Simon Rebecca. Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy Forever

Mango Publishing, 2020. — 256 p.During his life and even after his death, Captain William Kidd’s name was well known in England and the American colonies. He was infamous for the very crime for which he was hanged, piracy. Rebecca Simon dives into the details of the two-year manhunt for Captain Kidd and the events that ensued. Captain Kidd was hanged in 1701, followed by a massive British-led hunt for all pirates during a period known as the Golden Age of Piracy. Ironically, public executions only increased the popularity of pirates. And, because the American colonies relied on pirates for smuggled goods such as spices, wines, and silks; pirates tended to be protected from capture.The more pirates were hunted and executed, the more people became supportive of the "Robin Hoods of the Sea" - both because they saw the British’s treatment of them as an injustice and because they treasured the goods pirates brought to them. These historical events were pivotal in creating the portrayal of pirates as we know them today. They grew into romantic antiheroes - which ultimately led to characters like the mischievous but lovable Captain Jack Sparrow. Simon has presented her research on the history of pirates around the world and now she’s bringing the spectacular story of Captain Kidd to her readers.Learn more about:
One of the most famous pirates in history
Real life pirates and the brutal executions they faced
The origin of our romanticized view of piratesRebecca Simon earned a PhD in history at King’s College London about the history of pirates and public executions. She has presented her research all around the world. She has appeared on the BBC and has been the guest on numerous popular podcasts, such as Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, to discuss all things pirates. She has consulted for Netflix, the History Channel, BBC, and LEGO. Rebecca has previously published her work in History Today magazine and academic journals. She lives in Los Angeles where she writes, teaches, and consults about all things pirates.