LIMITED TIME OFFER. Get 3 months for $0.99 a month. Get this deal.
Black Flags, Blue Waters cover art

Black Flags, Blue Waters

The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates

Preview
Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm PT.
Amazon Prime member exclusive: get any 2 titles with your free trial. Terms apply.
Just $0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 audiobook per month of your choice from our unparalleled catalog.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Black Flags, Blue Waters

Written by: Eric Jay Dolin
Narrated by: Paul Brion
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offers ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm PT.

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.83

Buy Now for $27.83

About this listen

Set against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration, Black Flags, Blue Waters reveals the dramatic and surprising history of American piracy's "Golden Age" - spanning the late 1600s through the early 1700s - when lawless pirates plied the coastal waters of North America and beyond. Best-selling author Eric Jay Dolin illustrates how American colonists at first supported these outrageous pirates in an early display of solidarity against the Crown, and then violently opposed them.

Through engrossing episodes of roguish glamour and extreme brutality, Dolin depicts the star pirates of this period, among them towering Blackbeard, ill-fated Captain Kidd, and sadistic Edward Low, who delighted in torturing his prey. Also brilliantly detailed are the pirates' manifold enemies, including colonial governor John Winthrop and evangelist Cotton Mather.

Upending popular misconceptions and cartoonish stereotypes, Dolin provides this wholly original account of the seafaring outlaws whose raids reflect the precarious nature of American colonial life.

©2018 Eric Jay Dolin (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
17th Century 18th Century Americas Modern United States World Colonial Period Pirate Imperialism Africa Latin America American History British Empire Water Explorations
All stars
Most relevant
interesting book but I quickly became irritated the narrorator's constant lip slapping and over- pronunciation of the letters in every word. Its almost as If his speaking was too clear and proper that it started to become distracting from the story.

Interesting book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Excellent book as to the history of Buccaneers. Adeep dive in to the legendary pirates of old and their beginnings.

Prepare to be boarded

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Super interesting. Definitely worth the listen. I found it fascinating how much pirates played into the politics of colonial America and England. As well the thin line between pirate and privateer. 5 stars!

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I found this book more thorough than a similar book. As I listened I looked up the places and my imagination went wild. This was a book I was sad to finish. Highly recommend if you are fascinated by the age of sail and pirates. It was cool to hear parts about my home province Nova Scotia.

Very entertaining

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Really enjoyed this. Not even sure why lol. But a great historical record of pirates that is both captivating and informative. The narration is also top shelf.

Great history lesson

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Like listening to a textbook. Long and drawn out. Some intresting stuff but kept falling asleep.

Boring

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The narration is brutal to listen to. He turns interesting material into as fun a read as dishwasher installation instructions. He does a real disservice to the author. I will actively avoid anything else he narrates. This was a real struggle to get through. This guy should only read textbooks or furniture assembly instructions.

Narration kills interesting material.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.