I've read a good amount of pirate lit, in my land locked days. Here's some suggestions.
Under the Black Flag: This is a pirate's primer for all things nautically nasty. It doesn't dive too deep into any one tale, but it paints a colorful and mostly accurate picture of pirating life over 350 years. It explains the truth in the mythological. For instance, pirates actually did where bright colors. They often had limbs missing and pegged legs due to the scrim shot used in scirmishes. And many pirates had monkeys or parrots for pets. It was common for pirates to trade and sell exotic animals they had plundered from islands whenever they would arrive at a central port. The book talks about black beard and pirate booty a bit, but it is really just an overview. Great for the inexperienced to cut his teeth on.
Off the Edge of the World: This is the story of Magellan's circumnavigation. Not a true pirate tale, but it is full of raging sea storms, wars with natives, mutiny, scurvy, and wild sex. The time period is right, it is a true sea farring adventure, and something worthy of an epic movie starring Liam Neisan or Russel Crowe.
Pirate Hunter: The story of Captain Kidd. The first "American" pirate! Kidd was sometimes a pirate, sometimes a businessman. This book does a great job of showing the gray area between good and evil in the realm of sea-farring. Juicy, gritty, and audiciously written, this is a "can't miss."
The Damage Control Master Formula: This isn't a book about pirates, it's a multivitamin. But, so what?! Who's to tell me I can't peddle my wares no and then. If you want to
buy vitamin, then go on ahead!
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