’the first new information on pirates for over 20 years, exposing unknown connections between ’Black Flag’ pirates and the Scots...’ - Scottish Field
’a vivid and absorbing work.’ - International Journal of Maritime Studies
This captivating book concentrates on the legendary golden age of pirates between 1690 and 1710, when pirate vessels not only menaced the waters of the East and West Indies but even threatened the Northern Islands of Scotland. During this period, many Scots left their hard lives in places such as Aberdeen, Stornoway and Orkney in order to find fortune, adventure and fame on the dangerous high seas of more exotic locations like Madagascar, Brazil or the Caribbean. Some, like Captain James Macrae from Ayr, became well-respected pirate hunters, champions of the law upon the ocean, and bravely faced many violent encounters and unsavoury characters. Others, such as John Gow from Orkney, were these unsavoury characters.
Graham explores all these elements of Scotland’s participation in piracy and provides a fascinating and enlightening account of the lifestyle of those who followed the skull and cross bones, often to their death on the gallows. Gripping and entertaining, The Seawolves shows a different, darker side to the famously enterprising Scot.
Eric J. Graham’s love of the sea led him to study Scottish and Maritime History at Strathclyde and Exeter Universities respectively. He is a respected academic and writer, an adviser to Historic Scotland on the Edinburgh Castle Vaults Exhibition and a researcher for the Du Bois Institute (Harvard) Slavery Database. He is currently an honorary post-doctoral fellow of Edinburgh University.
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