Benerson Little
"The trident of Neptune is the scepter of the world."*
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* By Antoine Marin Lemierre, from his poem "Commerce."
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Books, Articles, and Other MediaThe Fight Against Pirates, Privateers, and Sea Raiders from Antiquity to the Present To catch a predator—on the high seas. For thousands of years pirates, privateers, and sea raiding peoples have terrorized the ocean voyager and coastal inhabitant, plundering ship and shore with impunity. From the victim’s point of view, these attackers were not the rebellious, romantic rulers of Neptune’s Realm, but savage beasts to be excoriated, and those who went to sea to stop them were heroes. More than just a vivid account of the war seafarers and pirates have waged, Pirate Hunting is invaluable reading in a world where acts of piracy are once more a significant threat to maritime commerce and voyagers. It will appeal to readers interested in the history of piracy, anti-piracy operations, and in maritime, naval, and military history worldwide. Forthcoming, hardcover, August 2010 (moved up from September). The Stories, Techniques, and Tactics of the Most Feared Buccaneers from 1500-1800 Not simple retellings of the tried and true stories of buccaneers on the high seas, this book focuses on pirating tactics of the 1500s through 1800s to give the reader a view of how pirates functioned through history. Readers will follow thirteen of the most famous pirates in detail as they raid major ships and pillage coastal villages. Readers will learn how the pirates approached such invasions and how they managed to elude authorities and sometimes whole navies. With archival images gathered from around the world. Each chapter is a stand-alone story about a famous buccaneer and follows them moment by moment on a specific attack as an example of their greater techniques and tactics for plundering. Readers will follow the characters in live action and trace their movements in real time; a recreation of the action based on the historic information available. Forthcoming, trade paper, January 2011. Pirate Life on the Spanish Main, 1674-1688 To really understand what the buccaneers' world was like—how they lived, fought, and died. “A richly hued blend of compelling narrative and informed history, The Buccaneer’s Realm captures the dramatic sunset of buccaneering on the Spanish Main. With meticulous documentation, wry humor, and keen attention to detail, Benerson Little accurately portrays the last hurrah of the Brethren of the Coast—a free-minded floating society of patriotic mercenaries and self-serving rogues, accomplished sailors, and intrepid adventurers—before their final eclipse into unmitigated piracy.” —Peter R. Galvin, associate professor of geography at Indiana University Southeast and author of Patterns of Pillage: A Geography of Caribbean-based Piracy in Spanish America, 1536–1718 "The Buccaneer's Realm holds up well against Little's previous work, making two-for-two books that are truly must-haves for any true pirate scholar." —Bilgemunky.com, July 2008 In print, hardcover. Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730 "As colorful as a Howard Pyle illustration and as compelling as an Errol Flynn film, The Sea Rover’s Practice belongs on anyone’s short list of useful scholarship on the great age of piracy. Based largely on first-person accounts, the book provides a trustworthy description of how pirates, filibusters, buccaneers, and privateers went about their business, from planning and recruiting, through chasing, engaging, and boarding, to dividing the spoils. The reader, entertained as well as informed, is likely to have nearly as much fun reading this book as the author appears to have had in writing it." —Michael J. Crawford, naval historian and editor of The Autobiography of a Yankee Mariner: Christopher Prince and the American Revolution. ". . . .rich in colourful detail, and displays impressive knowledge of sailing and fighting skills." —The Naval Review In print, hardcover, trade paper, and Kindle. Article, "Terrorists and Pirates Are Similar But Not the Same," by Benerson Little. Hardcover and paper editions available. Table of contents link.
"The At Issue series includes a wide range of opinion on a single controversial subject. Each volume includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives -- eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials and many others. Extensive bibliographies and annotated lists of relevant organizations to contact offer a gateway to future research." —Publisher Commentator on "True Caribbean Pirates" television show and DVD, History Channel, 2006.
"Just two years after Columbus first set foot in the Bahamas, the Pope granted Spain exclusive right to the Caribbean and most of the New World. The Spanish reaped an immense fortune in gold and silver, but with a price. England, France, and Holland all established Caribbean bases and used privateers to protect their interests and steal Spanish treasure. The line between privateering and piracy became blurred. TRUE CARIBBEAN PIRATES examine[s] this Golden Age of Piracy and the true stories of the infamous mariners, how they operated, and their successes and failures in this dark and deadly profession." —History Channel Magazine & Journal Articles, & Other Media"The Origin of the Dread Pirate Banner: the Jolly Roger," in Pirates Magazine," Issue 12, April, 2010. Lectured at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, September 2009, online via St. Lucie County Television (SLCTV), Florida. Provided technical assistance to the "Pirate versus Knight" episode of Spike TV's "Deadliest Warriors" series November-December 2008. (As in all such cases, I had no control over what was done with the information provided.) "Scimitars, Swivel Guns, & Firepots: Digging for Pirates in Denmark," part two, No Quarter Given, July/August 2008 (vol. 15, no. 4). "Scimitars, Swivel Guns, & Firepots: Digging for Pirates in Denmark," part one, No Quarter Given, May/June 2008 (vol. 15, no. 3). Worked with Denmark’s Medieval Center on explosives and pyrotechnics used during the Age of Sail. (2007-2008) "Terror in the Mediterranean" History Channel television appearance and DVD, part of the "Digging for the Truth" series, 2007. "Tidewater Places and Pirates: A Visit to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown," No Quarter Given, May/June 2006 (vol. 13, no. 3). Provided expertise on sea survival during the Age of Sail for the book The Worst-Case Scenario Almanac: History by Joshua Piven et al. (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2006.) "A Brief Note on Powder Chests," No Quarter Given, January 2006 (Vol. 12, no. 6). "Close Fights at Sea: Boarding Ship-to-Ship 1630-1730," No Quarter Given, September 2005 (vol. 12, no. 5). |
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