The Business of Pirating

I had never considered the business aspects of pirating until I read Katherine Howe's newest book, A True Account: Hannah Masury's Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself.

Every ship's captain had a vision, as did the crew. A mission steered each voyage. The crew was kept in line with its bylaws or code of conduct. Loot was allocated based on a profit-sharing plan.

In this conversation, Katherine reveals why moviegoers romanticize the golden era of pirating. Not only do we get a sneak preview of the characters and the plot in Katherine's new book, but we are also reminded of our country's history of public hangings and gibbeting.

About Katherine Howe
Katherine Howe is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian and novelist. She is the author of several novels for adults and young adults, has edited two volumes of primary sources for Penguin Classics, and is the co-author with Anderson Cooper of the #1 New York Times bestselling books VANDERBILT and ASTOR. You can follow her on the following social media links: