Legendary Pirates: The Life and Legacy of Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart‪)‬

*Includes historic illustrations of Black Bart and other important people, places, and events in his life.

*Includes a profile of Black Bart from the famous English pirate history "A General History of the Pyrates".

*Includes a Bibliography for further reading.

*Includes a Table of Contents.


“Roberts was a tall black Man, near forty Years of Age…of good natural Parts, and personal Bravery, tho’ he applied them to such wicked Purposes, as made them of no Commendation, frequently drinking Damn to him who ever lived to wear a Halter…Roberts himself made a gallant Figure, at the Time of the Engagement, being dressed in a rich crimson Damask Wastcoat and Breeches, a red Feather in his Hat, a Gold Chain round his Neck, with a Diamond Cross hanging to it, a Sword in his Hand, and two Pair of Pistols hanging at the End of a Silk Sling, flung over his Shoulders (according to the Fashion of the Pyrates;)…” - Captain Charles Johnson, A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates


The people who have lived outside the boundaries of normal societies and refused to play by the rules have long fascinated the world, and nowhere is this more evident than the continuing interest in the pirates of centuries past. As the subjects of books, movies, and even theme park rides, people continue to let their imaginations go when it comes to pirates, with buried treasure, parrots, and walking the plank all ingrained in pop culture’s perception of them. Charles River Editors’ Legendary Pirates series covers the lives, piracy, legends, myths, and legacies of history’s most famous pirates. 


The Golden Age of Piracy generally refers to the era when history’s most famous pirates roamed the seas of the West Indies from 1670-1720, engaging in colorfully daring and oftentimes murderous attacks on any ship they felt emboldened enough to take on. And it is no coincidence that the end of the Golden Age was marked by the deaths of Blackbeard and Bartholomew Roberts, best known as Black Bart. 


Black Bart may not be as well known today as other pirates of the era, but he was truly the gold standard during the Golden Age of Piracy. Despite the fact he was initially reluctant to become a pirate and had to be talked into it, Roberts and his crew captured nearly 500 ships in just a few years, making him the most successful pirate in history. 


Although he was the most successful pirate of his time, he suffered a fate typical of the era’s legendary pirates. In a battle with a Royal Navy ship in February 1722, Black Bart was killed by artillery on deck and his ships were captured, but not before his crew had tossed his body overboard, never to be seen again. Black Bart’s death in battle was so important that pirate historian Marcus Rediker would later write, “The defeat of Roberts and the subsequent eradication of piracy off the coast of Africa represented a turning point in the slave trade and even in the larger history of capitalism.” 


While Black Bart’s success and infamous demise were both important parts of his story, the main reason he has endured is that he gave rise to some of the best known pirate stereotypes. In addition to making his crew swear to and uphold a pirate code, Roberts was known as a colorfully courageous commander who looked the part with extravagant costumes. It is thus no surprise that Roberts has been depicted as one of the foremost pirates of the age in literature and film, including in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. 


Legendary Pirates: The Life and Legacy of Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) looks at the life and legends of the famous pirate, attempting to separate fact from fiction while analyzing his lasting legacy. Along with pictures depicting Roberts and important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about the famous pirate like you never have before, in no time at all.