“A General History of the Lives and Adventures of the Most Famous Highwaymen, Murders, Street-Robbers, To which is added A Genuine Account of the VOYAGES and PLUNDERS of the most Notorious PYRATES” is a notable book that provides detailed accounts of the lives and careers of some of the most famous pirates and highwaymen of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
The first edition of this book, printed in 1734 by Captain Charles Johnson, is highly regarded for its comprehensive information on the underworld figures of that era, including pirates and highwaymen. The book’s author, Captain Charles Johnson, is believed to be a pseudonym, with some scholars suggesting that Daniel Defoe might have written the book under this name. However, this theory is not universally accepted, and the true identity of Captain Johnson remains a mystery. The book’s first publication in 1724 coincided with the Golden Age of Piracy, a period of significant maritime activity and piracy in the Caribbean. The book’s popularity can be attributed to its graphic accounts of the marauders and their gruesome deeds, which captivated the public’s imagination.
It was printed in two significant editions: 1724 and 1734.
-1724 Edition: This edition primarily focused on the lives and exploits of notorious pirates, offering valuable insights into the Golden Age of Piracy.
-1734 Edition: This edition expanded upon the 1724 version by incorporating accounts of famous highwaymen and other criminals, creating a more comprehensive chronicle of the underworld during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
Both editions are attributed to Captain Charles Johnson. The 1734 edition of “A General History of the Lives and Adventures of the Most Famous Highwaymen, Murders, Street-Robbers, To which is added A Genuine Account of the VOYAGES and PLUNDERS of the most Notorious PYRATES” is a significant and valuable compilation. It includes an engraved frontispiece and 25 engraved plates, most by J. Basire after W. Jett and J. Nicholls. The title is in red and black, with a woodcut device. The book is printed in folio size and was published in London in 1734 by J. Janeway. The first edition is known for uniting the most notorious names in the early eighteenth-century underworld, providing a comprehensive and authentic account of the lives and careers of famous pirates and highwaymen of that era. It is also noted for its influence on subsequent plays, books, and films, including works such as “Treasure Island,” “Peter Pan,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. In summary, this edition is a dream for collectors, a rare pearl owned at this moment by Marshall Rare Books.
Captain Charles Johnson’s work in “A General History of the Lives and Adventures of the Most Famous Highwaymen, Murders, Street-Robbers, To which is added A Genuine Account of the VOYAGES and PLUNDERS of the most Notorious PYRATES” is significant as it inspired later generations of writers and filmmakers. The book has had a lasting impact on popular culture, influencing various literary and cinematic works. It is considered the prime source of information on the great age of piracy and road adventurers and has inspired numerous plays, books, and films. Additionally, Johnson’s volumes are significant as the forerunners of the real-life criminal biography genre and have influenced early novels such as Defoe’s “Moll Flanders” and Fielding’s “Jonathan Wild”.
For the less pretentious collectors, it does exist a 1842 edition of “Lives and Exploits of English Highwaymen, Pirates, & Robbers; Drawn from The Most Authentic Sources By Capt. Charles Johnson“, published by Henry G. Bohn. This edition is also illustrated with a title-page vignette and 15 full-page engravings.
Originally issued in 1834, this edition is essentially an updated revision of earlier compilations by other hands, as noted in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB). The title-page follows the front free endpaper, as is usual in this frequently reprinted nineteenth-century work, without a half-title. Later editions of the book tend to have fewer illustrations.
This edition revised and continued by C. Whitehead, Esq., provides a comprehensive and authentic account of the lives and careers of famous pirates, highwaymen, and robbers, drawing from the most authentic sources available at the time. It is noteworthy for being , as written above, also embellished with sixteen spirited engravings, adding visual depth to the narratives presented in the book.
This edition brings up the chronicles of these notorious individuals up to the present time, offering a valuable historical perspective on the underworld figures of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries in a book a bit less rare but for now….
