Is anyone else buying up Pirate books and reading about the 'real' Pirates of the Caribbean?

My daughter has this one, 'Pirates' by John Matthews...



What is the real story behind the most famous pirates in history? Dealing with this question, this illustrated book aims to capture the swashbuckling world of pirates. Presenting a portrait of life at sea in a bygone age, it also offers a look into some of the most bloodcurdling, gory adventures of pirate legends.Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Black Sam Bellamy... names to strike fear in the bravest of sea captains. As well as conjure up images of cutlasses, parrots and walking the plank, these pirates and many more are explored in this lavishly illustrated, beautiful interactive book. Daredevil tales of robbery and butchery on the high seas have long passed into folklore and formed the basis for such great literary greats as Long John Silver and Captain Hook, but what is the real story behind the most famous pirates in history? This lavishly illustrated book beautifully captures the swashbuckling world of pirates. Fascinating items are integrated into the pages, from a book of pirate slang to your very own pirate's booty! "Pirates" is a compelling portrait of life at sea in a bygone age as well as a detailed look into some of the most bloodcurdling, gory adventures of pirate legends. It includes: wallet containing pirate articles for the reader to sign; a booklet of pirate slang; pirate recruitment advertisement (genuine wording); booklet with picture gallery of famous pirates; letter from William III to Captain Kidd; booklet of pirate weaponry; original map marked with hidden treasure sites; contemporary playing cards; "Wanted" Blackbeard poster; and pirate death sentence (genuine wording).

It's fascinating and although aimed at children I've read it myself a few times.

I also had a Yahoo alert tonight about this book which looks interesting. I think I may check it out.
'Empire Of Blue Water' by Stephen Talty...



He challenged the greatest empire on earth with a ragtag bunch of renegades—and brought it to its knees. Empire of Blue Water is the real story of the pirates of the Caribbean.

Henry Morgan, a twenty-year-old Welshman, crossed the Atlantic in 1655, hell-bent on making his fortune. Over the next three decades, his exploits in the Caribbean in the service of the English became legendary. His daring attacks on the mighty Spanish Empire on land and at sea determined the fates of kings and queens, and his victories helped shape the destiny of the New World.

Morgan gathered disaffected European sailors and soldiers, hard-bitten adventurers, runaway slaves, and vicious cutthroats, and turned them into the most feared army in the Western Hemisphere. Sailing out from the English stronghold of Port Royal, Jamaica, “the wickedest city in the New World,” Morgan and his men terrorized Spanish merchant ships and devastated the cities where great riches in silver, gold, and gems lay waiting. His last raid, a daring assault on the fabled city of Panama, helped break Spain’s hold on the Americas forever.

Awash with bloody battles, political intrigues, natural disaster, and a cast of characters more compelling, bizarre, and memorable than any found in a Hollywood swashbuckler—including the notorious pirate L’Ollonais, the soul-tortured King Philip IV of Spain, and Thomas Modyford, the crafty English governor of Jamaica—Empire of Blue Water brilliantly re-creates the passions and the violence of the age of exploration and empire.

*To be published by Random House April 17th*

I read a book about the real pirates a while back, Jesse. For the life of me though, I can't remember what the title of the book was or who wrote it. :headhurts:

I find these types of books interesting.