Salted through and through by the sea wind, fearless and free, one-legged and one-eyed, with a saber in one hand and a bottle of rum in the other. They fight as fiercely as they seek treasure, fearing neither God nor the devil, and there is no one who would not tremble at the sight of their black flag with a skull and crossbones! Of course, we are talking about pirates. This is how books and films depict them, and this is how we are accustomed to imagining them. But how much does such a romantic hero have in common with a real sea robber?

This book invites readers on a journey across the seas and oceans where pirate ships sailed throughout the centuries, to uninhabited islands where pirates hid treasures, and to the ports where they recruited crews. It will dispel myths and tell the whole truth about pirates! You'll discover the true life of a pirate, full of fears and dangers, cruel, unsightly, and, most importantly, very short. You'll learn when pirates first appeared, what ships they sailed on, who chose this 'profession' and why, and whether pirates truly knew no law and feared no one.