"The Speedwell
Voyage - A Tale of Piracy and Mutiny in the 18th Century" by Kenneth
Poolman 
This book
is based on the real life adventures of George Shelvocke, commander
of the 22 gun privateer Speedwell. The narrative describes the
fateful voyage of the Speedwell, which departed England in 1718
to raid Spanish shipping in the south seas. Never did a more scurvy
lot set sail. The crew was comprised of greedy, mutinous, low life from the captain on down. Read of the pirates, shipwrecks,
storms, crew mutinies, hunger, thirst, and battles against Spanish
ships. Shelvocke had a difficult time maintaining control his
crew, and several times lost all control. This book reads like
a good novel and what is amazing is that everything told all happened.
One can learn a lot about the ships and men of the day.
Reviewed by Ken Smith, 26 April, 1999
Available from:
Naval Institute Press
Annapolis Maryland
