, "Under the Black Flag" starts out in one place -in this case with pirates in popular culture, fans outward to explore the subject in depth, which eventually leads us back to where we started. This approach is extremely effective in emphasizing relationships between all of the topics that are being addressed and in securing the reader's interest for the course of the book. "Under the Black Flag" is an excellent overview of The Golden Age of Piracy, but it isn't exhaustive on all subjects. As always, Mr. Cordingly includes a list of recommended further reading in his acknowledgments, for those who would like to study Piracy in more depth. "Under the Black Flag" is a fascinating, insightful account of the peculiar subculture of piracy and the role it played for centuries in the seafaring life. It's an enjoyable and informative book for the general reader as well as for the maritime enthusiast.
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