Blackbeard: The Pirate King    by J. Patrick Lewis Order:  USA  Can National Geographic, 2006 (2006) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson You wouldn't want to meet the pirate depicted on Blackbeard's cover in a dark alley, or on the high seas - or anywhere else for that matter! J. Patrick Lewis tells the story of infamous 18th century Pirate King Edward Teach as a series of annotated biographical poems, accompanied by reproductions of remarkable paintings, by a variety of artists, of pirates in action. Lewis invites readers 'To a tale as keen as cutlass / That no man dares impeach. / A tale to billow a pirate's sail / Is the tale of Captain Teach.' We learn that Teach flourished in a Golden Age of Piracy from 1698-1730. His face was 'So frightful that it chilled his foes / Straight to the marrowbone.' After many wily adventures, he accepted a King's pardon and settled in North Carolina, before returning to his former trade and finally being killed - and beheaded - in 1718. The final poem tells of his ghost. At the back of the book is a timeline of Blackbeard's life. An Author's Note about this era 'when villainy ruled the waves' explains the sources available on the buccaneer's life and times, and provides a map of his voyages. Blackbeard: The Pirate King belongs in any young pirate's treasure chest. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews