Piracy in Print

On the Water - Exhibition Theme: Songs & Stories

Piracy in Print, 1700s

In 1724, Captain Charles Johnson published his General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates. Based on newspaper, court, and eyewitness accounts, Johnson’s book was a best seller. It was quickly translated into French, German, and Dutch, and spawned many other books on piracy.

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Libraries