I’ve written three historical novels, all centered around how women’s roles in society began to change. While accustomed to writing about Victorian traditions on land, I can’t tell the difference between an oar and a clam. So imagine my panic when a captain showed up in my head and insisted that I write a novel about sailing a tall ship in 1894. I crawled into the local library to see if I could even write such a thing. The books on this list and others became my portal into naval traditions so I could write accurate fiction with a modern soul.
There’s a lot of romantic flak about pirates out there—how brave, handsome, and sexy they were.
Cordingly cuts through that very efficiently to reveal that they were scoundrels and thieves with a code of ethics that applied only to their lifestyles. Most were poor; few ever got rich.
Even if you want to write a romance that stars sexy pirates, it’s always good to be aware of the reality.
This book sets out to discover the truth behind the stereotypical image of the pirate. Examining the rich literary and cultural legacy of piratical icons from Blackbeard to Captain Hook, the author compares the legends with their historical counterparts and comes up with some surprising conclusions. In a wider overview of the piracy myth, he explores its enduring and extraordinary appeal and assesses the reality behind the romance, answering in the process questions such as: why did men become pirates; were there any women pirates; how much money did they make from their plundering and looting; what effect did their…
I usually over research when I write a novel, and this book was part of that over researching.
My novel does not have female pirates, but I mostly used this book to develop my main female character as the most pirate-opposite character ever. At least at the beginning of the book.
By the end of the book, my main character is still a lady, but she’s developed the strength of a pirate. I also used this book to establish how a socialite might have been treated by sailors on a cargo ship.
For centuries, the sea has been regarded as a male domain, but in this illuminating historical narrative, maritime scholar David Cordingly shows that an astonishing number of women went to sea in the great age of sail. Some traveled as the wives or mistresses of captains; others were smuggled aboard by officers or seamen. And Cordingly has unearthed stories of a number of young women who dressed in men’s clothes and worked alongside sailors for months, sometimes years, without ever revealing their gender. His tremendous research shows that there was indeed a thriving female population—from pirates to the sirens of…
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
This book took more of an archeological approach to pirate life by describing and showing objects that they used during daily life.
I found this book helpful while I was writing about everyday duties in my novels. I also had fun comparing portraits of pirates who lived with images of fictitious pirates.
It was interesting to compare what the portraits revealed about what real pirates wanted us to think of them and what the creators of fictitious pirates wanted us to believe.
The image of the pirate never fails to capture the imagination. The cut-throat sea robbers of history who plundered richly laden merchant ships are legendary. The likes of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Henry Morgan are romanticised and celebrated in popular culture.
But fiction has taken the place of fact. Piracy was more brutal and rebellious than some of the best artistic depictions let on and in reality, few know the truth about this ruthless trade. What is the difference between a buccaneer and a corsair? Did pirates really bury their treasure? Is piracy still a threat to shipping today?
I’m always drawn to micro-history—that is, the social history of what people ate, how they ate, what they wore, where they went on a regular day, and what they considered exotic.
This book covers life on a tall ship from the point of view of the common people who worked and travelled on them. A bit on the academic side, it does the job.
In this lively book, Alan L. Karras traces the history of smuggling around the world and explores all aspects of this pervasive and enduring crime. Through a compelling set of cases drawn from a rich array of historical and contemporary sources, Karras shows how smuggling of every conceivable good has flourished in every place, at every time. Significantly, Karras draws a clear distinction between smugglers and their more popular criminal cousins, pirates, who operated in the open with a type of violence that was nearly always shunned by smugglers. Explaining the divergence between the two groups, the book illustrates both…
Bruce Songs is an authoritative guide that offers an in-depth exploration of Bruce Springsteen's musical legacy. Covering Springsteen's entire discography, from "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." to "Only the Strong Survive", this unique book combines historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research.
Unlike any other resource, it provides detailed analyses…
OK.OK. I’m only supposed to recommend one book per slot, but really, these 22 volumes truly work as a set, depending on the specifics that hold your interest.
The books in this series are expertly edited and researched, so they appear to have come from one pen. (I went through six of them.) They are all highly informative and approachable, as in a child can read them, but they don’t talk down to adults doing serious research.
The books have a wonderful “you are there” quality, and I loved them.
1894. A brutal pirate attack leaves Captain Littledove gravely wounded and his ship adrift with only one survivor - Eliza, a sociliate who has never done anything practical in her life. To survive, this unlikely pair must overcome their vast social differences. While Eliza battles rats, hacks apart furniture for firewood, and struggles to keep the cantankerous captain alive, she discovers strengths she never knew she had. And as Littledove guides her in keeping their abandoned vessel afloat, he begins to see past her refined manners to recognize a courage that matches his own.
As attraction blooms between the two, both challenge the assumptions that have defined their lives. The tale explores how a crisis can shatter social barriers and unlock the potential that lies dormant within us all.
The plan was insane. The trap seemed to snap shut on Bruce and Maggie Tate, an isolation forced on them by the pandemic and America's growing political factionalism. Something had to change.
Maggie's surprising answer: buy a boat, learn to pilot it, and embark on the Great Loop. With no…
Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.
