“An epic history of piracy . . . Goodall explores the role of these legendary rebels and describes the fine line between piracy and privateering.” —WYPR T

A dazzling array of swashbuckling pirates, picaroons, and sea rovers are pitted against the often feckless representatives of an outpost government authority in

High adventure, dastardly deeds, and newly uncovered lore.

An appendix documents the many small islands that have dropped entirely from view since the seventeenth century.

In the decades after the Civil War, Chesapeake Bay became the scene of a life and death struggle to harvest the oyster.