MODERN BOY'S BOOK OF PIRATES
Published in hardback (in a thick "annual" type format
measuring 11 inches x 8.5 inches) - September 1939
Credited as 'specially written by Flying Officer W. E. Johns' -
160 pages
Elements from this book were published in eight parts as “They Flew the Jolly Roger”
in the Second Series of “Modern
Boy”
They were in issue number 25 (dated 6th August 1938)
to issue number 32, (dated 24th September 1938) inclusive.
This is the original dust jacket. Very hard to find. This example is surprisingly
intact. The original price was 5 shillings.
This is a reproduction of the original dust jacket but the
colours are not as dark as the true original. It is interesting to compare the two.
The front boards show the same picture as the dust jacket.
The artist was Patrick Nicolle (1907 – 1995)
This book consists of 31 chapters, all illustrated with many black
and white line drawings and the occasional map. The book has three lovely full
page colour plates. The chapters are all from articles that Johns wrote for
"The Modern Boy" magazine, usually under the heading of
'They Flew the Jolly Roger'.
The contents of the book are, somewhat strangely, listed in
alphabetical order rather than numerically, but I have listed the chapters in
the order they appear in the book.
The First of the Pirates - Page 3
The Red-Bearded Brothers - Page 13
Outlaw of the Seven Seas - Page 23
Under the Black Flag! - Page 27
Blood and Gold - Page 33
Blackbeard - Page 37
Portuguese Bart - Page 40
Sea Dogs of Devon - Page 47
The Truth about Captain Kidd - Page 53
The Voyage of the Victoire - Page 57
Petticoat Pirates - Page 60
The Brethren of the Coast - Page 63
Cutlasses and Culverins - Page 68
Wolves of the Western Seas - Page 69
Eastward Ho! - Page 76
One Ship Sailed On - Page 83
The Prince who was a Pirate - Page 89
Morgan the Mighty - Page 93
The Reluctant Buccaneer - Page 101
Strange Company - Page 107
Flown from the Masthead - Page 112
Eight Paces East - Page 114
No Quarter - Page 123
Ordeal by Storm - Page 128
Marooned! - Page 133
Pirate Gold - Page 139
They Died Young - Page 140
The End of the Voyage - Page 147
The Trail of the Pirates - Page 151
The Ships they Sailed - Page 155
Corsairs of the China Coast - Page 157
CLICK
HERE TO SEE SOME OF THE INTERNAL ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THIS BOOK
Modern Boy's Book of Pirates
Subtitle - none (NB - There is no word "The" in front
of the title)
Publication Details - originally published by the Amalgamated
Press Limited