Essential Information
| Type | Talks and tours |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Thursday 19 June 2025 l 6.30pm-7.30pm |
| Prices | Free | Members only |
| Member exclusive. Not a member? Join now |
Between August and October 1720, two female pirates named Anne Bonny and Mary Read terrorised the Caribbean in and around Jamaica. Despite their short career, they became two of the most notorious pirates during the height of the eighteenth-century 'golden age' of piracy.
In a world dominated by men, they became infamous for their bravery, cruelty, and unwavering determination to escape the social constraints placed on women during that time. Despite their infamy, mystery shrouds their lives before they became pirates.
Their biographies were recorded in Captain Charles Johnson’s 1724 book, A General History of the Pyrates, depicting them as illegitimate women raised by men who, against insurmountable odds, crossed paths in Nassau and became pirates together.
But how much is fact versus fiction?
Dr Rebecca Simon's full-length biography is the first to focus solely on Anne Bonny and Mary Read that explores their intriguing backgrounds while examining the social context of women in their lifetime and their legacy in popular culture that exists to the present day.
Using A General History of the Pyrates, early modern legal documents relating to women, their recorded public trial in The Tryal of Jack Rackham and Other Pyrates, newspapers and new, uncovered research, this book unravels the mysteries and legends surrounding their lives.
About the speaker
Dr Rebecca Simon was born in Los Angeles, California. She is an expert on the history of piracy and received a Ph.D. on the subject at King's College London in 2017. With a passion for public history, she has appeared on several podcasts, documentaries, and has written articles for both academic and popular audiences. A prolific traveller, Rebecca considers herself a citizen of the world.
Rebecca currently lives in Los Angeles. She teaches history at Santa Monica College and is either planning her next international adventure or reading about all things pirates.
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