It’s time to kick off International Pirate Month! If you’ve ever had an interest in pirates, then chances are you’ve heard of Blackbeard (also known as Edward Teach). He was and still is famously known for his blockade of Charleston as well as his pirating style that proved him to be a brutal captain. He was known for being unmerciful but also incredibly smart and well-versed, and it was speculated he was born into a respectable family before turning to piracy.
So on that note, here’s six books I think Blackbeard would read (and love):
Anything Shakespeare
Now, I know I said books, but if I’m being totally realistic, Blackbeard would eat Shakespeare’s writing up. He would fall in love with the poetic story-telling style and would probably even go out of his way to show it to his friends. The tragedies would probably be his favorites, stories like Romeo and Juliet and their star-crossed love as well as Julius Caesar.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I don’t think I need to give any real background on this, but Blackbeard would adore the story of Achilles and Patroclus in this retelling of The Iliad. I also feel as though he would relate to it in some aspects (I will not dive deeper as to why, but Our Flag Means Death is the reason). And I fully stand by that like almost everyone who read The Song of Achilles, he would sob.
The Hobbit by J. R. R Tolkien
Blackbeard would LOVE the world J.R.R. Tolkien has created. I think it would be almost like a mirror for him during his piracy career. The storytelling and the events would truly pique his interest and I fully believe that this series would be in his top five.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ah, Gatsby. The partying lifestyle and his attitude I feel would perfectly match that of Blackbeard’s flamboyance. The plot twist would also be one of interest to him I think, as well as the searching for a sort of lost love. As much as he is a “bad” pirate, I sort of think he would also be a hopeless romantic. Maybe. I just think he would like this.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Now, this one may be kind of out there and “out of the blue.” But I think Blackbeard would adore this book, and series, just for the pure description that Kristoff uses. His novels are well-written and really show you the world that he is trying to have played out. Which is precisely why I think the legendary pirate, known for his cruelty, would enjoy this book.
In all honesty, who knows if Blackbeard would even like to read? He lived a life of adventure as a pirate and probably wouldn’t need the fake worlds created. But who knows, really? But if he did, I certainly stand by my statement he would enjoy these books.
Happy International Pirate Month!