The coast of North Carolina is famously known for the presence of pirates on its shores. These pirates, and their exhilarating adventures, demonstrate the deep history rooted in the shores of North Carolina. Through the intertwining of children's books, various narratives, and general information altogether, this case offers a glimpse into a pirate's life and typical lifestyle, especially that of the notorious Blackbeard. The typical escapades for pirates are seen in these educational and fun artifacts, as this exhibition case adds an adventurous twist to one's common knowledge of pirates. The tales of Blackbeard, and other buccaneers, have been shared across time and now the specific storytelling of North Carolina’s association to piracy are seen in this immersive case. 

Piracy is a very commonly depicted source of entertainment for younger audiences, and the creation of children's books covering pirates introduced a new variation of storytelling. The characterization of different pirates on the title page, and the daunting pirate boat towering over another gaggle of pirates demonstrates the ongoing adventures pirates engaged in and the many stories shared. The visual aspects associated with the stories of everyday life for pirates produce new perspectives on their rich history. Many novels based on pirates struggle to include visualizations that capture the essence of piracy, but the incorporation of imagery alongside the stories enable a deeper connection to the stories being told. These various stories are piled up into this cartoon book that successfully shares the side of pirates designated for children, and further contributes to the discussion regarding the rich history of piracy near the coasts of North Carolina. 

Bailey, Ella. Pirates, 1989. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024. 

Boomer, K.B, & Jay Hosler.“Are Comic Books an Effective Way to Engage Nonmajors in Learning and Appreciating Science?” PubMed Central, 2011. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3164570/.  Accessed 14 November 2024.

McWilliams, K.J. Pirates, 1989. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024. 

Wilczynski, Krzysztof. “Impact of Piracy on Culture and Society.” Pirates, 2024. https://www.piratesinfo.com/history-of-piracy/impact-and-influence-of-piracy/impact-of-piracy-on-culture-and-society/. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Oftentimes, piracy holds a negative connotation due to their brutal attacks of thievery. However, this novel, filled with stories and images, depicts the alternative lifestyle that many pirates lived and few know about. The visuals within the novel highlight the diverse nature of pirates as the hanging canopy holds the sprawled out pirate, and the guitar remains propped up waiting to be played again. This novel showcases the captivating adventures of pirates, but offers a new outlook on the daily life of these individuals along the coasts of North Carolina. This image captured from within the novel is a prime example of pirates differing from the stereotypes and supporting the idea of their diverse nature. After all, these pirates needed other ways to entertain themselves, and the novel introduces how violence wasn’t the only outlet for entertainment. The hanging canopy and instrument in the image are just a few ways to convey the other side of adventures pirates experienced amongst the strong brotherhood. Evidently, the strong community between these buccaneers enabled piracy to reach this infamous status as pirates succeeded in stealing loot and attacking other ships together. 

Bailey, Ella. The Buccaneers and Marooners of America, 1892. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024. 

Elleman, B. Historical Piracy and its Impact. In: Bruinsma, G. (eds) Histories of Transnational Crime. Springer, 2015, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2471-4_2 Accessed 14 November 2024.

Exquemelin, A.O. (Alexandre Olivier), The Buccaneers and Marooners of America, 1892. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008600003. Accessed 14 November 2024. 

“What do pirates do?” Royal Museums Greenwich, https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-do-pirates-do . Accessed 14 November 2024.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, piracy was quite a spectacle in popular media. In fact, almost every piece in our exhibit is from this era in history, despite the so-called “golden-age” of piracy mainly being in the 17th century. Many were fascinated by the rebellious and exciting lives of pirates, inserting them into novels, plays, images, and more. It was at this time that stories like Peter Pan (1911) and Treasure Island (1883) emerged. Tantalized by stories of dramatic battle, teamwork, leadership, and especially their alternative lifestyle at sea, it's no wonder many chose to explore the world of piracy. Plot lines like this are very present in Hung For A Song, depicting the ruthless and talented pirate, Blackbeard, and his crew as they embark on various adventures. Many pirate novels, including Hung For A Song and Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts, also include detailed images of these scenes, suggesting that these novels were likely marketed to younger audiences, allowing them to imagine the stories they read. In this specific novel, many pictures, such as the one below, show the ship and its crew gearing up for battle appearing vicious and determined. 

Chohen, Monica F. Pirating Fictions. University of Virginia Press, 2017. https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5104/. Accessed

November 5 2024. 

Marley, Catherine. Hung For A Song. Accessed November 5 2024.

Parrish, George. Hung For A Song. Farrar & Rinehart New York, 1934. Accessed November 5 2024.

Ritchie, Robert C. Living with pirates. Rethinking History, September 2007, p. 411-418, EBSCOhost.

https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/loginurl=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=aph&AN=43881187&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed November 5 2024.