The Sea Rover's Practice

[Capt. Sterling]

Just purchased The Sea Rover's Practice, pirate tactics and techniques, 1630-1730, by Benerson Little.

Looks impressive... has any one already read it? Opinions??

Hector

[blackjohn]

about 1/3 of the way into it... though I have found a few things I disagree with, I give it two BIG thumbs up. And this from a confirmed skeptic. I picked it up and thought, "what the hell can this guy teach me about piracy? He's just another nabob trying to make a buck off of honest sailors." Just goes to show ya... I was being the nabob!

[Red Maria]

An excellent book! Well reserached and used a lot of primary sources. I like the fact that he is a ex-Navy SEAL. It brings an interesting perspective to the subject. I really like the book. :)

[Bartholomew Treate]

I have read through it twice and found it very interesting and well researched. It has some good surprises to it, including the range and accuracy of the weapons of the time and the way pirates fought - now elegant with sword fights but dirty, as if their life depended on it - oh, it did.

A definite must read for anyone interested in the period, tactics, technology and techniques.

-- Bart

[Monterey Jack]

I enjoyed the amount of background he put into the buccaneer societies. I originally got it to test siome theories about the fighting methods we're teaching in the HMCA and I'm happy to say the book backs up the techniques and research very well!

[JoshuaRed]

Well I guess I know what's next on my summer reading list!!

[The Doctor]

I highly recommend this book for all the reasons already mentioned above. It's on my list to re-read after I get through some other books this summer. :)

[blackjohn]

I'm with Jack... I haven't finished it and it's on my re-read list.

[Blackhand Tug]

Can this book be found still in print? I had not heard of it before

I'm currently reading " A General Historie of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates" by Capt. Charles Johnson a reprint of the 1725 edition so far it's an excellent read and should be a MUST READ for the piratical living historian

[Red Maria]

It was just published late last year so it should be still in print. You might have to order it online since it strikes me that it'd be popular with the mainstream.

[Major Thomas Beckwith]

It is an excellent resource. I've now read it twice. The thing I like, is that Mr. Little actually has tried out the techniques he writes about...

[blackjohn]

It was just published late last year so it should be still in print. You might have to order it online since it strikes me that it'd be popular with the mainstream.

I found my copy at Borders about two weeks ago.

[blackjohn]

The thing I like, is that Mr. Little actually has tried out the techniques he writes about...

Some of them, obviously. I wonder about some others. For instance, the wearing of pistols on silk ribbons. I've tried it, and have yet to find a user-friendly way of doing it. He doesn't mention that he has tried it, though he does mention it as an observed (and archaeologically documented) practice.

[The Doctor]

You make an excellent point, Blackjohn. I've never been able to figure out how they made that work in a boarding scenario without getting tangled up and making the pistols useless in the process. And people see all sorts of odd things in the heat of battle that may or may not have happened. Who knows?

I really enjoyed the thoroughness of Little's research and the thoughtfulness of his presentation. No wild conjecture or oddball leaps of logic to make the facts fit preconceived notions (a pet peeve I have with a lot of historians and especially archaeologists).

The thing that astionished me the most is that Mr. Little is from my hometown! :)