April 22, 2010 prlog as part of the authors series, dr. Ww2 off the nc coast, the lost light and shipwrecks of the outer banks. Historian simon layton said many pirates in blackbeards time could read and often took books while plundering. Duffus started his career in the television industry with a goal of producing documentary films about. Duffus published the last days of blackbeard the pirate, a detailed. Konstam paints a wide canvas of blackbeard and his life and times, of the whole sordid and frightening world of piracy. Konstam paints a wide canvas of blackbeard and his life and times, of the. 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.
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. Why blackbeard deserves north carolinas pardon, again. Historical and biographical information blackbeard in the. With his acute research, duffus gets to the heart of both the man and the myth. Alexander spotswood had blackbeard hunted down first, according to kevin duffus. Nc research historian, author and documentary filmmaker compared to indiana jones, dirk pitt and ben gates in his pursuit to solve. Was blackbeard, perhaps the most famous pirate in history, originally from goose creek. 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 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. Noted historian to discuss blackbeards last battle.
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 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. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every. Obx historian, author kevin duffus to sign copies of his. Blackbeard pirate trial in nc mock court raleigh news. Noted historian to discuss blackbeards last battle around. Kevin is a noted research historian and author with several wellwritten books to his credit that have proven quite popular on the outer banks.
Duffus is the author of the last days of black beard the pirate 4. Fragments of book recovered from wreck of blackbeards. Reach back past 1950 and the story stops cold, north carolina author kevin p. A fascinating, easy to read, and thoroughly researched history of blackbeard the pirate.
James beard, who lived in the goose creek area around 1690, the same time the. 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. 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. 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. The pirate kept 60 of the slaves on board and left the rest of the 400man company marooned with their french captain. Author kevin duffus explains his research into blackbeard. The author, kevin duffus, was doing a book signing and i was fortunate to meet him. 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. Researcher, author and documentary filmmaker, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four awardwinning documentary films on north carolina maritime history. 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.
Kevin has also produced several documentaries and discovered the. Barnum proud, said kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate. 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. Author kevin duffus on the real blackbeard rebroadcast wfae. Since 1997, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four. Almost 300 years ago, blackbeard the pirate ran aground off the coast of north. Within every legend lies a grain of truth by kevin p. 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. The controversial book presents stunning contradictions to traditional historical accounts about black beards also known as blackbeard. Kevin duffus is an expert on anything to do with the north carolina coast. Jun 06, 2017 kevin duffus is an expert on anything to do with the north carolina coast. He solved the longstanding mystery of the lost 1854 cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens. Recommend books on pirate history colonies, ships, and pirates.
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. Jan 11, 2018 teach might have had a penchant for travel and adventure books, said konstam. The history of 17th and early 18th century pirates is filled with centuries of legend and sensationalism. First annual blackbeard s pirate jamboree held the last weekend of october each year on ocracoke island n. Duffus is an awardwinning filmmaker, researcher, author, and investigative journalist of historical events. In fact, he was named 2014 north carolina historian of the year by the nc society of historians.
We are pleased to welcome noted north carolina historian, filmmaker and author kevin duffus on friday, april 5. Duffus will present a lecture about his latest book, into the burning sea. Along the way, duffus observed that many historical. 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. Historical and biographical information blackbeard in.
He is also enveloped in many myths that historians still struggle to overcome to this day. 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. Feb 22, 2015 caesars legend has become a carnival sideshow, and the hucksters of this historical bilgewater would make p. I have been a pirate history buff for several decades and am well versed on the legend of blackbeard. Aug 16, 2018 the virginianpilot reports blackbeard could have received a pardon from the king of england, but lt. He solved the longstanding mystery of the lost 1854 cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens, which has been described as a national treasure. In fact, this book is a breath of fresh air for the pirate history buff. Kevin has authored a number of popular titles including the last days of blackbeard, war zone. 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. S ince 1997, kevin duffus has published four books and produced four awardwinning documentary films all on outer banks history. 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.
The author says blackbeards surname wasnt teach, as long believed, but thatch. Tickets are available at the circulation desk at the library, 400 johnson st. A civil war mystery, shipwrecks of the outer banks and the last days of black beard the pirate. 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.
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. For more than 35 years, researcher, author and filmmaker, kevin duffus has followed the wake of the pirate captains journey through history. Researcher, author and documentary filmmaker, kevin duffus has published four. Apr 20, 2007 a thorough, exciting examination of 18thcentury pirate life,with wonderful details. Edward teach alternatively spelled edward thatch, c. Author kevin duffus explains how black beard was cornered and attacked at. He believes blackbeard was a frequent to his sisters homestead here and that the unusual ballast stone grave markers mark sailor and pirate remains. Blackbeards link to goose creek, charleston area to be. Duffus is an awardwinning filmmaker, researcher, author, and investigative. Duffus delivered a banner lecture entitled whats wrong with black beard. Discussing fact and fiction with historian kevin duffus. Sunday, the friends of the library will host author and historian kevin duffus at the new berncraven county public library. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every legend.
And the true facts about blackbeards last days promise to substantially change his story and history. Nov 14, 2018 november 14, 2018 community news brief by. 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. Duffus did a wonderful job of separating fact from fiction and hype from reality when it comes to blackbeard the pirate. The virginianpilot reports blackbeard could have received a pardon from the king of england, but lt. Pirates and privateers the last days of black beard. Kevin duffus is a noted north carolina author, filmmaker, and research historian who has made numero. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A thorough, exciting examination of 18thcentury pirate life,with wonderful details. Kevin duffus author, the last days of black beard the pirate. Historian, author kevin duffus to discuss his book, into.
Historian simon layton said many pirates in blackbeards. Colin woodard is the author of four books including the republic of pirates. I have been a pirate history buff for several decades and am well versed on. The last days of black beard the pirate north carolina. Thats the theory of north carolina filmmaker, writer and historian kevin duffus. The last days of black beard the pirate by kevin p. Hes solved the mystery of the lost cape hatteras lighthouse fresnel lens and shed new.
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. 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. Kevin duffus, author of the last days of black beard the pirate, explains the fruits of his research into the famous scoundrel. Clear the decks for battle and hoist the jolly roger. 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.
Author kevin duffus on the real blackbeard rebroadcast. Within every legend lies a grain of truth fourth edition, by kevin duffus. 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. Fragments of book recovered from wreck of blackbeards ship. Angus konstam successfully combines a vivid account of a famous pirate with a richly detailed survey of his turbulent and brutal world. Lectures to focus on death penalty, blackbeard, overcoming. Duffus is slated to discuss blackbeards legacy during a multimedia presentation blackbeards black. Blackbeards most valuable treasure was not gold or jewels. Blackbeard, also known as edward thatch or teach, is the most recognizable name in pirate history. Below are a selection of books from joyner librarys collections that contain historical and biographical information about blackbeard. Lee has studied virtually every scrap of information available about the pirate and his contemporaries in an attempt to find the real blackbeard. 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. Caesars legend has become a carnival sideshow, and the hucksters of this historical bilgewater would make p.
Kevin duffus, a north carolina filmmaker, writer and historian, believes blackbeard was edward beard, the son of capt. It was a failed coup detat, duffus said in a recent interview. On saturday, april 6, historian, filmmaker and author kevin p. Noted author, historian and filmmaker kevin duffus will discuss blackbeard. A seminal work from an exceptional historical sleuth and author. The last days of black beard the piratewithin every legend lies a grain of truth kindle edition by duffus, kevin.
He will reveal his latest research on one of the states most infamous pirates with whats wrong with blackbeard. Five things you didnt know about blackbeard author of the. Duffus says, because it was concocted by an overheated tourism brochure promoting ocracoke island. Kevin duffus the story of cape fear and bald head island. First annual blackbeards pirate jamboree held the last weekend of october each year on ocracoke island n. Author kevin duffus explains his research into blackbeard the. Duffus, a researcher and filmmaker, is the author of several books, including shipwrecks of the outer banks. Duffus, historical researcher and author of the lost light. 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.
Kevin ross emery interviewed historical researcher and writer kevin p. Discover the true meaning of a mysterious letter found in black beards possessions and that many. 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. The result is a fascinating and authoritative study that reads like an exciting swashbuckler.
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