Benerson Little

"The trident of Neptune is the scepter of the world."*

Works Modern Piracy Sea News Commentary & News Questions Events Biography Writing & Contact

* By Antoine Marin Lemierre, from his poem "Commerce."

Jacket cover design is based on An English Ship in Action with Barbary Vessels by Willem van de Veld, the Younger, 1678. Details on the painting and the battle it may represent can be found here at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Table of Contents Link

Preface

Press Kit

On the Need for Merchant Crews to Defend Themselves

“And when a Merchant Ship cannot otherwise well discharge herself, the Necessity of Fighting is evident; for no Man is so devoid of Reason as not to know, that it is his peculiar Interest to defend his Property, unless he will toil and labour for others, and like the Sheep patiently endure the Shearing of his Fleece. And it is certainly far more tolerable as well as reputable to perish like the Bee in the Hive, than by a cowardly Submission part with the Honey to every Drone, and consequently left to starve for want of that he has been working for.”

—William Mountaine, The Seaman's Vade-Mecum, 1756

Of the Fight at Sea

One fight at Sea, with Ships couragious mand,
Is more than three great battels on the Land.
There men must stand to't, theres no way to fly,
There must they Congu'rers live or Conquerd die.
And if they dye not by some launching wound
They are in hazard to be sunke and drownd.
The murdring bullets, and the brinish waves,
Are many a valliant Sea-mans death and graves.

—John Taylor, from his An Apologie for Sea-men, 1615

Pirate Hunting:
The Fight Against Pirates, Privateers, and Sea Raiders From Antiquity to the Present

Forthcoming, Potomac Books, September 2010. The book's table of contents, preface, and press kit are posted on the publisher's website.

Endorsements

"Benerson Little’s fascinating history of piracy and pirate hunting from antiquity to the present is a delightful and informative book that fills an important gap in the field of naval military history. The book is well written, well organized, comprehensive, and supported by excellent maps that ease the reader’s journey. Little deserves high praise for bringing this important subject to the attention of historians and general readers, who will both benefit greatly from this excellent work."

—Richard A. Gabriel, author of Philip II of Macedonia: Greater than Alexander

"A vast canvas brimming with historical detail and insight. Little manages to steer a steady course through some 2,000 years of piracy on the high seas, providing not just anecdotes but a compelling human narrative of the seesaw struggle between pirates and those who fought against them. It’s a tale that shares many common threads across the ages, straight into the news of today."

—Clifford Beal, author of Quelch’s Gold: Piracy, Greed, and Betrayal in Colonial New England

“The author has compiled a wealth of detail based on far-reaching research. The book is well written and comprehensive.”

—Alfred S. Bradford, author of Flying the Black Flag: A Brief History of Piracy

From the Publisher

To catch a predator—on the high seas.

Describes how merchant vessels, international organizations, and governments have retaliated against pirate attacks over the course of more than four millennia.

Explains the strategies and tactics used by pirate hunters, from the ancient Minoans to modern maritime professionals.

Examines modern piracy and its relationship to terrorism.

For thousands of years pirates, privateers, and sea raiding peoples have terrorized the ocean voyager and coastal inhabitant, plundering ship and shore with impunity. From the victim’s point of view, these attackers were not the rebellious, romantic rulers of Neptune’s Realm, but savage beasts to be excoriated, and those who went to sea to stop them were heroes.

Engaging and meticulously detailed, Pirate Hunting chronicles the fight against these plunderers from antiquity to the present and illustrates the array of tactics and strategies people and governments have employed to secure the seas. Benerson Little lends further dimension to this unending battle by including the history of piracy and privateering, ranging from the Mycenaean rovers to the modern pirates of Somalia. Associated naval warfare, maritime commerce and transportation, the development of speed under oar, sail, and steam, and the evolution of weaponry are also described.

More than just a vivid account of the war seafarers and pirates have waged, Pirate Hunting is invaluable reading in a world where acts of piracy are once more a significant threat to maritime commerce and voyagers. It will appeal to readers interested in the history of piracy, anti-piracy operations, and in maritime, naval, and military history worldwide.