Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas Hardcover – April 1, 2017

I absolutely loved this book. I learned so much about women's roles in pirating, becoming entrepreneurs of the illegal kind and great leaders in the days when this rarely happened and was not recorded for history. And, I appreciate the context style in which it was presented in that the author stated that certain facts are confirmed and others are not. The research required for this must have been staggering. But one of the walk always from reading this book is that there is overwhelming evidence that many women lived the outlaw life. I also learned a great deal about the culture and political landscape back in the day that influenced the business of pirating. The book is written in a fast story telling style with a few doses of snarky added. And - spoiler alert - the real life of pirates was nothing like Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney style. To other readaholics, you will love this book. Good work Laura.

Well researched, engaging writing, but this is non-fiction so readers who are looking for the author to “fill in the blanks” with rousing tales need to look for historical fiction. The author is wonderfully honest about what can’t be verified and doesn’t pass off her interpretation of the blanks as fact (as happens too often in so called non-fiction aka “fake history.”) As to complaints about the author’s feminist slant, you are entitled to your opinion, but this isn’t a feminist diatribe but a perspective of the facts.For those who want rousing tales of a fictional female pirate (that would make excellent movies) there is the Bloody Jack series by L. A. Meyer, about the adventures of Jacqueline Faber, an orphaned street urchin who survives to grow into a plucky and savvy pirate and business woman. Like many recent blockbuster movies, this series is written for young adults, so while Jacky isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done it is in self defense, not blood lust.

What a great premise and title for a book. Unfortunately, like a pirate ship that doesn't raise the Jolly Roger until it is too late for its prey, this is really a feminist polemic disguised as a page-turner. I abandoned ship after two chapters made me want to walk the plank. I hope I can find another book that deals with some or all of the same characters, but that doesn't read like a Women's Studies thesis adapted for a general audience.

Overall, pretty good.. a little too heavy on the speculation as to the women pirate's thoughts and motivations. The constant assumptions of misogyny without evidence to back it up gets irritating after a while, too. I was disappointed in the way the author glosses over known historical details, such as the exploits of Ching Shih. So much more could have been said about this remarkable woman, but the author chose not to do so.Could have been a great book, but instead is merely an overview.

This book is something women (and men) sorely need right now. The author takes a broad (pun not intended) look at the idea of women pirates throughout history. Whether the women existed in actuality or not, Duncombe argues that their stories reveal important things about the culture and time during which those stories existed. She also includes a chapter looking at women pirates in Hollywood, and questioning why more of these swashbuckling stories haven't been snatched up for blockbusters. Through all the different periods covered, it's interesting to see all the various reasons women became pirates -- for revenge, for love, for freedom -- and inspires women today to seize the day and their lives to make them better.

This audio book is packed with great historical information but it is OVERDLOWING with the author's disdain for men. Wow! All problems seem to be because men are alive. Hard to enjoy the historical information with all the venom infused feminism. What a shame.

What a great and informative book! I love pirates and I love feminism, so I was very excited to see a book completely dedicated to pirate women. It was honest when the lines between fact and myth were blurred, and the whole thing was very interesting and a great read.

This book was okay, but history is so sketchy on female pirates - and most of the stories are fictional or embellished - this book really feels strained. If there’s not enough info for the book you want to write, then find another angle.

This proves to be a great read when you consider the period of history when pirates were most active. ironically the most successful pirate was not a man but a woman who 'ran' several hundred ships. I recommend this book for any former childhood enthusiast of priates and treasure etc.

A boring list of just about any named female in history. Based on word of mouth or other unsubstantiated myth or legend.Pirates? They may have been but were they in fact ?

Packed full of information, includes lesser known women, very interesting

Not what l was expecting, a little disapointing, hard to get interested in this.I thought it would be a factual book, but had far too many "maybe's" for me.

Lost interest in this one a quarter of the way through.