Pirates!

Pirates are everywhere - and they have been ever since boats were used as carriers.

They are in stories ranging from Treasure Island through Peter Pan to Pirates of the Caribbean; they are in our imaginations with peg-legs, hook-hands and parrots on their shoulders saying 'Aharr, me hearties!' and they continue to cause havoc in the Gulf of Aden in the 21st century.

This book humorously charts the adventures of pirates through the ages, including Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, Calico Jack and girl pirates too!

There are countless surprising facts here - many pirates died at the end of a rope, but some were even knighted for their services! And there are plenty of 'Gruesome Alerts', just to prepare you for the extra gory bits -