Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-204) and index.

"Pirates are an enduring, popular subject, depicted often in songs, stories, and Halloween costumes. Yet the truth about pirate women -- who they were, why they went to sea, and what their lives were really like -- is seldom a part of the conversation. A Seven Seas history of the world's female buccaneers, A Pirate's Life for She tells the stories of 16 women through the ages who sailed alongside -- and sometimes in command of -- their male counterparts. These women came from all walks of life but had one thing in common: a desire for freedom. History has largely ignored female swashbucklers, until now. Here are their stories, from ancient Norse princess Alfhild to Sayyida al-Hurra of the Barbary corsairs; from Grace O'Malley, who terrorized shipping operations around the British Isles during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to Cheng I Sao, who commanded a fleet of 1,400 ships off China in the early 19th century. Author Laura Sook Duncombe takes an honest look at these women, acknowledging that they are not easy heroines: they are lawbreakers. A Pirate's Life for She tells their full stories, focusing on the reasons they become pirates. It is possible to admire the courage, determination, and skills each pirate possessed without endorsing her actions."-- jacket.

Ages: 12+