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Enemy of All Mankind

A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt

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Enemy of All Mankind

By: Steven Johnson
Narrated by: Jason Culp
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About this listen

 “Thoroughly engrossing . . . a spirited, suspenseful, economically told tale whose significance is manifest and whose pace never flags.” —The Wall Street Journal

From The New York Times–bestselling author of The Ghost Map and Extra Life, the story of a pirate who changed the world

Henry Every was the seventeenth century’s most notorious pirate. The press published wildly popular—and wildly inaccurate—reports of his nefarious adventures. The British government offered enormous bounties for his capture, alive or (preferably) dead. But Steven Johnson argues that Every’s most lasting legacy was his inadvertent triggering of a major shift in the global economy. Enemy of All Mankind focuses on one key event—the attack on an Indian treasure ship by Every and his crew—and its surprising repercussions across time and space. It’s the gripping tale of one of the most lucrative crimes in history, the first international manhunt, and the trial of the seventeenth century.

Johnson uses the extraordinary story of Henry Every and his crimes to explore the emergence of the East India Company, the British Empire, and the modern global marketplace: a densely interconnected planet ruled by nations and corporations. How did this unlikely pirate and his notorious crime end up playing a key role in the birth of multinational capitalism? In the same mode as Johnson’s classic nonfiction historical thriller The Ghost Map, Enemy of All Mankind deftly traces the path from a single struck match to a global conflagration. Historical Maritime History & Piracy Political Science Politics & Government World Pirate Imperialism Africa British Empire War Middle Ages Maritime Law
All stars
Most relevant
Decent recount of a forgotten bit of history. A well constructed piece about pirates without the hollywood dramatisation. Narrator put on accents which some were just racist. Probably the only reason it isn’t 5 stars

Decent story

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A concise, well researched and enlightening listen, dispelling much of the romantic air around piracy while exploring that romanticism's roots. We follow Henry Avery as his famous mutiny and subsequent pillaging of the indian treasure ship plays out, before witnessing the consequences for the men that followed him, as well as the nations and personalities embroiled in the drama. With a fine performance by Jason Culp, I found it very enjoyable.

Important history, well told

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