First, I must say that I love pirates.
Now I haven't actually read this yet, but I saw it while looking in my local book store and it looks great. I am going to pick it up after I am done with "Thunder Below!".
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates
http://www.amazon.com/Under-Black-Fl...1692892&sr=8-1
I liked this review of it:
"Under the Black Flag" is a real pirate's treasure. For all those who want to know what was "real" and what "romance", here's your book.
Mr. Cordingly has performed a deep research on the subject and presents it in a very readable and interesting form. He has taken diaries, contemporary newspaper articles, personal letters and memoirs as a solid backdrop.
His study is centered mainly in the Caribbean theater, the East coast of North America and the Indian Ocean. He also gives glimpses of the Chinese pirates leaded by Ms. Cheng.
Every main issue is described: weaponry, tactics, vessels, flags, everyday life, treasures, pets and battles.
In its pages you'll find the life and deeds of famous characters as Henry Morgan, "Blackbeard", Captain Kidd, L'Ollonais, Calico Jack and many others not so well known.
A whole chapter is dedicated to women pirates including the adventures and misadventures of Mary Read and Anne Bonny.
Finally "romance" is addressed taking into account mainly movies on the subject.
As a bonus the book includes six maps of the different scenarios of pirate's campaigns; a glossary of sea terms; an extensive bibliography and several appendixes on relevant matters.
So brace yourselves and come aboard!