Pirate lore has captured our fancy for centuries. From Treasure Islandto the bestselling novels of Patrick O'Brien and his pirate hunts, to the blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean, the appetite for pirates and their colourful history continues to grow. Hundreds of societies in U.S. ports re-enact famous pirate battles, web sites sell all manner of pirate paraphernalia and antiques, and chat rooms draw enthusiasts both young and not so young. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Piratesis the first and only series book that gives readers a comprehensive, authoritative, yet entertaining history of those swashbuckling brigands on the high seas. Complete with illustrations of ships, weapons, and booty, it offers contemporary portraits of such infamous men and women as Captain Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Captain Anne Bonny, Captain William Kidd, and Jean LaFitte.

A view of pirate life—from the crow’s nest. Pirate lore has captured our fancy for centuries. Here is the first series book that gives readers a comprehensive yet entertaining history of those swashbuckling brigands. It offers portraits of such infamous men and women as Blackbeard, Captain Anne Bonny, Captain Kidd, and Jean LaFitte, with a full history of pirates through the ages, even modern day, high-tech scavengers of the South Seas. For mateys young and old.

Contains fascinating facts about the world's most infamous pirates. Turns vague pirate lore into real pirate history.

An objective overview of the biggest controversy in American education. Intelligent Design is one of the hottest issues facing parents and educators to day, but it can be hard to separate the facts from the heated rhetoric. This expert and objective guide gets to the bottom of the questions: What is Intelligent Design? Should it replace or complement traditional science? What's all the fuss about? * Explains the terms, the controversy, and the involvement of the American courts * Indispensable guide for concerned educators and parents * Written by an expert in the field

Written by an expert in marine biology, this book is a voyage across-and beneath-the vast seas that have fascinated us since history's beginnings, with information on such topics as:

Tales of swashbuckling adventure, murder, treachery, and mayhem! One would be mistaken to think of pirates as roaming only the Caribbean. Pirates as famous as William Kidd and Henry Every have at various times plundered, pillaged, and murdered their way up and down the New England seaboard, striking fear among local merchants and incurring the wrath of colonial authorities. Piracy historian Gail Selinger brings these tales of mayhem and villainy to life while also exploring why New England became such a breeding ground for high seas crime and how the view of piracy changed over time, from winking toleration to brutal crackdown. Included in this volume are: Ned Low’s sadistic—at times cannibalistic—reign of terror on the high seas and his mysterious disappearance. John Quelch’s defiant and unapologetic proclamations before being hanged in front of Boston’s crowds. Henry Every’s daring attack on the Grand Mogul’s fleet, widely considered the largest maritime heist in history. Pirates of New England opens up new chapters in the history of piracy, ones that you’ll come back to again and again—Welcome aboard!

“This delightful book” for young readers “is full of creative activities, interspersed with plenty of fascinating historical facts” (School Library Journal). On this here ship, we follow the pirate's code: No frolikin' in the bilges, no songs about scurvy, and most important, each buccaneer must keep his pistol ready for action at all times. Break the code, me bucko, and you'll be forced to walk the plank. In The Big Book of Pirate Stuff, Captain Michael MacLeod and Jamaica Rose teach the fine art of pirateering, from plundering, pillaging, and gambling to digging for buried treasure. A dabble of history, a smatterin' of activities, and a healthy dose of derring-do make this book a must-read for aspiring pirates.