Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates

By: Howard Pyle, Merle Johnson

Narrated by: Simon Vance

"Pirates, Buccaneers, Marooners, those cruel but picturesque sea wolves who once infested the Spanish Main, all live in present-day conceptions in great degree as drawn by the pen and pencil of Howard Pyle....It is improbable that anyone else will ever bring his combination of interest and talent to the depiction of these old-time Pirates, any more than there could be a second Remington to paint the now extinct Indians and gun-fighters of the Great West."

So writes Merle Johnson, who has here gathered together in one volume all of the nineteenth-century author-artist's classic pirate stories that had been scattered through many magazines and books. Well researched and with richly drawn characters, Pyle's work will appeal to students of history and adventure lovers alike.

(P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"I read aloud from Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates." (Ernest Hemingway)

Fascinating and wonderfully read

When you begin listening to this audio book, you may be a little disappointed. The first chapters are fairly dry historical accounts. Once past that first hour or so, though, you'll find yourself captivated by stories based in fact and admittedly embellished by the author. Simon Vance's reading is excellent and his voice fits the 19th century writing perfectly. In addition to the stories, you also gain an understanding of social strata in the 19th century (at least through the author's eyes). This book would not be considered politically correct today, but the history contained not just about pirates but about society is enlightening. A great listen.

Good, bad, and ugly.

Howard Pyle is a wonderful author, and illustrator too. The first chapter is an extended article on piratical history, from the first grasping buccaneers to bloody scoundrels like Blackbeard. Most of the stories, though enjoyable, are short and occasionally predictable episodes. Fight and action scenes are phenomenal. Pirates are jolly and well-portrayed. The third or fourth story is actually an extract from a full-length novel of the same name, "Jack Ballister's fortunes" which explains why though the story has the name, the actual character of Jack does not appear. Beginning music is marvelous, brings the image of a heeling pirate ship with ominously fluttering black flag into mind.

Fun listening

Alot of fun to hear the story of pirate's is shirt but most enlightening and worth the time and investment.

My review

Became incredibly boring and hard to keep paying attention. And this is from someone who LOVES Pirate lore.

Painterly Pirates, Treasure, Adventure!

This is an interesting and exciting audiobook filled with demonic buccaneers and naive youths and pretty governor (or merchant) daughters and plenty of action, from desperate hand-to-hand combats to horrific sea battles, not to mention dreamy treks through moonlit sand dunes to bury or unbury treasure chests.

The first chapter, a kind of survey-history of the buccaneer-pirate phenomenon, is a little bland and moralizing, but the following stories are great, especially those involving secret identities and double lives and changing fortunes and naive guys getting more than their share of adventure. Here's one of my favorite moments in the book, when a character is speculating on what drives can make a good man turn devil pirate: "Who, within his inner consciousness, does not feel that same ferine, savage man struggling against the stern, adamantine bonds of . . . morality and decorum? Were those bonds burst asunder, as it was with this man, might not the wild beast rush forth, as it had rushed forth in him, to rend and to tear?"

And at his best, Pyle writes incredible painterly descriptions of pirate faces and clothes and ships in candlelight or moonlight or lightening light, descriptions that remain vividly in your mind like afterimages after the light fails. You can imagine the Disney artisans pouring over this book to gain inspiration and models for making the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction!

Simon Vance (aka Robert Whitfield) does his usual fine and flexible job of reading the text, though at times I wished for someone with a bit deeper voice.