Overview

Skilfully uses this notorious episode to illuminate the nature and extent of piracy in the period. The pirate attack on the British brig Morning Star, en route from Ceylon to London, near Ascension Island in 1828 was one of the most shocking episodes of piracy in the nineteenth century. Although the captain and many members of the crew were murdered by the pirates led by the notorious Benito de Soto, some survived, escaped and sailed the ship back to Britain. This book, based on extensive original research in Britain, Spain and Brazil, retells the story of the Morning Star, provides much new detail and corrects errors present in the many contemporary accounts of the attack. It sets the attack in the wider context of piracy in the period, and discusses many issues which the episode highlights: how pirates' careers began and developed; how they were pursued and tried, often with difficulty; what became of their treasure; how stories of the attack and of the survivors were sensationalised; how the women passengers on the ship endured their ordeal at the hands of the pirates and then, back in Britain, had to endure potential loss of their reputations.

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9781783276707

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Reviews

An authoritative and interesting book. * NAVAL REVIEW *

An authoritative and interesting book. * NAVAL REVIEW * As one of very few studies to question the conventional understanding of Atlantic world piracy as having been all but eradicated by the early decade of the eighteenth century, this book is important and worthy of our attention. * THE NORTHERN MARINER/LE MARIN DU NORD * Sarah Craze's study is well researched, and the footnotes are comprehensive and expansive.[...] the narrative is very readable and I would highly recommend it. * FACHRS *

An authoritative and interesting book. * NAVAL REVIEW * As one of very few studies to question the conventional understanding of Atlantic world piracy as having been all but eradicated by the early decade of the eighteenth century, this book is important and worthy of our attention. * THE NORTHERN MARINER/LE MARIN DU NORD *

Author Information

SARAH CRAZE completed her doctorate in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

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