The controversial book presents stunning contradictions to traditional historical accounts about black beards also known as blackbeard origins, his travels and motivations as a pirate, his. First annual blackbeards pirate jamboree held the last weekend of october each year on ocracoke island n. He will reveal his latest research on one of the states most infamous pirates with whats wrong with blackbeard. Duffus describes himself as a north carolina research historian, author and documentary filmmaker. By mike voss washington daily news beaufort countys claim to the pirate blackbeard is being stolen at worst and misrepresented at best, according to kevin duffus, author of several books about blackbeard and other aspects of north carolina coastal history. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every legend lies a grain of truth kindle edition by duffus, kevin. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the last days of black beard the piratewithin every legend lies a grain of truth. Feb 22, 2015 caesars legend has become a carnival sideshow, and the hucksters of this historical bilgewater would make p.
Author kevin duffus explains how black beard was cornered and attacked at. Duffus delivered a banner lecture entitled whats wrong with black beard. Oct 20, 2018 at a mock trial in beaufort nc, historian kevin duffus asks whether blackbeard the pirate was guilty of piracy and whether virginia had a legal right to send hired forces to north carolina to kill. Duffus, historical researcher and author of the lost light. First annual blackbeard s pirate jamboree held the last weekend of october each year on ocracoke island n. The pirate kept 60 of the slaves on board and left the rest of the 400man company marooned with their french captain.
Nov 14, 2018 november 14, 2018 community news brief by. Duffus, a researcher and filmmaker, is the author of several books, including shipwrecks of the outer banks. Caesars legend has become a carnival sideshow, and the hucksters of this historical bilgewater would make p. Blackbeards most valuable treasure was not gold or jewels. Kevin has also produced several documentaries and discovered the. Within every legend lies a grain of truth by kevin p. The controversial book presents stunning contradictions to traditional historical accounts about black beards also known as blackbeard.
Researcher, author and documentary filmmaker, kevin duffus has published four. S ince 1997, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four awardwinning documentary films all on outer banks history. Noted author, historian and filmmaker kevin duffus will discuss blackbeard. Booklistthe definitive biography of historysmost fearsome and famous pirateof all the colorful cutthroats who scoured the seas in search of plunder during the golden age of piracy. On saturday, april 6, historian, filmmaker and author kevin p. Author kevin duffus on the real blackbeard rebroadcast wfae.
He solved the longstanding mystery of the lost 1854 cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens, which has been described as a national treasure. Kevin duffus the story of cape fear and bald head island. Noted historian to discuss blackbeards last battle. Another tie in with the blackbeards wake miniseries on my blog, episode 28 of tikichris talks finds me in conversation with research historian, author and documentary filmmaker kevin duffus. James beard, who lived in the goose creek area around 1690, the same time the. Discover the true meaning of a mysterious letter found in black beards possessions and that many. Clear the decks for battle and hoist the jolly roger.
For more than 35 years, researcher, author and filmmaker, kevin duffus has followed the wake of the pirate captains journey through history. Kevin ross emery interviewed historical researcher and writer kevin p. Kevin duffus when the notorious blackbeard spotted 60 sailors dressed in civilian clothing on the decks of two sloops rowing towards his anchorage at ocracoke island on nov. Blackbeards link to goose creek, charleston area to be. Author kevin duffus explains how black beard was cornered and attacked at ocracoke in 1718, why he tried to escape rather than fight back, and how life might have been spared had he lived for three more weeks. Blackbeard pirate trial in nc mock court raleigh news. Kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate and 2015 nc historian of the year has this to say about the smugglers gambit. Author kevin duffus explains his research into blackbeard. Nc research historian, author and documentary filmmaker compared to indiana jones, dirk pitt and ben gates in his pursuit to solve.
A civil war mystery, shipwrecks of the outer banks and the last days of black beard the pirate. The romance and reality of life among the pirates angus konstams blackbeard is more than the story of one pirate, much more. Angus konstam successfully combines a vivid account of a famous pirate with a richly detailed survey of his turbulent and brutal world. Kevin has authored a number of popular titles including the last days of blackbeard, war zone. Alexander spotswood had blackbeard hunted down first, according to kevin duffus. We are pleased to welcome noted north carolina historian, filmmaker and author kevin duffus on friday, april 5. Kevin duffus author, the last days of black beard the pirate. Duffus will present a lecture about his latest book, into the burning sea. Fragments of book recovered from wreck of blackbeards.
Pirates and privateers the last days of black beard. A thorough, exciting examination of 18thcentury pirate life,with wonderful details. Historian and author kevin duffus believes he has found blackbeard s treasure, but its not the form of riches you might imagine and you wont find it in history books. An illustrated guide, the last days of black beard the pirate, and war zone. The author, kevin duffus, was doing a book signing and i was fortunate to meet him. Yes, kevin duffus, historianfilmmakerauthor, has proven to me and should to anyone willing to accept narrative written in the nonacademicpreferred sniff active voice that the 18 th century nautical rogue known by less rigorous historians unanimously as edward thatch or teach of bristol, england, was in fact the son of james beard, a. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every legend. The history of 17th and early 18th century pirates is filled with centuries of legend and sensationalism. Konstam paints a wide canvas of blackbeard and his life and times, of the whole sordid and frightening world of piracy. Historical and biographical information blackbeard in. Fragments of book recovered from wreck of blackbeards ship. Ww2 off the nc coast, the lost light and shipwrecks of the outer banks. Author kevin duffus explains his research into blackbeard the. His books and films have been widely praised for their groundbreaking research, historical accuracy and superior quality.
I have been a pirate history buff for several decades and am well versed on. A seminal work from an exceptional historical sleuth and author. Duffus is slated to discuss blackbeards legacy during a multimedia presentation blackbeards black. Along the way, duffus observed that many historical accounts describing the pirates last days were inaccurate, insufficiently researched, and, as it turned out, not nearly as interesting as the truth. A fascinating, easy to read, and thoroughly researched history of blackbeard the pirate. Duffus is the author of the last days of black beard the pirate 4. Hes solved the mystery of the lost cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens and shed new. He has published four books and produced four documentary films on various maritime history topics, including shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the devastating german uboat attacks off our coast in 1942. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every. The author says blackbeards surname wasnt teach, as long believed, but thatch.
At a mock trial in beaufort nc, historian kevin duffus asks whether blackbeard the pirate was guilty of piracy and whether virginia had a legal right to send hired forces to north carolina to kill. Blackbeard, also known as edward thatch or teach, is the most recognizable name in pirate history. Author kevin duffus on the real blackbeard rebroadcast. Another tie in with the blackbeards wake miniseries on my blog, episode 28 of tikichris talks finds me in conversation with research historian, author and documentary filmmaker kevin duffus kevin is perhaps best known as an expert on blackbeard and for his deeply researched attempts to separate fact from fiction as it pertains to the story of this legendary pirate. Lectures to focus on death penalty, blackbeard, overcoming. Since 1997, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four. The last days of black beard the pirate north carolina. An exceptional volume with much new research on caesar the slave and the other africans taken from the french slave ship that would go on to become queen annes revenge, blackbeard s illustrious flagship. Historical and biographical information blackbeard in the. Recommend books on pirate history colonies, ships, and pirates.
Little is known about his early life, but he may have been a sailor on privateer ships during queen annes war before settling on the bahamian island of new. He solved the longstanding mystery of the lost 1854 cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens. Lee has studied virtually every scrap of information available about the pirate and his contemporaries in an attempt to find the real blackbeard. Historian, author kevin duffus to discuss his book, into the. It was a failed coup detat, duffus said in a recent interview. Duffus published the last days of blackbeard the pirate, a detailed. Discussing fact and fiction with historian kevin duffus. Barnum proud, said kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate. I n 2008, after completing years of research, kevin duffus published the last days of black beard the pirate, a detailed examination of the famous seafaring rogues final six months in north carolina. Author kevin duffus, whose 20 book, the last days of black beard the pirate, overturns many traditional views of the pirate, agrees with pollocks assessment. Kevin duffus, a north carolina filmmaker, writer and historian, believes blackbeard was edward beard, the son of capt. Jan 11, 2018 teach might have had a penchant for travel and adventure books, said konstam.
The last days of black beard the pirate by kevin p. The result is a fascinating and authoritative study that reads like an exciting swashbuckler. Duffus is an awardwinning filmmaker, researcher, author, and investigative. With his newest lecture, author kevin duffus invites audiences to enter the dimlylit passageway of time and learn surprising contradictions to previouslypublished historical accounts of the last days of blackbeard the pirate. Kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate, contends that most of black beards captured crew members were not hanged in virginia and that several returned to their communities in eastern north carolina. I have been a pirate history buff for several decades and am well versed on the legend of blackbeard. Edward teach alternatively spelled edward thatch, c. Almost 300 years ago, blackbeard the pirate ran aground off the coast of north. Historian simon layton said many pirates in blackbeards time could read and often took books while plundering. He believes blackbeard was a frequent to his sisters homestead here and that the unusual ballast stone grave markers mark sailor and pirate remains. Researcher, author and documentary filmmaker, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four awardwinning documentary films on north carolina maritime history. Tickets are available at the circulation desk at the library, 400 johnson st. The virginianpilot reports blackbeard could have received a pardon from the king of england, but lt. Below are a selection of books from joyner librarys collections that contain historical and biographical information about blackbeard.
Kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate, explains the fruits of his research into the famous scoundrel. He joins us tuesday, june 6, at 7 pm with the story of cape fear and bald head island. Thats the theory of north carolina filmmaker, writer and historian kevin duffus. Historic baird creek originally settled approximately 1700 historian and author kevin duffus believes this graveyard is where susannah beard, sister of pirate blackbeard, is buried. Kevin is a noted research historian and author with several wellwritten books to his credit that have proven quite popular on the outer banks. Obx historian, author kevin duffus to sign copies of his. Duffus did a wonderful job of separating fact from fiction and hype from reality when it comes to blackbeard the pirate. Noted historian to discuss blackbeards last battle around. Why blackbeard deserves north carolinas pardon, again. Duffus says, because it was concocted by an overheated tourism brochure promoting ocracoke island. Kevin is perhaps best known as an expert on blackbeard and for his deeply researched attempts to separate fact from fiction as it pertains to the story. Colin woodard is the author of four books including the republic of pirates. Kevin duffus is a noted north carolina author, filmmaker, and research historian who has made numero. Duffus offered these comments during an interview for carolina.
Duffus started his career in the television industry with a goal of producing documentary films about. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Historian simon layton said many pirates in blackbeards. Kevin duffus ten years ago, on the morning of the 22nd of november 2007, i stood alone on the sandy beach of ocracoke islands springers point with my camera gear to take photos for my yettobepublished book, the last days of blackbeard the pirate. For nearly 300 years, historians and authors have published numerous books about blackbeard, and film and television producers have created dozens of movies and documentaries about blackbeard, and many businesses, attractions, restaurants, hotels, retailers, private museums, and other commercial enterprises benefit from the use of blackbeard. Was blackbeard, perhaps the most famous pirate in history, originally from goose creek. The smugglers gambit will transport you in time to a formative period in our nations history, when young colonial americans like adam fletcher bravely faced lifechanging choices, moral perplexities, and danger at every turn. Along the way, duffus observed that many historical. Historian and author kevin duffus believes he has found blackbeards treasure, but its not the form of riches you might imagine and you wont find it in history books. Duffus is an awardwinning filmmaker, researcher, author, and investigative journalist of historical events. Kevin duffus is an expert on anything to do with the north carolina coast.
Konstam paints a wide canvas of blackbeard and his life and times, of the. Sunday, the friends of the library will host author and historian kevin duffus at the new berncraven county public library. And the true facts about blackbeards last days promise to substantially change his story and history. Teach might have had a penchant for travel and adventure books, said konstam. With his acute research, duffus gets to the heart of both the man and the myth.
In fact, he was named 2014 north carolina historian of the year by the nc society of historians. Apr 20, 2007 a thorough, exciting examination of 18thcentury pirate life,with wonderful details. He has published three books and produced four documentary films on various maritime history topics, including shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the devastating german uboat attacks off our coast in 1942. Oct 19, 2012 kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate, explains the fruits of his research into the famous scoundrel. The author did painstaking research into blackbeards identity and journeys and located new and otherwise ignored information to produce a much more believable history of blackbeard than what is universally known. April 22, 2010 prlog as part of the authors series, dr. In fact, this book is a breath of fresh air for the pirate history buff. Within every legend lies a grain of truth fourth edition, by kevin duffus. Five things you didnt know about blackbeard author of the. He is also enveloped in many myths that historians still struggle to overcome to this day.