The Resurrected Pirate - by Craig S Chapman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Experience the adventures of the pirate George Lowther and learn how he was "resurrected" as a Royal Navy officer, nearly 20 years after his alleged death by suicide in 1723.

Book Synopsis

George Lowther was a mutineer and a pirate, one of the most prolific during the golden age of piracy. His first mate, Edward "Ned" Low, went on to establish himself as perhaps the most sadistic and depraved of all pirate captains. Virtually all popular sources specify Lowther's death being by suicide in 1723, while marooned on the small island of Blanquilla, off the coast of Venezuela.

While researching the War of Jenkins' Ear, historian Craig Chapman found repeated references to "Lowther the Pirate" in primary source material. This Lowther was pardoned and commissioned as a Royal Navy lieutenant in 1741. Further research revealed that this was indeed George Lowther, and therefore, that the date and place of his death had been reported erroneously.

The 18th-century Caribbean seas were filled with vile marauders and heroic mariners, and George Lowther was a little of both.

Review Quotes

""The Resurrected Pirate" is not just a pirate tale. It explores motivations and reactions that lead Lowther, Massey, and others to do what they do. It's a stark and realistic account of pirate life, despite the brief interludes of wealth and partying and doing what one pleases. Sooner or later, consequences result from actions taken, and everyone reacts differently to those consequences as Chapman deftly shows. This account of George Lowther's life reads like a gripping, edgy novel. It is enlightening, provocative, and tragic. Chapman provides the necessary background information to ground the reader. At the same time, he skillfully demonstrates that no pirate works alone, and Lowther's path is intricately entwined directly and indirectly with Admiral Edward Vernon, the Royal African Company, Captain Chaloner Ogle, Edward Low, Charles Harris, Philip Ashton, Francis Spriggs, and Captain Robert Maynard, among others. A must-read for anyone interested in pirate history."
--Cindy Vallar, editor of "Pirates and Privateers"

"Chapman presents readers with a thoroughly researched and captivating narrative of pirate George Lowther's life of maritime crime. Whether you're an Early Modern scholar or simply a fan of pirate history, Chapman's work has a little something for everyone!"
--Jamie L.H. Goodall, Phd, author of "Pirates of the Chesapeake Bay"

"Combining the in-depth research of a clear-eyed historian and the dogged clue-chasing of a classic sleuth, the author corrects the historical record and vividly brings to life one of the most notorious pirates who sailed under the Black Flag."
--Benerson Little, author of "The Golden Age of Piracy"

"For centuries, students and scholars of piracy's "Golden Age" have accepted the story of pirate captain George Lowther's miserable end on a desolate Caribbean Island. Surprise! The record of his "afterlife" was hiding in plain sight all along, and with it, Craig Chapman has added a new chapter to piracy's history. No longer simply the tale of a defeated pirate, Lowther's story is now one of crime, penitence, and the quest for redemption."
--Len Travers, author of "The Notorious Edward Low"

"This masterful account sheds new light on a complex and misunderstood pirate; a man whom Craig Chapman reveals managed to cheat death, before spending his remaining days atoning for his piratical sins. This superbly researched and written book is a compelling read."
--Angus Konstam, maritime historian, author of "The Pirate Menace"