Atlantic Piracy in the Early Nineteenth Century: The Shocking Story of the Pirates and the Survivors of the Morning Star

The book "The Morning Star: A Tale of Nineteenth-Century Piracy" is a comprehensive account of the infamous pirate attack on the British brig Morning Star in 1828, led by Benito de Soto. It provides new detail and corrects errors in contemporary accounts, discussing the careers, pursuit, treasure, sensationalization, and aftermath of the attack on the ship and its female passengers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 11 March 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The pirate attack on the British brig Morning Star, en route from Ceylon to London, near Ascension Island in 1828, stands as one of the most shocking episodes of piracy in the nineteenth century. Despite the captain and numerous crew members falling victim to the ruthless pirates led by the notorious Benito de Soto, a handful of survivors managed to escape and navigate the ship back to Britain. This captivating book, based on extensive original research in Britain, Spain, and Brazil, retells the remarkable story of the Morning Star, offering a wealth of new details and correcting errors prevalent in contemporary accounts of the attack. It contextualizes the incident within the broader realm of piracy during that period, delving into various issues that the episode highlights. These include the origins and progression of pirate careers, the challenges faced in their pursuit and prosecution, the fate of their treasure, the sensationalization of stories surrounding the attack and its survivors, and the enduring ordeal endured by the women passengers at the hands of the pirates, as well as the potential loss of their reputations upon their return to Britain.

‌

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276707