First published 2019
Martin W. Sandler tells the complete story of the Whydah, the only pirate vessel ever recovered from the ocean depths. The ship began as a merchant vessel working the Triangular Trade route during the golden age of piracy from the 1650s to 1730s. Black Sam Bellamy, one of the most acquisitive pirates of his era, seized control of the fast and spacious Whydah to transport his growing hoard of stolen riches. Bellamy packed the ship with treasure and planned to retire from his criminal career. Instead, a violent storm destroyed the Whydah off Cape Cod in 1717, sending the vessel and its cargo to the seafloor. Treasure hunters searched for over two centuries without success until marine archaeologists located the wreck in 1984. Sandler examines the priceless artifacts recovered from the ocean floor and explains how these discoveries have transformed our understanding of pirate life during this legendary period of maritime history.
Genres: history, adventure, non-fiction
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-mystery
Setting: Cape Cod, Whydah
Period: Golden Age of Piracy, 1717
176 pages · Paperback · Candlewick Press