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Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Nonfiction (2015)A thrilling new adventure of danger and deep-sea diving, historic mystery and suspense, by the author of the New York Times bestseller Shadow Divers
Finding and identifying a pirate ship is the hardest thing to do under the sea. But two men—John Chatterton and John Mattera—are willing to risk everything to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. At large during the Golden Age of Piracy in the seventeenth century, Bannister’s exploits would have been more notorious than Blackbeard’s, more daring than Kidd’s, but his story, and his ship, have been lost to time. If Chatterton and Mattera succeed, they will make history—it will be just the second time ever that a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified. Soon, however, they realize that cutting-edge technology and a willingness to lose everything aren’t enough to track down Bannister’s ship. They must travel the globe in search of historic documents and accounts of the great pirate’s exploits, face down dangerous rivals, battle the tides of nations and governments and experts. But it’s only when they learn to think and act like pirates—like Bannister—that they become able to go where no pirate hunters have gone before.
Fast-paced and filled with suspense, fascinating characters, history, and adventure, Pirate Hunters is an unputdownable story that goes deep to discover truths and souls long believed lost.
Advance praise for Pirate Hunters
“A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds . . . and: It’s all true.”—Lee Child
“Action and adventure on land and sea—you can’t ask for more. But Robert Kurson raises the ante in Pirate Hunters with an array of mystery and a fleet of colorful characters spanning four centuries. This is a great summer read!”—Michael Connelly
“Pirate Hunters is a fantastic book, an utterly engrossing and satisfying read. It tells the story of the hunt for the rare wreck of a pirate ship, which had been captained by one of the most remarkable pirates in history. This is a real-life Treasure Island, complete with swashbuckling, half-crazy treasure hunters and vivid Caribbean settings—a story for the ages.”—Douglas Preston
“A terrific read. I was pulled in from page one. Kurson brings us face to face with some of the most swashbuckling pirates ever to sail the Caribbean, even as he takes us underwater on a high-tech quest to discover the relics they left behind.”—Daniel James Brown
“There’s nothing in the world like buried treasure—and people hungry and obsessed enough to risk their lives for it. Pirate Hunters isn’t just a good story—it’s a true one. Searching for the souls of its explorers, it takes you to the far tip of the plank and plunges you deep to the bottom of the ocean.”—Brad Meltzer
“Pirate Hunters is a gripping account of two courageous divers’ quest to uncover the shipwrecked vessel of Joseph Bannister, one of history’s most infamous pirates. Robert Kurson will keep you on the edge of your seat in this high-stakes journey around the globe that ultimately teaches these explorers about much more than an old ship.”—Sen. John McCain
“Kurson’s own enthusiasm, combined with his copious research and an eye for detail, makes for one of the most mind-blowing pirate stories of recent memory.”—Publishers Weekly
Finding and identifying a pirate ship is the hardest thing to do under the sea. But two men—John Chatterton and John Mattera—are willing to risk everything to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. At large during the Golden Age of Piracy in the seventeenth century, Bannister’s exploits would have been more notorious than Blackbeard’s, more daring than Kidd’s, but his story, and his ship, have been lost to time. If Chatterton and Mattera succeed, they will make history—it will be just the second time ever that a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified. Soon, however, they realize that cutting-edge technology and a willingness to lose everything aren’t enough to track down Bannister’s ship. They must travel the globe in search of historic documents and accounts of the great pirate’s exploits, face down dangerous rivals, battle the tides of nations and governments and experts. But it’s only when they learn to think and act like pirates—like Bannister—that they become able to go where no pirate hunters have gone before.
Fast-paced and filled with suspense, fascinating characters, history, and adventure, Pirate Hunters is an unputdownable story that goes deep to discover truths and souls long believed lost.
Advance praise for Pirate Hunters
“A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds . . . and: It’s all true.”—Lee Child
“Action and adventure on land and sea—you can’t ask for more. But Robert Kurson raises the ante in Pirate Hunters with an array of mystery and a fleet of colorful characters spanning four centuries. This is a great summer read!”—Michael Connelly
“Pirate Hunters is a fantastic book, an utterly engrossing and satisfying read. It tells the story of the hunt for the rare wreck of a pirate ship, which had been captained by one of the most remarkable pirates in history. This is a real-life Treasure Island, complete with swashbuckling, half-crazy treasure hunters and vivid Caribbean settings—a story for the ages.”—Douglas Preston
“A terrific read. I was pulled in from page one. Kurson brings us face to face with some of the most swashbuckling pirates ever to sail the Caribbean, even as he takes us underwater on a high-tech quest to discover the relics they left behind.”—Daniel James Brown
“There’s nothing in the world like buried treasure—and people hungry and obsessed enough to risk their lives for it. Pirate Hunters isn’t just a good story—it’s a true one. Searching for the souls of its explorers, it takes you to the far tip of the plank and plunges you deep to the bottom of the ocean.”—Brad Meltzer
“Pirate Hunters is a gripping account of two courageous divers’ quest to uncover the shipwrecked vessel of Joseph Bannister, one of history’s most infamous pirates. Robert Kurson will keep you on the edge of your seat in this high-stakes journey around the globe that ultimately teaches these explorers about much more than an old ship.”—Sen. John McCain
“Kurson’s own enthusiasm, combined with his copious research and an eye for detail, makes for one of the most mind-blowing pirate stories of recent memory.”—Publishers Weekly
275 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2015
638 people are currently reading
14128 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kurson
16 books828 followersRobert Kurson is an American author, best known for his bestselling book, "Shadow Divers," the true story of two Americans who discover a sunken World War II German U-boat and for "Crashing Through," the story of an entrepreneur who regains his eyesight after a lifetime of blindness.
Kurson began his career as an attorney, graduating from Harvard Law School and practicing real estate law. His professional writing career began at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he started as a sports agate clerk and soon gained a full-time features writing job. In 2000, Esquire published “My Favorite Teacher,” his first magazine story, which became a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He moved from the Sun-Times to Chicago magazine, then to Esquire, where he won a National Magazine Award and was a contributing editor for years. His stories have appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and other publications. He lives in Chicago.
Kurson began his career as an attorney, graduating from Harvard Law School and practicing real estate law. His professional writing career began at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he started as a sports agate clerk and soon gained a full-time features writing job. In 2000, Esquire published “My Favorite Teacher,” his first magazine story, which became a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He moved from the Sun-Times to Chicago magazine, then to Esquire, where he won a National Magazine Award and was a contributing editor for years. His stories have appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and other publications. He lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,447 reviews
June 26, 2021
I know that John Chatterton is a world renown diver. I have seen him dive a couple of times on the fantastic show The Curse Of Oak Island.
Pirates have always fascinated me. The secrecy. The brotherhood. A masonic connection? Sir Francis Drake was basically a pirate working for the Crown.
I watched the whole series of Black Sails and remember a poignant thing Captain Flint the Pirate says when spotting a British Ship on the horizon from the bay of Nassau.
"I fear the worst, civilization is coming!". Or words to that effect. Like it is a bad thing. This good ship citizenship.
Here is a short verse I jotted down:
Who were the Pirates of the high sea?
Were they all blood brothers? A secret family?
Savage but learned, masters of the water
Boarding ships, taking the crew, and the Captain no quarter
Made to walk the plank, as entertainment, to drown
Are Pirates sworn to Oath? A Band of Thieves? Against the Crown
Were they in the know? How civilization plays out
How we are all on the Citizenship, no doubt
Did they break away? Because they could see the Lies
That all is Piracy, commerce, society, Justice, all that applies
It's all the same, just two sides of the same coin, it is said
A Pirate, a Knight's Templar, a Freemason, a Lord, a King, all answer to the head
The Head with the One Eye that See's all Things
5G, NSA, Google Barges, Smart Meters, like Sauron, in The Lord Of The Rings👍🐯👍🐯
If one is awake, use their Real Eyes
Will one see reality? Realize?
Or will one ever see... All Is Real Lies!
Will one look at the bigger picture? Live
Or see a haze? A Veil? Is it Vile? Is it Evil? Does it Give?
A false reality? A Matrix? An illusory Vision?
Compartmentalized, A fractal? A Schism?
Simply think outside the box, look at the Whole
Ignore the Cube, the Dark Sun, the Black Hole
The Obsidian Mirror, the Dark Screen, what does it hide?
That we are simply commerce, drowning in perpetual debt, a Maritime Law Tide👍🐯
#leo'sesotericprose
Pirates have always fascinated me. The secrecy. The brotherhood. A masonic connection? Sir Francis Drake was basically a pirate working for the Crown.
I watched the whole series of Black Sails and remember a poignant thing Captain Flint the Pirate says when spotting a British Ship on the horizon from the bay of Nassau.
"I fear the worst, civilization is coming!". Or words to that effect. Like it is a bad thing. This good ship citizenship.
Here is a short verse I jotted down:
Who were the Pirates of the high sea?
Were they all blood brothers? A secret family?
Savage but learned, masters of the water
Boarding ships, taking the crew, and the Captain no quarter
Made to walk the plank, as entertainment, to drown
Are Pirates sworn to Oath? A Band of Thieves? Against the Crown
Were they in the know? How civilization plays out
How we are all on the Citizenship, no doubt
Did they break away? Because they could see the Lies
That all is Piracy, commerce, society, Justice, all that applies
It's all the same, just two sides of the same coin, it is said
A Pirate, a Knight's Templar, a Freemason, a Lord, a King, all answer to the head
The Head with the One Eye that See's all Things
5G, NSA, Google Barges, Smart Meters, like Sauron, in The Lord Of The Rings👍🐯👍🐯
If one is awake, use their Real Eyes
Will one see reality? Realize?
Or will one ever see... All Is Real Lies!
Will one look at the bigger picture? Live
Or see a haze? A Veil? Is it Vile? Is it Evil? Does it Give?
A false reality? A Matrix? An illusory Vision?
Compartmentalized, A fractal? A Schism?
Simply think outside the box, look at the Whole
Ignore the Cube, the Dark Sun, the Black Hole
The Obsidian Mirror, the Dark Screen, what does it hide?
That we are simply commerce, drowning in perpetual debt, a Maritime Law Tide👍🐯
#leo'sesotericprose
September 3, 2015
This book spent a lot of time treading water.
Pirate Hunters is the story of three men trying to find the wreck of a 17th century pirate ship in the Dominican Republic. Joseph Bannister was an Englishman who turned to piracy, and the Royal Navy was sent to capture him. Bannister's ship, the Golden Fleece, sank in 1686 after a ferocious battle. It wasn't seen again until 2009, when our pirate hunters found it after months of searching.
This book was described as an adventure story, which is why I was keen to read it. However, there were too many pages on the background of the three pirate hunters: John Chatterton, John Mattera, and Tracy Bowden. There were lengthy profiles on each man, but I didn't think their personal stories needed such glossy attention. There was also too much time spent on the bickering between the men, and on all the false starts and stops of their hunt. The men would search in the water, then get frustrated and go to a library or archives to do research, and then argue with each other, and then go back out to the water. This process repeated itself many times, and my interest in the story declined with each loop. It felt like the author was trying to pad out what should have been a magazine article.
In the beginning, I thought this book would be a 4-star read -- there were some good sections on Bannister and the history of piracy -- but the excessive padding made me drop a star. I think someone who likes pirate stories or tales of treasure hunting would still enjoy this book, but the writing could have been tighter.
Favorite Quote
"Treasure shows who you really are. It strips away every facade you've constructed, every story you believe about yourself, and reveals the real you. If you are a miserable, lying, greedy, worthless fuck, treasure will tell you that. If you are a good and decent person, treasure will tell you that, too. And you needn't find a single coin to know. It's enough to get close to treasure, to believe it within reach, and you'll have your answer, but once it happens it can't be lied about and it can't be bullshitted away. For that reason, treasure is crisis, because what you get in the end is yourself."
Pirate Hunters is the story of three men trying to find the wreck of a 17th century pirate ship in the Dominican Republic. Joseph Bannister was an Englishman who turned to piracy, and the Royal Navy was sent to capture him. Bannister's ship, the Golden Fleece, sank in 1686 after a ferocious battle. It wasn't seen again until 2009, when our pirate hunters found it after months of searching.
This book was described as an adventure story, which is why I was keen to read it. However, there were too many pages on the background of the three pirate hunters: John Chatterton, John Mattera, and Tracy Bowden. There were lengthy profiles on each man, but I didn't think their personal stories needed such glossy attention. There was also too much time spent on the bickering between the men, and on all the false starts and stops of their hunt. The men would search in the water, then get frustrated and go to a library or archives to do research, and then argue with each other, and then go back out to the water. This process repeated itself many times, and my interest in the story declined with each loop. It felt like the author was trying to pad out what should have been a magazine article.
In the beginning, I thought this book would be a 4-star read -- there were some good sections on Bannister and the history of piracy -- but the excessive padding made me drop a star. I think someone who likes pirate stories or tales of treasure hunting would still enjoy this book, but the writing could have been tighter.
Favorite Quote
"Treasure shows who you really are. It strips away every facade you've constructed, every story you believe about yourself, and reveals the real you. If you are a miserable, lying, greedy, worthless fuck, treasure will tell you that. If you are a good and decent person, treasure will tell you that, too. And you needn't find a single coin to know. It's enough to get close to treasure, to believe it within reach, and you'll have your answer, but once it happens it can't be lied about and it can't be bullshitted away. For that reason, treasure is crisis, because what you get in the end is yourself."
August 21, 2022
What's termed The Golden Age of pirating encompassed the years between roughly 1650 and 1720, when shipping sugar, silver and gold from the New World was at a height. Still, considering that period of history there may have been no more than 1000 pirates ships in total making them quite rare in comparison to other ships, yet pirates and their history have become the stuff of legends. They sailed with abandon from the north coast of America to the Caribbean. How many lay at the bottom of the Atlantic, and within reach? It's impossible to say, but only a few have ever been found and of them just one has been legitimately confirmed as an authentic pirating ship by name (the Whydah found in 1984 off the coast of Cape Cod).
If the few ships that may, or may not, lie under the sea are so elusive in being found, with no guarantee of holding riches, then why seek them? For two men like Chatterton and Materra who led the search, the prize is not the treasure. They welcome it surely, but their lives to this point have been about discovery. ”Treasure shows who you really are...reveals the real you.” Chatterton became somewhat famous in 1997 after finding and finally identifying (a process of 6 years) a German U-boat sunken off the coast of New Jersey. Materra grew up on the fringes of the New York mob, but stayed out of it, mostly. He became a cop, built a security business, and moved on. They came from different backgrounds, different childhoods and different experiences, but both eventually led to the sea. Search, Dive, Discover history. That is the prize.
Joseph Bannister was a well respected, intelligent English merchant sea captain making the London-Jamaica trade route for years before suddenly running away with his ship, the Golden Fleece, in 1684. History says a battle ensued when two Royal Navy warships finally found Bannister “careening”in Dominican Republic's Samaná Bay. Completely outgunned, Bannister and his crew somehow won the battle. The Golden Fleece was sunk, lost to the sea and to legend.
You'd be amazed at the amount of time, money and personal effort is put into a search such as this, not to mention emotion. No part of it can be considered easy. Modern day technology has advanced the possibilities, but so much still gets in the way, and if the find is not where you believe it to be, then it's square one. There is a reason I picked up this book, and that is the author. Kurson previously wrote the book Shadow Divers in 2004 detailing the story of the sunken U-boat I'd mentioned above, and I loved it, even more than this one. If you haven't tried Kurson, then do. I recommend both books.
If the few ships that may, or may not, lie under the sea are so elusive in being found, with no guarantee of holding riches, then why seek them? For two men like Chatterton and Materra who led the search, the prize is not the treasure. They welcome it surely, but their lives to this point have been about discovery. ”Treasure shows who you really are...reveals the real you.” Chatterton became somewhat famous in 1997 after finding and finally identifying (a process of 6 years) a German U-boat sunken off the coast of New Jersey. Materra grew up on the fringes of the New York mob, but stayed out of it, mostly. He became a cop, built a security business, and moved on. They came from different backgrounds, different childhoods and different experiences, but both eventually led to the sea. Search, Dive, Discover history. That is the prize.
Joseph Bannister was a well respected, intelligent English merchant sea captain making the London-Jamaica trade route for years before suddenly running away with his ship, the Golden Fleece, in 1684. History says a battle ensued when two Royal Navy warships finally found Bannister “careening”in Dominican Republic's Samaná Bay. Completely outgunned, Bannister and his crew somehow won the battle. The Golden Fleece was sunk, lost to the sea and to legend.
You'd be amazed at the amount of time, money and personal effort is put into a search such as this, not to mention emotion. No part of it can be considered easy. Modern day technology has advanced the possibilities, but so much still gets in the way, and if the find is not where you believe it to be, then it's square one. There is a reason I picked up this book, and that is the author. Kurson previously wrote the book Shadow Divers in 2004 detailing the story of the sunken U-boat I'd mentioned above, and I loved it, even more than this one. If you haven't tried Kurson, then do. I recommend both books.
April 26, 2016
I stumbled on this book while I was trying to find a book on the Amber Room (The Amber Room is a world-famous chamber decorated in amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors, located in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg Originally constructed in the 18th century in Prussia, the Amber Room disappeared during World War II and was recreated in 2003. Before the room was lost, it was considered an "Eighth Wonder of the World"),
I didn't have any expectations before reading Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Shipbut a goodread's friend Diane S had given it a 4 star rating so thought it was worth downloading on audio and giving it a try.
The book revolves around John Chatterton and John Mattera treasure hunters seeking the whereabouts of the Golden Fleece a pirate ship which was captained and stolen by Joseph Bannister back in the day of piracy. Not only do we learn a lot about the lives of pirates but we also we learn a lot about the lives of these two men and I found the background information quite fascinating. I loved the history of the pirate Joseph Bannister and his life as a Captain. I was amazed on numerous occasions throughout this book at the costs, time and technology involved in locating pirate ships.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was excellent but I can't help wondering if I have missed out on a paperback edition as I assume there would be photos and maps which would really enhance the reading experience. Having said that I had a 5 hour trip at the weekend and this book was such good company. Not my usual read but so glad I stumbled across it as I was pleasantly surprised and educated by the books conclusion. Now back to my search for a book on the Amber Room and you never know what I will stumble on next...........
I didn't have any expectations before reading Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Shipbut a goodread's friend Diane S had given it a 4 star rating so thought it was worth downloading on audio and giving it a try.
The book revolves around John Chatterton and John Mattera treasure hunters seeking the whereabouts of the Golden Fleece a pirate ship which was captained and stolen by Joseph Bannister back in the day of piracy. Not only do we learn a lot about the lives of pirates but we also we learn a lot about the lives of these two men and I found the background information quite fascinating. I loved the history of the pirate Joseph Bannister and his life as a Captain. I was amazed on numerous occasions throughout this book at the costs, time and technology involved in locating pirate ships.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was excellent but I can't help wondering if I have missed out on a paperback edition as I assume there would be photos and maps which would really enhance the reading experience. Having said that I had a 5 hour trip at the weekend and this book was such good company. Not my usual read but so glad I stumbled across it as I was pleasantly surprised and educated by the books conclusion. Now back to my search for a book on the Amber Room and you never know what I will stumble on next...........
June 15, 2016
I'm DNF'ing this at 60%. It's just too much back story on the men looking for the ship and not enough about The Golden Compass. I wanted treasure and they only touched on that in the beginning. Also this isn't good on audio because this book needs pictures. The narrator Ray Porter is good. Don't take my word for it. Lots of people loved this book.
July 6, 2015
I fell in love with Kurson's Shadow Divers, so when this came up I just has to grab it. These divers are amazing men, the amount of time and money this takes is astronomical and this plays havoc on lives and relationships.
In this book they are looking for a pirate's ship, the Golden Fleece of John Bannister. Bannister is the only pirate that actually beat the Royal Navy. There is so much more to, this book, a history of piracy, the leasing pirates of the time and how they fought and the treasures they stole. Some of the descriptions of what they did to captains and crews of the ships that fought back were quite graphic but relatively short. An incredible time for piracy. One thing I found most interesting is that there was a true democracy on these pirate ships, way before democracy was even a thought elsewhere.
There was quite a bit of bouncing back and forth, but it was all interesting to me, so it was okay and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. Interesting reading about this because I never had to great an interest in pirates, these men and Kurston seem to make everything and anything interesting.
ARC from librarything.
In this book they are looking for a pirate's ship, the Golden Fleece of John Bannister. Bannister is the only pirate that actually beat the Royal Navy. There is so much more to, this book, a history of piracy, the leasing pirates of the time and how they fought and the treasures they stole. Some of the descriptions of what they did to captains and crews of the ships that fought back were quite graphic but relatively short. An incredible time for piracy. One thing I found most interesting is that there was a true democracy on these pirate ships, way before democracy was even a thought elsewhere.
There was quite a bit of bouncing back and forth, but it was all interesting to me, so it was okay and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. Interesting reading about this because I never had to great an interest in pirates, these men and Kurston seem to make everything and anything interesting.
ARC from librarything.
May 20, 2015
My sincere thanks to Random House and Netgalley for allowing access to the e-galley of Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship to be published June 16, 2015.
Demonstrating the same meticulous research, detail and respect as he did in Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson has once again written a winner that is bound to resonate with readers. In Pirate Hunters, Kurson follows the adventuresome quest divers, the two John’s, Chatterton and Mattera as they search for the lost ship, The Golden Fleece, once captained by buccaneer Joseph Bannister. Pirate Hunters is truly a swashbuckling read and treasure found.
Kurson’s Shadow Divers is an all time favorite of mine. Pirate Hunters promised some of the same elements that drew me to that story. It fills my need for edge of the seat adventure, vicarious experiences and the thrill of the hunt. Who wouldn’t be fascinated with the idea of As Kurson needed to decide the approach of how to tell this story, I needed to decide how much to tell you without revealing too much.
There is a great deal to digest in Pirate Hunters. Initially Chatterton and Mattera had planned and search for a treasure ship, The San Bartolomé, which had sunk in the 17th century on the Dominican south coast. This galleon could be worth millions, they knew where it was, and its discovery promised to get them in the history books.
”And then their phone rang.”
They received a call from Tracy Bowden, a well-respected treasure hunter. He asked them to come to Miami to hear a project he’d like them to take on. Though both men were focused on their quest for the San Bartolomé, they decided it wouldn’t take much time out of their schedule to hear Bowden out. Bowden’s home was a treasure trove of artifacts from wrecks he had found. On a visit to the latrine, Mattera discovered the tub filled with plastic bags containing silver pieces of eight. This combined with Bowden’s prowess in storytelling caught their attention. Bowden asked
Have you heard of Joseph Bannister?”
With these six words the quest for The Golden Fleece begins. Sit back and be prepared to learn about the Golden Age of Piracy. Knowing little about this subject I came away with a better understanding of the men who became these looters of the sea than is presented in the movies.
I am extremely impressed with the sheer patience, determination, personal sacrifice, capital and even stubbornness it takes for men like Chatterton, Mattera and their crew to take on a project like this and not give up. Kurson covers a great deal of ground here providing a clear picture of the formative years of the main players, stories of treasure ships and their booty, background on The Royal Navy, the code of conduct for pirates, and many resources for further reading. Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship is riveting.
Demonstrating the same meticulous research, detail and respect as he did in Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson has once again written a winner that is bound to resonate with readers. In Pirate Hunters, Kurson follows the adventuresome quest divers, the two John’s, Chatterton and Mattera as they search for the lost ship, The Golden Fleece, once captained by buccaneer Joseph Bannister. Pirate Hunters is truly a swashbuckling read and treasure found.
Kurson’s Shadow Divers is an all time favorite of mine. Pirate Hunters promised some of the same elements that drew me to that story. It fills my need for edge of the seat adventure, vicarious experiences and the thrill of the hunt. Who wouldn’t be fascinated with the idea of As Kurson needed to decide the approach of how to tell this story, I needed to decide how much to tell you without revealing too much.
There is a great deal to digest in Pirate Hunters. Initially Chatterton and Mattera had planned and search for a treasure ship, The San Bartolomé, which had sunk in the 17th century on the Dominican south coast. This galleon could be worth millions, they knew where it was, and its discovery promised to get them in the history books.
”And then their phone rang.”
They received a call from Tracy Bowden, a well-respected treasure hunter. He asked them to come to Miami to hear a project he’d like them to take on. Though both men were focused on their quest for the San Bartolomé, they decided it wouldn’t take much time out of their schedule to hear Bowden out. Bowden’s home was a treasure trove of artifacts from wrecks he had found. On a visit to the latrine, Mattera discovered the tub filled with plastic bags containing silver pieces of eight. This combined with Bowden’s prowess in storytelling caught their attention. Bowden asked
Have you heard of Joseph Bannister?”
With these six words the quest for The Golden Fleece begins. Sit back and be prepared to learn about the Golden Age of Piracy. Knowing little about this subject I came away with a better understanding of the men who became these looters of the sea than is presented in the movies.
I am extremely impressed with the sheer patience, determination, personal sacrifice, capital and even stubbornness it takes for men like Chatterton, Mattera and their crew to take on a project like this and not give up. Kurson covers a great deal of ground here providing a clear picture of the formative years of the main players, stories of treasure ships and their booty, background on The Royal Navy, the code of conduct for pirates, and many resources for further reading. Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship is riveting.
December 4, 2022
La novela está basada en hechos reales. Es la fascinante historia de dos hombres que, en el año 2009, se lanzaron a surcar los mares en busca de un barco pirata legendario, el Golden Fleece, dispuestos a arriesgarlo todo, tiempo, dinero y vida sentimental. Dos buceadores y cazadores de tesoros empecinados en encontrar en las profundidades del mar Caribe un navío capitaneado por el gran pirata Joseph Bannister, famoso en el mundo de la piratería en el siglo XVII.
Robert Kurson nos cuenta la vida de Mattera y Chatterton, expertos buceadores y protagonistas de esta gran aventura por tierra y por mar.
Un thriller estupendo lleno de tipos duros apostando fuerte con todo en contra y donde además aprenderemos algo de historia y sobre el fondo marino.
Una estupenda lectura de acción y aventuras que recomiendo sin ningún tipo de dudas a cualquier lector.
Saludos y feliz lectura. 📚
Robert Kurson nos cuenta la vida de Mattera y Chatterton, expertos buceadores y protagonistas de esta gran aventura por tierra y por mar.
Un thriller estupendo lleno de tipos duros apostando fuerte con todo en contra y donde además aprenderemos algo de historia y sobre el fondo marino.
Una estupenda lectura de acción y aventuras que recomiendo sin ningún tipo de dudas a cualquier lector.
Saludos y feliz lectura. 📚
November 29, 2018
This book ultimately frustrated me. I really enjoyed the chronicle of searching for the ship, the story of Bannister and the backstory of both the men at the center of the story. But what has stuck in my mind since finishing are the things that were frankly unnecessary to the story or seemed shoe horned in.
There are several times that the author and men make rather objectifying statements about women, which may have been said, but really didn't need to be included in the book. It only added to the men's unlikability, which when coupled with arrogance, tempers and entitlement ultimately made me unsympathetic toward them and their quest. I started rooting for someone else to find the ship before them.
It's also clear that these men, the author included, care nothing about the Dominican Republic other than the money they can extract from an already struggling country. The story of the man on the motorcycle with a gun seemed included only for the purpose of showing how "savage" and scary the Dominicans are. The anecdote of Chatterton receiving help with a flat tire appeared thrown in add an afterthought and does not convince me of his so-called change of heart about the people and culture of this island nation. Nothing else points to that conclusion.
I would recommend this book for the stories and history, but caution against becoming too enamoured with the central characters add their true colors really shine through at the end.
There are several times that the author and men make rather objectifying statements about women, which may have been said, but really didn't need to be included in the book. It only added to the men's unlikability, which when coupled with arrogance, tempers and entitlement ultimately made me unsympathetic toward them and their quest. I started rooting for someone else to find the ship before them.
It's also clear that these men, the author included, care nothing about the Dominican Republic other than the money they can extract from an already struggling country. The story of the man on the motorcycle with a gun seemed included only for the purpose of showing how "savage" and scary the Dominicans are. The anecdote of Chatterton receiving help with a flat tire appeared thrown in add an afterthought and does not convince me of his so-called change of heart about the people and culture of this island nation. Nothing else points to that conclusion.
I would recommend this book for the stories and history, but caution against becoming too enamoured with the central characters add their true colors really shine through at the end.
December 19, 2016
I loved this book, The mixture of underwater archeology, the historical background of the pirate ship and pirate themselves added a lot to the narrative. I'm a sucker for anything historical specially having to do with the golden age of Piracy which happens to be right smack in the middle of the Imperialistic age, which is always interesting to read about from a historian point of view. The only reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars is because I don't think everybody would appreciate the dense amount of background into the archaeologists themselves, in some parts it worked but in others it just felt like filler, like the author wanted to achieve a certain number of pages and felt the need to include background information that didn't have nothing to do with the archaeological record itself. But once you get past that , this book is really interesting to read and if you love history then this book will add another chapter into Pirate history.
April 21, 2015
Pirate Hunters is more than just "the search for the lost treasure ship of a great buccaneer," it's history, biography, and psychology rolled into one page-turning tale. Ostensibly, this is the story of two treasure hunters, John Mattera and John Chatterton, who descend upon the Dominican Republic in search of the pirate Joseph Bannister's ship, the Golden Fleece. In a battle against two British war ships, the Golden Fleece went down in 1687, where it has rested in peace ever since. Author Robert Kurson uses the natural story lines built by hunters racing other hunters for one of the most elusive of prizes, a genuine pirate wreck (records for pirate ships were not kept by pirates and their sympathizers, making finds all the more challenging).
In addition to the history propelled by the mystery, the false starts necessary to reach an actual strike, and the underwater (and above) descriptions built for suspense, the author stops the narrative to explore the background of both treasure hunters -- Chatterton's as a medic who risked his life repeatedly in Vietnam, and Mattera's as a boy growing up as part of the New York crime families network in the 60s and 70s. Both are diverting tales, though the reader, appetite whetted, longs to get back to the Dominican and the hunt for a great pirate ship.
Also leavening the narratives are historical accounts of Joseph Bannister, the British captain turned rogue (and how often does THAT happen?) who took on his countrymen and fought them to a draw against incredible odds. For readers, the derring will do nicely and the reading is pitched once it comes to Bannister. Kurson also takes time to educate readers on pirates, on their love for democracy far in advance of any Founding Fathers, on their strict system of "justice" despite an undeniable love for money, liquor, and women.
For instance, neither "Aarghhh!" nor "Shiver me timbers!" were ever uttered by pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1720). Instead, they were the invention of 1950s movie screenwriters. Among invocations the real pirates said: "Eat what falls from my tail!" "Damn your blood!" "I'll cleave your skull asunder!" "I'll cut you in pound pieces!" and "I come from hell and I'll carry you there presently!"
There's also an interesting ledger of what pirates were compensated for body parts lost while in brave battle: e.g. 600 pieces of silver or six slaves for a lost right arm, 500 pieces of silver or five slaves for a lost left arm, 100 pieces of silver or one slave for a lost eye or lost finger, etc. There were also set punishments onboard for stealing from a ship's plunder, cheating fellow pirates, sneaking a woman on board (trouble!), cowardice, insolence, disobedience, or anything else impeding the ship's primary purpose -- to steal (and spend as quickly as possible, for as Kurson points out, buried treasure is another myth and would be considered laughable to "spend it today, if not yesterday" pirates of the time).
So go ahead, indulge the kid (or Capt. Kidd) in yourself. Read a rip-roaring tale about a real pirate who's little known and deserves to be better known. Yes, on small occasion the narrative waters grow choppy and slow, but for the most part the sailing is so smooth that Roger and most everyone else will grow Jolly reading it.
In addition to the history propelled by the mystery, the false starts necessary to reach an actual strike, and the underwater (and above) descriptions built for suspense, the author stops the narrative to explore the background of both treasure hunters -- Chatterton's as a medic who risked his life repeatedly in Vietnam, and Mattera's as a boy growing up as part of the New York crime families network in the 60s and 70s. Both are diverting tales, though the reader, appetite whetted, longs to get back to the Dominican and the hunt for a great pirate ship.
Also leavening the narratives are historical accounts of Joseph Bannister, the British captain turned rogue (and how often does THAT happen?) who took on his countrymen and fought them to a draw against incredible odds. For readers, the derring will do nicely and the reading is pitched once it comes to Bannister. Kurson also takes time to educate readers on pirates, on their love for democracy far in advance of any Founding Fathers, on their strict system of "justice" despite an undeniable love for money, liquor, and women.
For instance, neither "Aarghhh!" nor "Shiver me timbers!" were ever uttered by pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1720). Instead, they were the invention of 1950s movie screenwriters. Among invocations the real pirates said: "Eat what falls from my tail!" "Damn your blood!" "I'll cleave your skull asunder!" "I'll cut you in pound pieces!" and "I come from hell and I'll carry you there presently!"
There's also an interesting ledger of what pirates were compensated for body parts lost while in brave battle: e.g. 600 pieces of silver or six slaves for a lost right arm, 500 pieces of silver or five slaves for a lost left arm, 100 pieces of silver or one slave for a lost eye or lost finger, etc. There were also set punishments onboard for stealing from a ship's plunder, cheating fellow pirates, sneaking a woman on board (trouble!), cowardice, insolence, disobedience, or anything else impeding the ship's primary purpose -- to steal (and spend as quickly as possible, for as Kurson points out, buried treasure is another myth and would be considered laughable to "spend it today, if not yesterday" pirates of the time).
So go ahead, indulge the kid (or Capt. Kidd) in yourself. Read a rip-roaring tale about a real pirate who's little known and deserves to be better known. Yes, on small occasion the narrative waters grow choppy and slow, but for the most part the sailing is so smooth that Roger and most everyone else will grow Jolly reading it.
June 24, 2018
This was a really enjoyable and quick read. It’s part biography part history. It tells the story on how a team of divers discovered the wreck of the Golden Fleece, using a combination of research and technology, and the struggles they faced along the way.
The Golden Fleece is the ship that belonged to Joseph Bannister, infamous English Gentleman turned pirate. So we get a few different stories in this book. The story of how the wreck was found, the stories behind the men who found it, and the history behind the wreck and the pirate himself.
I listened to the audio version, and as always Porter’s narration was excellent and very engaging. The book was well written and well paced. The parts about the Golden Fleece and the history were broken up by chapters about the divers, John Chatterton and John Mattera. Mattera’s life in particular, was very interesting, like something out of Good Fellas.
I also appreciated the general research given about pirates, and learned some interesting new facts about them! One example I loved was that pirate ships were based on democracy, with every man having an equal vote on what they would do and where they would go. Another kind of cool thing- pirates were reimbursed for body parts lost in battle. The amount varied depending on the limb lost.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventurous non-fiction read!
The Golden Fleece is the ship that belonged to Joseph Bannister, infamous English Gentleman turned pirate. So we get a few different stories in this book. The story of how the wreck was found, the stories behind the men who found it, and the history behind the wreck and the pirate himself.
I listened to the audio version, and as always Porter’s narration was excellent and very engaging. The book was well written and well paced. The parts about the Golden Fleece and the history were broken up by chapters about the divers, John Chatterton and John Mattera. Mattera’s life in particular, was very interesting, like something out of Good Fellas.
I also appreciated the general research given about pirates, and learned some interesting new facts about them! One example I loved was that pirate ships were based on democracy, with every man having an equal vote on what they would do and where they would go. Another kind of cool thing- pirates were reimbursed for body parts lost in battle. The amount varied depending on the limb lost.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventurous non-fiction read!
December 29, 2023
“If we can think like pirates, we can find them.”
I saw this book and thought it would be a good mindless beach read. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. What a fun nonfiction ride this is! And it is perfect for reading in the blazing sun.
There is a blurb on the cover of PIRATE HUNTERS that says, “A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds…and it really happened.” That blurb is dead on accurate. Essentially the book is about two men and their quest to find a famous pirate ship, the “Golden Fleece”. Those two men are John Chatterton and John Mattera, and the text is also a biography of sorts about them, and their lives are interesting enough to warrant that. These two are very fascinating and brilliantly mad men. The story of their lives, and the search for the ship, mingle together in a fun and informative read. It is gripping to read about Chatterton and Mattera. These dudes are men! Tough, brave, energetic, and adventurous.
Quotes:
• “To Mattera, history was more than just a collection of old stories; it was an insight into human nature, a crystal ball that told as much about the future as it did about the past.”
• “…this was history-better than textbook stories of presidents and kings, because he could stand there; he could feel the place for himself. The feeling of a place was the reason to go.”
• “In this way, gold and silver performed alchemies of their own. By mixing with human instinct, they could even turn the pious base.”
• “Men came alive when they were made equal.”
Especially notable was chapter 16, “The Battle”, which was an engaging section. It includes a detailed description of the mechanics of firing a cannon in the 1680s. And it is good reading! Detailed, yet not so technical that I could not follow it. Ditto for a description of a surgeon amputating limbs on a naval ship.
Overall, the strongest thing about this text is the love of history that permeates very page. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.
I saw this book and thought it would be a good mindless beach read. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. What a fun nonfiction ride this is! And it is perfect for reading in the blazing sun.
There is a blurb on the cover of PIRATE HUNTERS that says, “A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds…and it really happened.” That blurb is dead on accurate. Essentially the book is about two men and their quest to find a famous pirate ship, the “Golden Fleece”. Those two men are John Chatterton and John Mattera, and the text is also a biography of sorts about them, and their lives are interesting enough to warrant that. These two are very fascinating and brilliantly mad men. The story of their lives, and the search for the ship, mingle together in a fun and informative read. It is gripping to read about Chatterton and Mattera. These dudes are men! Tough, brave, energetic, and adventurous.
Quotes:
• “To Mattera, history was more than just a collection of old stories; it was an insight into human nature, a crystal ball that told as much about the future as it did about the past.”
• “…this was history-better than textbook stories of presidents and kings, because he could stand there; he could feel the place for himself. The feeling of a place was the reason to go.”
• “In this way, gold and silver performed alchemies of their own. By mixing with human instinct, they could even turn the pious base.”
• “Men came alive when they were made equal.”
Especially notable was chapter 16, “The Battle”, which was an engaging section. It includes a detailed description of the mechanics of firing a cannon in the 1680s. And it is good reading! Detailed, yet not so technical that I could not follow it. Ditto for a description of a surgeon amputating limbs on a naval ship.
Overall, the strongest thing about this text is the love of history that permeates very page. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.
June 22, 2020
True story of the search for the pirate ship Golden Fleece near shores of current-day Dominican Republic. In 1684, Captain Joseph Bannister abandoned his career as an English merchant captain, stole the ship, and became a pirate. The Royal Navy tracked him down and sank his ship in 1686. In 2008, celebrated wreck-divers John Chatterton and John Mattera teamed up with treasure hunter Tracy Bowden to search for the ship and recover its cargo.
I particularly enjoyed the history of the era and the manner in which the salvors searched for Bannister by doing extensive research, analyzing his thought processes, and putting puzzle pieces together to figure out the logical location of the vessel. As with many books about pirates, I was not overly fond of the glorification of the pirate life. They were thieves, murderers, torturers and, basically, not individuals to be admired. However, the search for the ship is fascinating. It involves research, technology, skill, patience, legalities, and capital. Kurson intersperses biographical information about the men who found the ship with the search effort and the historical records. The current story is told in a dramatic manner, relying heavily on the memories of Chatterton and Mattera.
Books of this type, an opportunity to solve a centuries-old mystery, are almost irresistible for me. I listened to the audio book, competently read by Ray Porter. It would probably be better to read a copy that contains maps and photos.
I particularly enjoyed the history of the era and the manner in which the salvors searched for Bannister by doing extensive research, analyzing his thought processes, and putting puzzle pieces together to figure out the logical location of the vessel. As with many books about pirates, I was not overly fond of the glorification of the pirate life. They were thieves, murderers, torturers and, basically, not individuals to be admired. However, the search for the ship is fascinating. It involves research, technology, skill, patience, legalities, and capital. Kurson intersperses biographical information about the men who found the ship with the search effort and the historical records. The current story is told in a dramatic manner, relying heavily on the memories of Chatterton and Mattera.
Books of this type, an opportunity to solve a centuries-old mystery, are almost irresistible for me. I listened to the audio book, competently read by Ray Porter. It would probably be better to read a copy that contains maps and photos.
August 15, 2015
I feel like Kurson hired a 14-year-old boy to ghostwrite this book for him. Huh huh, grown men snuggling. That's FUNNY! The writing is repetitive and longwinded, and characters are one-dimensional comic book renderings of what I assume are real people. The former gangster! The fiercely independent millionaire! The eminent elder statesman of the craft *who isn't as smart as he thinks he is!* The heroes (for no doubt that's what they are) buck the system and through street smarts (those academics are SO LAME!), grit (recall he's a GANGSTER), and luck (wait no; these guys DON'T NEED LUCK) do something that the book reassures the reader at great length is impossible. (But, uh, sounds totally plausible to me.) There is a story here and I finished the book, but the writing is pretty bad. Recommended for: fans of Steven Seagal.
June 3, 2020
“This is the greatest pirate story ever...And no one knows about it.”
Just read this for a second time and absolutely loved it! Amazing characters, history, adventure, SCUBA diving, and all focused on one of the greatest pirate stories of all time. Loved everything about this book and highly recommend.
Summary: John Chatterton and John Mattera are legends in the field of SCUBA diving and deep wreck salvaging who come together for the most epic quest of their lifetime; to discover a long lost pirate ship of one of the most notorious pirates of all time. Joseph Bannister is the captain of the Golden Fleece and though his adventures are more notorious than Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, his name has been lost in time. This book is the true story of Chatteron and Mattera's adventure and discovery of this pirate ship.
Favorite Quotes:
“If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it.... If you follow in another’s footsteps, you miss the problems really worth solving."
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus, and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average. – Every so often, life presents a great moment of decision, an intersection at which a man must decide to stop or go; a person lives”
"The worst possible decision is to give up."
Just read this for a second time and absolutely loved it! Amazing characters, history, adventure, SCUBA diving, and all focused on one of the greatest pirate stories of all time. Loved everything about this book and highly recommend.
Summary: John Chatterton and John Mattera are legends in the field of SCUBA diving and deep wreck salvaging who come together for the most epic quest of their lifetime; to discover a long lost pirate ship of one of the most notorious pirates of all time. Joseph Bannister is the captain of the Golden Fleece and though his adventures are more notorious than Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, his name has been lost in time. This book is the true story of Chatteron and Mattera's adventure and discovery of this pirate ship.
Favorite Quotes:
“If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it.... If you follow in another’s footsteps, you miss the problems really worth solving."
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus, and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average. – Every so often, life presents a great moment of decision, an intersection at which a man must decide to stop or go; a person lives”
"The worst possible decision is to give up."
March 31, 2022
Enjoyable read, well written, lots of research.
March 7, 2022
This modern day story from 2015 is expertly told by Kurson. I couldn't put the book down.
Chatterton and Mattera are expert divers who specialize in finding shipwrecks. But they are not wealthy enough to fund their small salvage expeditions indefinitely. These men are drawn in by the tale of the pirate Bannister and the Golden Fleece which sunk somewhere off the coast of the Dominican Republic in 1686. These men were unwittingly in for a long and dramatic roller coaster ride as chronicled here.
Pirates, adventure, 17th century history, antique experts, financial despair, obstinance and bureaucracy, dangerous dive sites, and even a few armed ambushes on the back roads of the Dominican Republic. All to find the site and possible treasure of the Golden Fleece.
This was the best modern day adventure story that I've read in a while. There was so much detail on pirates and how they lived and fought and it was quite fascinating to me.
The story even inspired me to do some physics calculations on why cannonballs are so devastating to ships. Hint: It's not just the velocity of the shot but combined with the high density of iron. When a cannonball impacts the wooden planks it throws explosive shards around the ship deck. In fact it is lower velocity cannonballs from a long distance that cause more collateral damage to the men on the ship. High velocity cannon-shot from ships that are very close together will lead to more sunk ships because a cannonball will more cleanly pierce the hull.
5 stars
Chatterton and Mattera are expert divers who specialize in finding shipwrecks. But they are not wealthy enough to fund their small salvage expeditions indefinitely. These men are drawn in by the tale of the pirate Bannister and the Golden Fleece which sunk somewhere off the coast of the Dominican Republic in 1686. These men were unwittingly in for a long and dramatic roller coaster ride as chronicled here.
Pirates, adventure, 17th century history, antique experts, financial despair, obstinance and bureaucracy, dangerous dive sites, and even a few armed ambushes on the back roads of the Dominican Republic. All to find the site and possible treasure of the Golden Fleece.
This was the best modern day adventure story that I've read in a while. There was so much detail on pirates and how they lived and fought and it was quite fascinating to me.
The story even inspired me to do some physics calculations on why cannonballs are so devastating to ships. Hint: It's not just the velocity of the shot but combined with the high density of iron. When a cannonball impacts the wooden planks it throws explosive shards around the ship deck. In fact it is lower velocity cannonballs from a long distance that cause more collateral damage to the men on the ship. High velocity cannon-shot from ships that are very close together will lead to more sunk ships because a cannonball will more cleanly pierce the hull.
5 stars
October 12, 2016
Caribbean Booty Call: The Quest for the Golden Fleece
[4.5 stars]
I've loved Jimmy Buffett's serenade to a pirate's life since my first trip to Key West and out into the Caribbean; it's a treasure for revelry of trips south and youthful daydreams of life one day on a small Caribbean island. Arrr, what jewels and gold there be(!) in this fascinating story of John Chatterton and John Mattera, el cazadores de piratas barco, and their decade-long obsessive search for the legendary Golden Fleece, a pirate ship that was captained by the notorious Joseph Bannister and reportedly sunk in the late 17th century somewhere in the Caribbean.
Bannister was an infamous and legendary English pirate who was a well-respected merchant captain who transported goods from England to Jamaica, until he ran off with his vessel, the Golden Fleece, and began a buccaneer's life during the Golden Age of Piracy (generally referring to the late 17th century). He and crew evaded the Brits' numerous attempts to find them until cornered in Samaná Bay off the northeastern coast of the island of Hispaniola (the part that is now the Dominican Republic). They successfully faced down two Royal Navy warships in a breathtaking battle, which Mr. Kurson colorfully describes in the book.
Kurson seamlessly blends this and other background tales of Caribbean pirates into the marquee tale of the hunt for the Golden Fleece by Chatterton and Mattera, a seemingly impossible odyssey in which they dealt with: threats of government interference; tropical storms; the loss of crewmates, partners, lovers and friends, to death, divorce and disloyalty; the depletion of all their life savings; troubles funding such an expensive venture, in which they had to go to places as far off as Spain to search the Spanish archives for original first-hand accounts of Bannister's exploits and to determine Spanish shipping routes, all for the purpose of learning to think as Bannister would have; and, just as they appeared on the verge of finding the sunken treasure, the surprise appearance of scavenger/squatters. If successful, the discovery of the Golden Fleece would only be the second time a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified.
[4.5 stars]
'Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,J. Buffett, "A Pirate Looks at Forty."
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall.
You've seen it all, you've seen it all....'
I've loved Jimmy Buffett's serenade to a pirate's life since my first trip to Key West and out into the Caribbean; it's a treasure for revelry of trips south and youthful daydreams of life one day on a small Caribbean island. Arrr, what jewels and gold there be(!) in this fascinating story of John Chatterton and John Mattera, el cazadores de piratas barco, and their decade-long obsessive search for the legendary Golden Fleece, a pirate ship that was captained by the notorious Joseph Bannister and reportedly sunk in the late 17th century somewhere in the Caribbean.
Bannister was an infamous and legendary English pirate who was a well-respected merchant captain who transported goods from England to Jamaica, until he ran off with his vessel, the Golden Fleece, and began a buccaneer's life during the Golden Age of Piracy (generally referring to the late 17th century). He and crew evaded the Brits' numerous attempts to find them until cornered in Samaná Bay off the northeastern coast of the island of Hispaniola (the part that is now the Dominican Republic). They successfully faced down two Royal Navy warships in a breathtaking battle, which Mr. Kurson colorfully describes in the book.
Kurson seamlessly blends this and other background tales of Caribbean pirates into the marquee tale of the hunt for the Golden Fleece by Chatterton and Mattera, a seemingly impossible odyssey in which they dealt with: threats of government interference; tropical storms; the loss of crewmates, partners, lovers and friends, to death, divorce and disloyalty; the depletion of all their life savings; troubles funding such an expensive venture, in which they had to go to places as far off as Spain to search the Spanish archives for original first-hand accounts of Bannister's exploits and to determine Spanish shipping routes, all for the purpose of learning to think as Bannister would have; and, just as they appeared on the verge of finding the sunken treasure, the surprise appearance of scavenger/squatters. If successful, the discovery of the Golden Fleece would only be the second time a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified.
June 14, 2015
I suspected after reading the first chapter that this true story would be extraordinary, following in the footsteps of one of my favorite books of 2004, Shadow Divers. And it was. What a great adventure!
This is an obsessive and all-consuming quest by renowned scuba diver John Chatterton and John Mattera to find the greatest pirate ship that ever sailed, the Golden Fleece. The story of this hugely expensive and once in a lifetime deep-sea discovery is filled with suspense, risk, frustration, exhaustion and thrills. Robert Kurson was masterful at putting together the pieces.
The pirate captain who steered the Golden Fleece was more notorious than Blackbeard, a real-life Jack Sparrow. His name was Joseph Bannister, a well-respected merchant captain in the mid-late 17th century. As captain of the Golden Fleece, he was tasked with delivering goods via transatlantic voyages between London and Jamaica. One day Bannister risked his life by stealing the ship, picked up a hundred bold men to serve as crew, and began a more profitable life as a pirate. These swashbuckling and plundering pirates of the Caribbean and Atlantic came from a special time – the Golden Age of Piracy - lasting from about 1650 to 1720 and were the kind of pirates who are dramatized in movies and books – no such thing as “arrgh” or “shiver me timbers” in real life though.
If you like true adventure stories, this is a must-read.
This is an obsessive and all-consuming quest by renowned scuba diver John Chatterton and John Mattera to find the greatest pirate ship that ever sailed, the Golden Fleece. The story of this hugely expensive and once in a lifetime deep-sea discovery is filled with suspense, risk, frustration, exhaustion and thrills. Robert Kurson was masterful at putting together the pieces.
The pirate captain who steered the Golden Fleece was more notorious than Blackbeard, a real-life Jack Sparrow. His name was Joseph Bannister, a well-respected merchant captain in the mid-late 17th century. As captain of the Golden Fleece, he was tasked with delivering goods via transatlantic voyages between London and Jamaica. One day Bannister risked his life by stealing the ship, picked up a hundred bold men to serve as crew, and began a more profitable life as a pirate. These swashbuckling and plundering pirates of the Caribbean and Atlantic came from a special time – the Golden Age of Piracy - lasting from about 1650 to 1720 and were the kind of pirates who are dramatized in movies and books – no such thing as “arrgh” or “shiver me timbers” in real life though.
If you like true adventure stories, this is a must-read.
May 13, 2015
Advanced Reading Copy review Due to be published June 16, 2015
"Pirate Hunters" by Robert Kurson is kind of a sequel to his break-out book "Shadow Divers" about the discovery and identifying of a sunken German U-Boat. The new book continues the exploits of adventure diver John Chatterton as he is now on the trail of the pirate Joseph Bannister and his ship Golden Fleece.
Because underwater treasure hunts can be brutally tedious, the author fills the pages with biographies of the major players, a history of pirate culture and legend, the story of Bannister and a lot of related stories from fellow divers. It all adds up to a suspenseful tale as the search team races against competitors, restrictive governments, dwindling finances and despairing frustrations. It is all written in a very manly, gung-ho style that brings to mind Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series (with Russell Crowe as the personification of Chatterton, of course). This could be a turn-off for fans of narrative non-fiction that is more academic and less sensational. A gory chapter on shipboard amputations, for example, is completely lurid and unnecessary. There is plenty to like about this book, but a bit too much testosterone for my taste.
"Pirate Hunters" by Robert Kurson is kind of a sequel to his break-out book "Shadow Divers" about the discovery and identifying of a sunken German U-Boat. The new book continues the exploits of adventure diver John Chatterton as he is now on the trail of the pirate Joseph Bannister and his ship Golden Fleece.
Because underwater treasure hunts can be brutally tedious, the author fills the pages with biographies of the major players, a history of pirate culture and legend, the story of Bannister and a lot of related stories from fellow divers. It all adds up to a suspenseful tale as the search team races against competitors, restrictive governments, dwindling finances and despairing frustrations. It is all written in a very manly, gung-ho style that brings to mind Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series (with Russell Crowe as the personification of Chatterton, of course). This could be a turn-off for fans of narrative non-fiction that is more academic and less sensational. A gory chapter on shipboard amputations, for example, is completely lurid and unnecessary. There is plenty to like about this book, but a bit too much testosterone for my taste.
June 22, 2015
I’ve never been fascinated by pirates but after reading Kurson “Pirate Hunters” that’s changed. I am interested in history and Kurson brings lots of that alive in “Pirate Hunters” specifically the history of the golden age of Piracy in the 17th century around Hispaniola (now known as Santo Domingo). At that time it was a Spanish colony but the French and English were there in abundance as well for the lucrative trade opportunities. And where lots are goods are being moved you’ll find those who want to exploit the situation for their personal gain…enter the Pirates. Bannister, the English pirate at the center of this book, was an unlikely villain. He’d been a loyal English merchant sailor for all his life. His motivations and his background make history come alive as does the modern day search for his sunken ship “Golden Fleece” and its treasure trove of history.
“Pirate Hunters” is also the story of two men who’d been devoted to underwater diving for most of their lives. Matera and Chatterton were relentless in their search for “Golden Fleece”. The story rocks back and forth from their personal stories, their professional backgrounds, a paper chase in many of the world’s legendary libraries, and their love of diving.
This short book is over way too soon. The only negative about it is how tiny the maps are. It’s all but impossible to read them.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
“Pirate Hunters” is also the story of two men who’d been devoted to underwater diving for most of their lives. Matera and Chatterton were relentless in their search for “Golden Fleece”. The story rocks back and forth from their personal stories, their professional backgrounds, a paper chase in many of the world’s legendary libraries, and their love of diving.
This short book is over way too soon. The only negative about it is how tiny the maps are. It’s all but impossible to read them.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
March 24, 2016
Did you grow up waiting for Jacques Cousteau's weekly TV show to expose you to a slice of the world explored aboard the legendary Calypso that seemed so strange, so remarkable, so colorful it was hard to believe it was real? [It's pretty wild to remember a time when this color-rich experience might be preceded or followed by black-and-white re-runs.] If so, you'll enjoy this book (although, as noted below, the author's prior work is even better).
Having been totally bowled over, nay, blown away, by Kurson's Shadow Divers a number of years ago, I knew I'd have to read this. I feared, however, that I'd be disappointed and, in all honesty, I didn't find this one quite as captivating as Shadow Divers, but it's not a fair comparison. This is an engaging, entertaining book, even if Shadow Divers was better.
The history and research angle of this book - with visits to little-used, unique collections in far flung libraries - is pretty gratifying, and, in many ways, it's the archival search that drives the story. Conversely, the diving seemed incidental, in large part because the water wasn't that deep and, ultimately, this story isn't really about diving....
And my guess is that readers will react differently to Kurson's intermittent chapters profiling the key players in the drama. At times they felt (to me) like diversions and fillers, while at other points I found the personal histories every bit as compelling as the search for the pirate ship.
Given what he had to work with, Kurson did about as well as he could converting a slow-moving, laborious, methodical investigation into an at-least-somewhat dramatic yarn. (Despite Kurson's best efforts, it's hard to correlate this with the Johnny Depp Pirates of the Carribean movie series. Instead, think Nicolas Cage in National Treasure without the chase scenes, romance, music, action, etc.) I'm guessing it's necessary to sell books and garner attention, but the drama/tension aspect never really resonated with me.
In other words, there's just less epic stuff in this book than readers enjoyed in Shadow Divers. That doesn't mean it's not interesting, and, maybe, if you haven't read Shadow Divers, your expectations might not be as high. (OK, OK, a significant percentage of the modern story feels like its Shadow Divers leftovers or spillover....) Still, the cumulative effort, the total package, was interesting, informative, and sufficiently gratifying to justify the time and effort.
Having been totally bowled over, nay, blown away, by Kurson's Shadow Divers a number of years ago, I knew I'd have to read this. I feared, however, that I'd be disappointed and, in all honesty, I didn't find this one quite as captivating as Shadow Divers, but it's not a fair comparison. This is an engaging, entertaining book, even if Shadow Divers was better.
The history and research angle of this book - with visits to little-used, unique collections in far flung libraries - is pretty gratifying, and, in many ways, it's the archival search that drives the story. Conversely, the diving seemed incidental, in large part because the water wasn't that deep and, ultimately, this story isn't really about diving....
And my guess is that readers will react differently to Kurson's intermittent chapters profiling the key players in the drama. At times they felt (to me) like diversions and fillers, while at other points I found the personal histories every bit as compelling as the search for the pirate ship.
Given what he had to work with, Kurson did about as well as he could converting a slow-moving, laborious, methodical investigation into an at-least-somewhat dramatic yarn. (Despite Kurson's best efforts, it's hard to correlate this with the Johnny Depp Pirates of the Carribean movie series. Instead, think Nicolas Cage in National Treasure without the chase scenes, romance, music, action, etc.) I'm guessing it's necessary to sell books and garner attention, but the drama/tension aspect never really resonated with me.
In other words, there's just less epic stuff in this book than readers enjoyed in Shadow Divers. That doesn't mean it's not interesting, and, maybe, if you haven't read Shadow Divers, your expectations might not be as high. (OK, OK, a significant percentage of the modern story feels like its Shadow Divers leftovers or spillover....) Still, the cumulative effort, the total package, was interesting, informative, and sufficiently gratifying to justify the time and effort.
September 22, 2015
My copy courtesy Random House/Net Galley - much thanks!
Covers both the search for a pirate ship from the "golden age of piracy" (roughly 1650-1720) off of Santo Domingo in the Caribbean, but also the pasts of the main searchers, from Vietnam to the fringes of the mafia, and the lives of the pirates.
The vessel being hunted is the Golden Fleece, which fought off two Royal Navy frigates which grossly out-manned and out-gunned it, though it sank in doing it, in 1686. Finding a bona fide pirate wreck is, by the way, reckoned here as being maybe the toughest thing in salvage diving.
Accidentally but appropriately enough, I was reading this on Talk Like a Pirate Day. I'd say "Arr!" but it seems pirates didn't say that.
Though they did have parrots.
Covers both the search for a pirate ship from the "golden age of piracy" (roughly 1650-1720) off of Santo Domingo in the Caribbean, but also the pasts of the main searchers, from Vietnam to the fringes of the mafia, and the lives of the pirates.
The vessel being hunted is the Golden Fleece, which fought off two Royal Navy frigates which grossly out-manned and out-gunned it, though it sank in doing it, in 1686. Finding a bona fide pirate wreck is, by the way, reckoned here as being maybe the toughest thing in salvage diving.
Accidentally but appropriately enough, I was reading this on Talk Like a Pirate Day. I'd say "Arr!" but it seems pirates didn't say that.
Though they did have parrots.
August 8, 2019
*If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it.*
Was hoping for more pirates, less doldrums. Lots of extraneous filler content.
But where are the pirates?
I guess that's the question.
Enjoyed Shadow Divers and Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon more.
Was hoping for more pirates, less doldrums. Lots of extraneous filler content.
But where are the pirates?
I guess that's the question.
Enjoyed Shadow Divers and Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon more.
June 24, 2017
Overwritten and riddled with melodrama to mask the fact that surprisingly little of substance happens to any of these unpleasant people during the book. Each man seeks only to recapture ridiculous notions of glory and adventure before he's too old, with little respect for the cultural materials he and his cohorts uncover but plenty of regard for the fragile hyper-masculinity and bank accounts of the crew. Bowden has the added fun of being an absolute idiot when faced with actual data. As an archaeologist, Kurson's ability to make cultural heritage management seem like utter villainy disgusted me. How dare UNESCO rob the good old boys of their pirate adventures?
May 21, 2020
5 Stars for Pirate Hunters (audiobook) by Robert Kurson read by Ray Porter. This such an wonderful story. It’s like a Clive Cussler novel but it’s all real. The backgrounds of the characters are amazing. If this book was fiction they would seem over the top but that’s the kind of people it takes to complete an expedition like this. The narration was great. Ray Porter is the perfect voice for this story.
August 19, 2015
Original review posted at The Zest Quest, a lifestyle site celebrating my quest for a zestful life.
Seventeenth century pirates could elicit not only fear in their wake but instill cooperation without firing a shot, just by their reputation shared by survivors. I have always been intrigued by pirates so PIRATE HUNTERS grabbed my attention just by the name, but when I realized it also included seventeenth century history, I was ready to dive in.
This book begins with an author’s note which gives the reader a synopsis of what’s to come by describing a meeting with John Chatterton and John Mattera, the two main players in this story. Their quest to find the ship of Joseph Bannister, a seventeenth century pirate who opposed the British Navy in an epic battle that he won, has been rife with adventure and mystery, some of which is still unresolved today. PIRATE HUNTERS follows these adventurers on a journey of a lifetime, taking them back into history before they find the truth about Joseph Bannister.
John Chatterton and John Mattera are each famous in their own right as divers. Finding their own treasure is something they’re about to do when they get a call from a man they admire. They join Tracy Bowden, a legend in treasure hunting, when he requests their help. He tells them a story about an English sea captain who went rogue and became a notorious pirate. Why would a successful sea captain with an impeccable record toss it all away to become a pirate? Countries are outlawing private salvaging so will this team find their treasure before it’s taken from them by competitors or the government? These are just two of the many interesting questions answered in this true story that reads like a novel.
I read the first quarter of this book fairly fast but then got hung up and slowed down for several chapters. There is a tremendous amount of detail about each person’s life prior to this treasure hunt and I was impatient to get to the pirates. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish this book until I got to a section that described a connection to the mob and the pace picked up. After that, I zoomed through to the end of the novel.
Fair warning – there are some gory details of piracy that may affect the most squeamish of readers, but it’s important to understand the lifestyle that led to these acts. Pirates were once used to keep some countries from profiting in trade. When trade agreements were made, pirates became the hunted.
What I admire most about this book is the commitment of the treasure hunting team and their families, as well as the dedication of Robert Kurson to be able to put their story into a readable format. The amount of research, the years spent and the hours of interviews by all parties proves their love of solving a mystery. It’s not just their love of the treasure but their love of the hunt and the history behind it all that gives them the clues to find lost sunken ships. I have such admiration for that kind of dedication.
PIRATE HUNTERS is a fantastic story of modern day treasure hunters who have to rely on history and intuition to guide them. If you love a good hunt, for financial treasure or for history revealed through research, then I recommend you read PIRATE HUNTERS. Anyone this devoted to their dream deserves an award for their efforts. The cost alone could scare many, as well as the dangerous situations faced, but the years of devotion have given me a whole new respect for those in this story who followed their dream as far as it would take them.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Seventeenth century pirates could elicit not only fear in their wake but instill cooperation without firing a shot, just by their reputation shared by survivors. I have always been intrigued by pirates so PIRATE HUNTERS grabbed my attention just by the name, but when I realized it also included seventeenth century history, I was ready to dive in.
This book begins with an author’s note which gives the reader a synopsis of what’s to come by describing a meeting with John Chatterton and John Mattera, the two main players in this story. Their quest to find the ship of Joseph Bannister, a seventeenth century pirate who opposed the British Navy in an epic battle that he won, has been rife with adventure and mystery, some of which is still unresolved today. PIRATE HUNTERS follows these adventurers on a journey of a lifetime, taking them back into history before they find the truth about Joseph Bannister.
John Chatterton and John Mattera are each famous in their own right as divers. Finding their own treasure is something they’re about to do when they get a call from a man they admire. They join Tracy Bowden, a legend in treasure hunting, when he requests their help. He tells them a story about an English sea captain who went rogue and became a notorious pirate. Why would a successful sea captain with an impeccable record toss it all away to become a pirate? Countries are outlawing private salvaging so will this team find their treasure before it’s taken from them by competitors or the government? These are just two of the many interesting questions answered in this true story that reads like a novel.
I read the first quarter of this book fairly fast but then got hung up and slowed down for several chapters. There is a tremendous amount of detail about each person’s life prior to this treasure hunt and I was impatient to get to the pirates. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish this book until I got to a section that described a connection to the mob and the pace picked up. After that, I zoomed through to the end of the novel.
Fair warning – there are some gory details of piracy that may affect the most squeamish of readers, but it’s important to understand the lifestyle that led to these acts. Pirates were once used to keep some countries from profiting in trade. When trade agreements were made, pirates became the hunted.
What I admire most about this book is the commitment of the treasure hunting team and their families, as well as the dedication of Robert Kurson to be able to put their story into a readable format. The amount of research, the years spent and the hours of interviews by all parties proves their love of solving a mystery. It’s not just their love of the treasure but their love of the hunt and the history behind it all that gives them the clues to find lost sunken ships. I have such admiration for that kind of dedication.
PIRATE HUNTERS is a fantastic story of modern day treasure hunters who have to rely on history and intuition to guide them. If you love a good hunt, for financial treasure or for history revealed through research, then I recommend you read PIRATE HUNTERS. Anyone this devoted to their dream deserves an award for their efforts. The cost alone could scare many, as well as the dangerous situations faced, but the years of devotion have given me a whole new respect for those in this story who followed their dream as far as it would take them.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
September 26, 2017
A rousing treasure hunt for pirates! I really enjoyed this true tale of two adventurous men who take on the project of locating a pirate ship that sank in the waters of the Dominican Republic. From start to finish, I found myself enthralled with not only the search for the famed Golden Fleece, but the backstory of the two men who took on what turned out to be the find of a lifetime. Highly recommend if you enjoy archaeology and history, ship hunter tales, or are just in need of a rousing adventure tale!
June 20, 2021
Father-in-law gave this to us for our Little Free Library but I'm reading it first. Update: this was awesome, five stars!
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