Piracy has been a curse of sea travellers and traders since records began. This wide-ranging book looks at the reality of how pirates lived and operated, from the ancient world right up to the pirates of today s cargo ships or luxury yachts in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Pirates: An Illustrated History also examines the actions and pirate ethics of less famous pirates and their eras, such as the Japanese pirates of the 13th-16th centuries and Zheng Yi and his wife s pirate alliance in 19th century China.With features on particular pirates such as Blackbeard and William Kidd, and how the unwritten pirate code evolved into today s merchant shipping contracts, Pirates: An Illustrated History illuminates the broader historical and geographical scope of piracy and provides a fascinating introduction to the reality of life on board a buccaneer ship.