The Pirate Gow

The Pirate Gow
by Daniel Defoe

Click image to enlarge The remarkable riches of the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich have inspired this exciting series of new editions. Republished in beautiful format, these long-neglected stories, of unusual seafaring lives and experiences are highly collectable.

John Gow was a notorious pirate whose short career inspired many writers of the day, among them Sir Walter Scott and Daniel Defoe.

Growing up in Stromness, Orkney, an important international port of the time, the lure of the sea was inescapable for ma ny young men and Gow was no exception. Legend has it that he ran away to sea at an early age, but little is actually known about his life before the fateful trip from Amsterdam on board the Caroline. Dissatisfied with life as a humble sailor, the ambitious Gow led a mutiny, propelling him to the rank of Captain.

After his exploits in France, Spain and Portugal, Gow retreated back to Orkney where he tried to resume a sedate life as a trader. But it was just a matter of time before temptation got the better of him and the authorities were to track him down...

Daniel Defoe (c.1660–1731), affectionately known as the father of the English novel, was a prolific writer, but he only started writing later on in life. From humble beginnings as a son of a butcher, Defoe became a successful hosiery merchant. He had strong political views, and as well as becoming a spy for William III he single-handedly produced a pro-government newspaper, The Review. Undoubtedly his most famous novel, Robinson Crusoe, is famous around the world and secured his place in the history books. Nigel Rigby 

This beautiful edition of The Pirate Gow is introduced by Nigel Rigby, Head of Research at the National Maritime Museum.

‘Introduced by Rigby, and with interesting notes in the back that draw together legends and the whereabouts of Gow artefacts, makes this gripping reading for anyone interested in Orkney history or pirates.’
The Orcadian

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS
Introduction by Nigel Rigby
Further Reading
The Pirate Gow
Notes by Nigel Rigby
Gow's Captor
Gow's 'Romances'
Relics of John Gow
Sir Walter Scott's The Pirate