The Republic of Pirates, Colin Woodard
The Republic of Pirates, Colin Woodard
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The Republic of Pirates
Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down

Author: Colin Woodard

Narrator: Lewis Grenville

Unabridged: 13 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/01/2015

Synopsis

The untold story of a heroic band of Caribbean pirates whose defiance of imperial rule inspired revolt in colonial outposts across the worldIn the early eighteenth century, the Pirate Republic was home to some of the great pirate captains, including Blackbeard, “Black Sam” Bellamy, and Charles Vane. Along with their fellow pirates—former sailors, indentured servants, and runaway slaves—this “Flying Gang” established a crude but distinctive democracy in the Bahamas, carving out their own zone of freedom in which servants were free, blacks could be equal citizens, and leaders were chosen or deposed by a vote. They cut off trade routes, sacked slave ships, and severed Europe from its New World empires. And for a brief, glorious period, the Republic was a success.

About Colin Woodard

Colin Woodard is the author of numerous books, including Ocean’s End: Travels through Endangered Seas, American Nations: A History of Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, The Lobster Coast, and many others. He is a regular contributor to the Christian Science Monitor and the San Francisco Chronicle.

About Lewis Grenville

Lewis Grenville is an audiobook narrator and actor whose extensive theater credits include Camelot, Cabaret, 1776, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar. His other credits include narrator and spokesperson roles in corporate, promotional, and training films for many high profile corporations and government agencies. He has narrated National Geographic’s Puzzles from the Past, and his television credits include One Life to Live.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Hannah on November 22, 2019

Meticulously researched and fascinating. Reads like a Hollywood box office smash hit with love and heartbreak, battles and betrayal, yet it’s all non-fiction. Tempted to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. 🖤......more

Goodreads review by Nicola on May 17, 2012

Wow, this was super informative book. If you're not really interested in the subject matter, you may find it a bit dry, but I personally found the attention to detail wonderful. This is a really gritty, close up look into the life and times of some of the world's most famouse pirates. Sam Bellamy, B......more

Goodreads review by Adam on June 02, 2014

I ended up picking up this book because I realized I didn't really know much about the historical pirates. Despite my rating, I really do appreciate what this book attempts to do. It really attempts to correct a lot of the mythology concerning the pirates in caribbean, which is probably exacerbated......more

Goodreads review by Michael on April 05, 2019

Somewhere around this time of year (mid-January or just after one of the big cold snaps that pass for winter in central Texas) I usually get an urge to pick up a book that will put a smell of sea salt in my personal air. I freely admit to a love of coastal areas and good beach time, and I will typic......more

Quotes

“This amazing tale is adroitly narrated by Lewis Grenville…His deep, somewhat gravelly yet resonant voice never wavers.” AudioFile

“Adds a new dimension to an era that was, in equal parts, thrilling and disturbing…[with] rip-roaring adventure stories from a distant past [and]…an opportunity to understand pirates as they truly were—and be grateful that the worst of them, at least, are gone.” New York Times Book Review

“Myth-busting chronicle of the so-called golden age of piracy….[Woodard] challenges what we think we know about these ruffians, dispelling notions of dictatorial rule aboard ship in favor of an image of egalitarianism.” Boston magazine

“Meticulously researched and thrillingly told…Woodard brings this slice of outlaw history gloriously to life.” Baltimore City Paper

“One of the most realistic views ever of the Golden Age of Piracy in the 1700s…Narrative history at its best.” Winston-Salem Journal (North Carolina)

“A well-researched book that goes far beyond the popular visions of pirates in movies and novels.” Madison Capital Times (Wisconsin)

“As colorful and exciting as fiction…Woodard’s thrilling narrative neatly navigates the Caribbean’s dangerous seas.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Finds contemporary resonance in an unexpected place: the story of how a group of pirates organized a surprisingly egalitarian society in the Caribbean–and how they ran afoul of the empires of the day.” Signature Reads

“Woodard tells a romantic story about Caribbean pirates of the ‘Golden Age’ (1715–1725)—whom he sees not as criminals but as social revolutionaries…A fast-paced narrative that will be especially attractive to lovers of pirate lore and to vacationers who are Bahamas-bound.” Publishers Weekly

“This breezy, fast-moving book is filled with exciting action and colorful characters. It will provide general readers and those with a special interest in the period much enjoyment.” Booklist

Awards

  • Audible.com Bestseller
  • Signature Best Book
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