Pirates have fascinated cultures across centuries. These seafaring outlaws are known for navigating uncharted waters, engaging in naval battles, and defying maritime law. They’ve become powerful archetypes in both historical and fictional storytelling.
Rooted in the golden age of piracy and maritime folklore, pirate tales explore themes of freedom, rebellion, loyalty, and survival. From Caribbean coves to forgotten islands, these stories often revolve around high-stakes treasure hunts, mutinies, and moral ambiguity.
Best Pirate Books
If you’re drawn to nautical adventures filled with danger and discovery, the best pirate books offer immersive narratives that bring the spirit of the open sea to life. This list explores the most thrilling and iconic works inspired by pirate legends and seafaring myths.
The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down
- Woodard, Colin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 06/30/2008 (Publication Date) - Mariner Books (Publisher)
Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates
- Dolin, Eric Jay (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 09/17/2019 (Publication Date) - Liveright (Publisher)
How I Became a Pirate
- An hilarious look at the finer points of pirate life. Shiver me timbers!
- Braid Beard's pirate crew invites Jeremy Jacob to join their voyage.
- Soon Jeremy Jacob knows all about being a pirate.
- But then Jeremy Jacob finds out what pirates don't do....
- It's the heave-ho, blow-the-man-down, very best time of his life.
- Hardcover Book
- Long, Melinda (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 44 Pages - 09/01/2003 (Publication Date) - Harcourt, Inc. (Publisher)
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion (Ologies)
- Hardcover Book
- Lubber, Captain William (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 07/11/2006 (Publication Date) - Candlewick (Publisher)
Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map: Includes Over 30 Stickers!
- Dean, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 03/07/2017 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)
How to Be a Pirate (Little Golden Book)
- Hardcover Book
- Fliess, Sue (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 01/07/2014 (Publication Date) - Golden Books (Publisher)
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates
- Cordingly, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 05/09/2006 (Publication Date) - Random House Trade Paperbacks (Publisher)
Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune
- Thomson, Keith (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 05/16/2023 (Publication Date) - Back Bay Books (Publisher)
Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Classic) (Little Golden Book)
- Hardcover Book
- Johnson, Nicole (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 05/02/2023 (Publication Date) - Golden/Disney (Publisher)
A Pirate Looks at Fifty
- Buffett, Jimmy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 448 Pages - 11/28/2000 (Publication Date) - Ballantine Books (Publisher)
P Is for Pirate (Alphabet Primers)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 04/04/2023 (Publication Date) - BabyLit (Publisher)
The Pirates Next Door
- Hardcover Book
- Duddle, Jonny (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 44 Pages - 02/28/2012 (Publication Date) - Templar (Publisher)
Goodnight Pirate: A Bedtime Baby Sleep Book for Fans of Buried Treasure! (Goodnight Series)
- Robinson, Michelle (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 03/01/2015 (Publication Date) - Sourcebooks Wonderland (Publisher)
Who Was Blackbeard?
- Buckley Jr., James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages - 11/10/2015 (Publication Date) - Penguin Workshop (Publisher)
The Berenstain Bears Pirate Adventure
- Berenstain, Mike (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 08/16/2016 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)
Florida Pirates: From the Southern Gulf Coast to the Keys and Beyond
- Kaserman, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 128 Pages - 11/16/2011 (Publication Date) - The History Press (Publisher)
A General History of the Pirates
- Hardcover Book
- Johnson, Captain Charles (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 247 Pages - 07/28/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
- Kurson, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 03/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Random House Trade Paperbacks (Publisher)
Pirate Pups! (Paw Patrol) (Little Golden Book)
- Hardcover Book
- Golden Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 01/05/2016 (Publication Date) - Golden Books (Publisher)
Pirates Past Noon (Magic Tree House, No. 4)
- Osborne, Mary Pope (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages - 03/08/1994 (Publication Date) - Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Whether you’re intrigued by historical realism, dark nautical fantasy, or epic sea journeys, pirate literature continues to evolve while honoring classic maritime themes. These books capture the essence of oceanic adventure and the timeless allure of piracy.
The best pirate books tap into deep-rooted storytelling elements: lawlessness, exploration, brotherhood, and the pursuit of hidden fortune. They reflect the human desire for freedom and the eternal struggle between order and chaos on the high seas.
So if you’re ready to set sail into a world of shifting loyalties, secret maps, and relentless quests for power, start with a pirate story that matches your taste. The next great voyage awaits between the pages.
