You've seen the fantastical films--now, discover what life was "really "like aboard a pirate ship! No need for a bottle of rum to enjoy the exploits of these famous and fearsome swashbucklers. There's a galleon's worth of daredevil action in this awesome exploration of the weapons, adventures, legends, language, and lost treasures of the pirate world. A famous cast of characters make their appearance--a rogue's gallery of notorious names from Blackbeard to Calico Jack to Captain Kidd. Find out about their hand-thrown projectiles, pistols, and cutlasses; the punishment and torture they meted out; and even their most famous song. Cool maps and plenty of pictures of men, ships, and flags make this the book that armchair pirates dreaming of the high seas will want!