Enemy of All Mankind by Steven Johnson - 4 stars (Steeplechase, BWF)

[Joy D]

Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt by Steven Johnson - 4* - My Review

This book tells the true story of the pirate Henry Every aka Henry Avery aka Benjamin Bridgeman, who led a mutiny in 1695, commandeered the English ship Charles II, renamed it the Fancy, and attacked a Grand Mughal treasure ship returning from Mecca to India. This attack resulted in a global hunt to find Avery and his crew. Steven Johnson has pieced together the small amount of historical information available on Avery. He also covers a variety of topics that provide the related historical context, including piracy in general, the emerging power of the British East India Company, and the vast number of legends and myths that arose afterward.

I found this a fascinating account of a lesser-known pirate who had a significant impact on both future pirates and merchant/trade practices. The narrative flows as an adventure and mystery, though the author does not sugarcoat the horrible crimes perpetrated by the mutineers. The primary source material includes an account of the trial of those eventually apprehended, which provides much of the source material. I had little knowledge of these events beforehand. I found it especially interesting that this pirate influenced the future actions of the British on the Indian subcontinent. Recommended to fans of seafaring history.

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "pirates" x53:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

PBT July BWF Extra E - fits letter not tag