安格斯·康斯塔姆（Angus Konstam）

作家，历史学家，前英国皇家海军军官，水下考古学家，博物馆研究员。生于奥克尼郡，现居爱丁堡。曾任伦敦塔博物馆兵器顾问，佛罗里达州克伊维斯特、梅勒·费舍尔海军博物馆总顾问。作者为海盗史的研究专家，写作历史类、军事类和海军题材作品达50余部，其中30本由英国鱼鹰出版社（Osprey）出版，代表作为《世界海盗全史》《世界海盗地图集》《黑胡子传》《俾斯麦号战列舰大揭秘》等。

罗杰 • 迈克尔 • 基恩（Rogar Michael Kean）

记者、电影制片人和资深历史类图书编辑，编辑包括《海盗史》和《沉船史》。基恩同时也是一位作家，写作《罗马皇帝和被遗忘的权力:拜占庭基督教堡垒》（The Complete Chronicle of the Emperors of Romeand Forgotten Power: Byzantium—Bulwark of Christianity）。他现居位于英国的勒德罗小镇。

Pirates have captivated our imaginations for generations, and the popularity of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean films has planted them even more firmly in our minds. But what were pirates really like? Author Robert Ritchie guides us on a tour of piracy from ancient times through the present, and dispels the false image of pirates created by adventure stories and Hollywood. The truth is, unbelievably, even more intriguing than the fiction. Pirates were usually men (and sometimes women!) who turned to piracy in desperation—to avoid starvation or to save their own lives. They were from countries across the globe, from every social class, and of every race. Their average age was only twenty seven. In this lavishly illustrated book, you will see pirates’ brutal lives and bloody deaths, get a peek at their ships and the lives of their crews, and meet some of history’s most famous and infamous buccaneers. You’ll finally learn the truth about the way they lived and died. Full of color and history and danger, this book is as fun as a Johnny Depp movie—but it’s all true!