Book Review: Dracula

After 2 months of WWII studies, I now close that period and begin a new historical appreciation phase. The Eastern European region of Romania (primarily Transylvania) where Vlad the Impaler once ruled during the 1400s. This interest came to me when I found the book The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova at Goodwill for only 2 dollars. The book has long been on my read list so I decided to read it after I finished my WWII studies. The book is a fiction regarding this iconic historical figure which influenced the famous vampire, Dracula. As Halloween approached I decided I would first jump into the classic Gothic source material by Bram Stoker, before diving into Kostova's 700 page beast. 

Stoker's character of Dracula is one of the most iconic Halloween figures, aside from maybe Frankenstein or the jack-o-lantern. He is a cultural icon, that pretty much put vampires on the map of mythical folklore. However while there isn't a person who doesn't recognize this creepy character, the original story is often lost in today's popular culture. I first stumbled upon Bram Stoker's significant work in my deep dive of classic literature, (some 5 years ago) and included it in my top 100 most important books, see 100 Classic Novels. Mostly due to it's cultural influence the story has had. But I had not read the horror book before, and was quite unfamiliar with the storyline until now. 

I should also mention before I begin this full dive into Romanian folklore and history that I have actually hit the topic of vampires (not too long ago). This was a few years ago as I was preparing for my trip to Prague, Czech Republic. I stumbled upon a book called the Lights of Prague, which I found to be inspiring. I wrote a blog study about vampires (see History of Vampires) and of course was in a phase for a while. So therefore I have already hit a little bit on the king of all vampires, Count Dracula. That post however was more of a general study on the mythical creature of vampires. This study here will be primarily on the book written by Stoker, as well as the significance of the character he created. 

The Setting

Since the book was written in the 1890s it provides a great Victorian setting of Europe (mostly England and central Europe). A young ambitious solicitor named Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to secure a real estate deal with a client known as Count Dracula. The journey is an eerie one thru the Carpathian Mountains surrounded by misty weather and strange people. Harker finally arrives to Dracula's castle where he meets the peculiar pale host. With each passing day however he sees frightening oddities such as 3 spectral women and the count climbing outside the castle walls (upside down like a lizard). He begins to fear he is going mad and eventually is able to escape by scaling down the castle walls during the daylight. He makes his way to a hospital in Budapest where his fiancee Mina collects him in a very frail state. 

The story then shifts to various perspectives first concerning a mysterious ship that has crashed on the English coast. All crewmembers on the boat are killed by what appears to be some form of rat virus. The cause is later revealed to be Dracula who has now moved into his English manor. Then there is the perspective of Lucy Westenra, a close friend of John's fiancée Mina, who appears to be going ill. Another main perspective comes from her doctor and suitor, John Seward who works at an asylum clinic. It slowly becomes clear that Lucy's sickness is not a typical medical one, but a sickness of the mind (caused by a dark haunting). Seward summons his former professor, Van Helsing to help him diagnose the strange case of Lucy. 

The two medical doctors are able to discern that Lucy is losing blood to a mysterious demon. Van Helsing, being the more practiced in these spiritual matters, comes up with some methods to defend her such as garlic and a crucifix. The superstitious methods begin to help Lucy recover, however one evening she takes off her garlic necklace. She and her mother are attacked by a mysterious wolf that night. Lucy's mother dies of a heart attack and Lucy dies the next day due to blood-loss. Soon after there are reports of missing children. Van Helsing is once again able to determine that Lucy has now become a vampire and is the culprit that is stealing children. He visits her grave with Dr Seward where they behead her, drive a steak thru her heart, and fill her mouth with garlic so as to rid the evil spirt from her body.

The perspective then shifts to Mina who begins to experience a similar haunting in the nights by Dracula. Sensing he is now being hunted, Dracula is able to recruit an asylum lunatic Renfield, to do his bidding. Renfield attacks Mina in the nights, drinking her blood, so that she too will become a vampire unless Dracula is killed. Dracula later kills Renfield for attempting to protect Mina. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and Jon Harker devise a plan to hunt Dracula by destroying all his coffins with Romanian dirt (which he needs to sleep in during the daylight). Van Helsing is able to then hypnotize Mina to reveal his next movement, which is back to his castle in Transylvania. The group then follows him there so as to complete their mission of killing him.

As the hunters travels across the Carpathian mountains to find Dracula's castle, they are attacked by a group of local Gypsy women that are servants to Dracula. John Harker is able to track the boat of gysies that are carrying Dracula's coffin along the Danube river. As they move Dracula's coffin to a wagon, Harker pursues the wagon right outside the castle (as the sun begins to set). He is able to overcome the gypsy men, open Dracula's coffin, and strike the fatal blow to his heart. At this point Dracula crumbles to dust, which ends his curse on Mina.  

The Review

I must say upfront I have mixed reviews on this classic Gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker. It's not at all what I was expecting, and it's amazing to see how far they have evolved Dracula's story. The part that especially made it a rather cumbersome was the multiple perspectives and diary logs. While it's a creative idea, it's non-linear and is almost like a puzzle to piece together the timeline of events. There really is not a main character in this book, rather the main villain of Dracula. What I especially found annoying was that most of the time, he was merely in the shadows. Not at all like this suave vampire interacting with humans that we often see depicted on TV or movies.

I especially enjoyed the first few chapters of of the book pertaining to John Harker's account. His descent into madness while visiting Count Dracula's castle was everything I was hoping for. His visions of the ghostly women, and Dracula climbing down the castle like a lizard truly sent him into hysteria (I found this to be very entertaining even comical at times). However after this opening phase the story then shifts to a mysterious account of haunted women (Lucy then Mina). It even has a psychiatric medical element as provided by Dr Seward and Prof Van Helsing. For the majority of the story Seward and Helsing are basically trying to uncover what is making these women so sick. Therefore we rarely get any interaction whatsoever with Dracula throughout the book.

I can still see why the book was considered a masterpiece and has a very original dark style to it. First it takes us to such a unique setting in eastern Romania (Transylvania), which no doubt has a mysterious allure to western society. Then it creates a shocking character, only to put him in the backdrop most of the book. We know he is there lurking, but the story becomes more of a psychiatric investigation or an exorcism. First the doctors need to uncover what is causing the mental issue, then they need to locate and defeat the root of this wickedness, that is Dracula. It's definitely a book I would read again someday to gather more appreciation for. 

Portrayals of Dracula

As I mentioned before, Stoker's character of Dracula, has elevated to world-famous status almost since it's inception. It has embedded it's way into popular culture, almost no different then other iconic fictional characters such as Mickey Mouse, Sherlock Holmes, or even Santa Claus. I would like to cover some of the major adaptations and references to this character over the last 100 years, that have made it such an iconic figure in popular culture. 

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  1922: (Nosferatu)- The first silent film portrayal of Dracula, however used a different name due to legal rights. The German film is often regarded as a masterpiece for it's filming techniques.
• 1931 (Dracula) - Iconic original Hollywood film starring the Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi in the title role. It is often considered the most famous portrayal since it was the original. 
• 1958 (Horror of Dracula)- Christopher Lee plays an iconic Dracula
• 1971 (Count Chocula) Count Chocula became the marketed character of the popular chocolate marshmallow cereal produced by General Mills. 
• 1972 (Sesame Street) The character of Count von Count makes his first appearance portraying Count Dracula to teach children how to count numbers. No doubt an early influence for many children when it comes to the popularity of Dracula. 
• 1979 (Dracula) - Frank Langella portrays the part
• 1992 (Dracula) - Gary Oldman plays the part in Francis Ford Coppola's film which is considered one of the most faithful adaptations of the book. 
• 2012 (Hotel Transylvania) - Animated children's account of Dracula and his famly.
• 2024 (Nosferatu) - Very well done remake of the 1922 version. 

Book Review: Shogun

 As I've embarked on a summer of Japan one of the cornerstones of that phase has been the novel Shogun by James Clavell. The book is a two part behemoth with a total of 1312 pages (This falls into War and Peace status). There were certainly times I was not following every miniscule detail, but I got the main gist of the story. It is set once again in Feudal Japan, similar to my AC Shadows, video game, at the end of the 1500s and start of the 1600s (the dawn of the Edo Period). The story is a historical fiction pertaining to the real English navigator William Adams who crash landed in Japan in 1600 and served as their counselor for the rest of his life. In the backdrop of this story is the influence of Catholic Portugal and the warring daimyos which lead to the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate (the golden era of Japan known as the Edo Period). 

The setting alone was very fascinating for me, a true historical emersion into feudal Japan which I knew very little of. For starters I just recently discovered from this book that Japan was not discovered until the late 1500s by Portugal. Also of equal interest was the early influence the Catholic Church had after this arrival, but were then later expelled by the local Shinto and Buddhist faiths. I'd say this book was everything I was after in regards to better understanding Feudal Japan and it's overall culture. The TV show was also top quality, with great film production, even though it differed on a few key points from the book. One thing I was disappointed however was the rather abrupt ending which I'll get more into in the review. 

The Plot Synopsis

John Blackthorne is an English pilot of the Dutch ship known as Erasmus which is lost at sea for some time and eventually crashes on the coast of Izu Harbor, Japan. He and his crew are taken prisoners by the local Japanese daimyo Yabu, who intends to keep the ship for himself. Blackthorne is defiant and puts up a fight against his captors who later refer to him as a barbarian. News of the mysterious ships quickly reaches Yabu's liege lord Toranaga who summons him to bring the barbarian before him to Osaka. Once again Blackthorne displays his strong character of resistance, fighting with the Portuguese translators. Toranaga observes this fighting between the European foreigners and discovers there are two warring sects of the Christian faith between the Catholics and the Protestants. 

Toranaga realizes he can learn much from Blackthorne, especially his navigational skills, however decides to imprison him in order to appease the other regent council members (especially Lord Ishido his greatest rival). While in prison Blackthorne learns much of the language and customs of Japan from a Spanish friar. Toranaga once again summons Blackthorne, however this time he places a Japanese translator Mariko, as he begins to distrust the Catholic Portugese translators. Blackthorne explains the Catholic's church intent to colonize Japan the same way it did with the Americas of the New World. Toranaga gives Blackthorne the new Japanese name of "Anjin-san" as a sign of respect. 

Sensing a new threat with Blackthorne's arrival, the enemy regents, supported by the Catholic Portuguese send assassin's to kill Blackthorne however fail. Toranaga decides to then leave Osaka with Blackthorne, whom he now considers a great asset in his fight against the enemy regents. Toranaga grants him the privilege of hatamoto samurai with his own residence, wife, and even courtesans. Mariko continues to grow close to Blackthorne, as she translates for him and teaches him of Japense customs beginning to fall in love with him. However Blackthorne still desires to wage war against the Portuguese Catholics and return to his home in England. He even threatens to commit seppuki, which further demonstrate his fierce resolve to the Japanese daimyos. 

After some time Blackthorne does begin to learn the language and also trains the samurai army in the use of cannon warfare. During this time a great earthquake hits the town of Anjiro, by which Blackthorne saves Toranaga and thus strengthens their trust. However despite his newly acquired skilled navigator, Toranaga still has the odds stacked against him by the regent lords of Osaka led by Ishido. Toranaga is visited by his brother Zataki who informs him he has joined sides with Ishido, and the only option left for Toranaga is to give himself up and commit seppuku. While his war-counsel of Hiromatsu, Yabu, Buntaro, Naga, and Omi seek war, Toranaga instead plans to surrender. He sends Mariko to Osaka as his messenger to lord Ishido.

While visiting Lord Ishido in Osaka, Mariko declares Toranaga will surrender but first she must be allowed to leave with several other noblewomen. Ishido denies this request, which then leads to Mariko's rash act of public defiance in leaving the castle gates. Ishido's guards do not let her pass and she then publicly declares she will commit seppuku for being unable to fulfill her lord Toranaga's command. Knowing that the other regents and nobles do not wish to see Mariko die, Ishido grants her freedom to leave before she can commit seppuku. However that night the castle is assaulted by a group of ninjas (coordinated by Ishido and Yabu's betrayal). Mariko retreats to a storeroom with Blackthorne, where she sacrifices herself when the door is exploded. 

The death of Mariko was a tragedy for all of Osaka, and quickly turned the noble regents against Ishido, which was something he did not intend. This was ultimately a masterplan by Toranaga, knowing he could not defeat Ishido by sheer force and would need this act to help divide the regent lords. Furthermore Yabu was discovered for his treachery and ordered by Toranaga to commit seppuku. Upon his return from Osaka, Blackthorne discovers his ship the Erasmus has been sunk. Toranaga later reveals that a deal was made with the Catholics that Blackthorne's life could be spared if this ship was destroyed. Due to the sacrifice of Mariko and the loss of his ship, Blackthrone develops a new purpose to join Toranaga's fight and rebuild a new ship. The book ends with a brief paragraph on Toranaga's easy defeat of Ishido.

The Review

As I mentioned above this was a very long book, loaded with detail and many characters. I got the general flow of the story but could probably gain more from a 2nd read-thru. I can say that I learned quite a lot from the historical setting which is exactly what I was after. However there's parts of the story I was somewhat dissatisfied with. The first being this unfulfilled love and sacrifice of Mariko, who never really was able to obtain happiness. She was like a prisoner all along, shamed by her father's disgrace she was a prisoner to her lord Toranaga and her husband Buntaro. A devout Catholic she believed in a concept of an Eightfold Fence, a strict duty to Japan, which only allowed her brief moments of happiness with Blackthrone. She was in my opinion the book's true hero and most interesting character and I think she deserved a better ending.

I was also dissatisfied with the abrupt ending and think there could have been a sequel. The whole book is building to this war between Toranaga and Ishido, and the reader never really gets to see it unfold. Rather it's a game of tactical chess, with complex political and diplomatic schemes, Toranaga being the mastermind of it all. With as much detail as there was in the book, Clavell could have certainly dove further into a proper Japanese samurai battle. While we know that Toranaga had already won the battle before it began, why not spell this out in more detail. It would have been great to hear Ishido's final realization and dialogue that his alliance had broken and he was defeated. I also feel Blackthrone's animosity towards Mariko's husband Buntaro was also unresolved especially after her death.   

Aside from these two major anti-climatic points, the book still provided some great historical insight with powerful themes. I would say there was definitely a Japanese concept at work throughout the book, pertaining to their beliefs of honor, duty, karma, and destiny. What's especially interesting in this book, is the culture clash that occurs, where we get to see Japan's unique customs from the perspective of a westerner, Blackthrone (this being ideal for western readers). For me the most eye-opening aspect I learned from this book, was this extreme servitude by both Japanese men and women, who would quickly embrace death in the name of honor. 

The Characters

John Blackthorne (Anjin): He is a portrayal of English navigator William Adams the first Englishman to reach Japan. The character of Blackthrone is quite fierce and strong-minded who seeks to complete his mission by defeating the Portuguese Black Ship most of the book. He does eventually lose site of his own ambitions and begins to embrace the Japanese culture, by falling for Mariko and befriending Toranaga. His transition into the Japanese way is a key element of the book.  

Toranaga: He is the chief daimyo of the book portraying Tokugawa Ieyasu who would later establish the glorious Tokugawa Shogunate. Toranaga is depicted as a very wise and observant man, often calculating his opponents and his next move. His curiosity and willingness to learn of Blackthrone is what helps him gain the upper advantage on his rivals.

Mariko: She is one of the most interesting characters in the story. Her father was a traitor and her family was killed, yet she was spared by her husband Buntaro. She converted to Christianity seeking a new path to salvation and became fluent in various languages such as Latin and Portuguese. It is thru this skill of translation that she becomes a vital tool for Lord Toranaga. Her story is further enhanced when she falls for Blackthorne and reveals the elements of Japanese culture to him. She is ultimately a somber character who restrains her emotions it total stoicism, a concept she refers to as the eightfold path. She sees her sacrifice as the ultimate path to restore her family's honor, and achieve her fate.

Yabu: He is a the chief lord serving under Toranaga, with a sly humorous and scheming character. He is the first to discover Blackthorne and intends to use him for his own personal ambitions. His loyalty to Toranaga is questioned throughout the story, and ultimately breaks when he helps Ishido, which leads to his seppuku at the end.

Hiromatsu: He is the elder lord and most devoted general for Toranaga who confronts Yabu when the Dutch ship is discovered. He sides with Toranaga most the story, until the end when he commits seppuku in protest of Toranaga's decision not to fight.

Omi: He is a younger samurai lord, and nephew to Yabu, who serves Toranaga. He is deeply in love with the beautiful courtesan Kiku. 

Buntaro: He is a courageous samurai lord of Toranaga, and husband to Mariko. He is also a somber figure sharing in the remorse of his wife. He was believed to have been killed early in the story, but later returns and grows animosity towards Blackthrone due to his strong relation with his wife. Even after the death of his wife, his relationship is somewhat unresolved with Blackthrone. 

Ishido: He is Toranaga's chief rival in the council of regents, and seeks to establish himself as Shogun. 

Kiku: She is the most beautiful courtesan of Japan who is a consort to Omi, Toranaga, and Blackthrone. She is later arranged to be Blackthrone's husband at the end of the book. 

Lady Ochiba: She is the heir of the fallen Taiko, who holds significant influence over the regent lords. She is a friend of Mariko, and later decides to pull her alliance with Ishido due to Mariko's death.    

Naga-sun: He is the son of Toranaga, eager and willing to prove himself but perhaps not as strong as his father. 

Rodrigues: He is a skillful Portuguese navigator who befriends Blackthrone, despite their animosity towards one another. They share a rather humorous relationship, a mutual hate yet respect for the other.    

The TV Series

It was actually thanks to the Hulu TV series, that I decided to read this epic novel. I remember seeing the advertisements over a year ago, and could tell it was a top quality historical production. I knew AC Shadows was being released a year later, so I decided to hold from watching the show until I began playing the game. The two were a perfect pair for one another both pertaining to the historical setting of feudal Japan. I of course made sure to start the TV show as I was reaching the backend of the book.  However after a couple episodes in I was surprised to discover that the full book would be recounted in this first season and not the additional seasons to follow. So I had to really delay the final 5 episodes so I could finish Part 2 of the book.

I will say that the TV show definitely helped me better understand the story, but I also picked up on major differences from the book. Obviously the TV show was quite expedited and quickly skimmed over Blackthrone's early capture and culture clash with the local Japanese. It also skimmed over his feud with the Portuguese, primarily the captain Rodrigues. The TV show also skims thru the courtesan aspect of Kiku and the "Willow World". Another major difference were the deaths of Naga and Hiromatsu which did not occur in the book. I also noticed Blackthrone's attempted seppuku came midway thru the book and not at the end as depicted in the show. Also worth mentioning Yabu's second at his seppuku was his nephew Omi, and not Toranaga as depicted in the TV show.    

However despite it's differences from the original book, I would say the TV show definitely enhanced the story with it's dramatic flare. The show had a thematic quality to it, a grand-scale epic production on par with Game of Thrones. I wasn't too crazy about the lead actor portraying Blackthrone and his somewhat goofy demeanor, however I did enjoy the portrayals of Toranaga and Mariko. The setting, wardrobe, landscape, and music are quite captivating and really set this historical scene. For me what really gave the show an artistic quality was the use of poetry thru-out. The final poem at the end, really did move me, by Mariko and Ochiba;

While the snow remains, veiled in the haze of a cold evening, a leafless branch... 

Flowers are only flowers because they fall. 

Thankfully, the wind.

For me this poem captures the essence of Japanese culture, which is primarily focused on honor, duty, sacrifice, and fate. It's no doubt a somber poem that hints at Mariko's grim state by which nothing beautiful in this world can last for long. Furthermore she sees herself as this falling flower needing to achieve this sacrifice to fulfill her fate. However Ochiba adds a touch of hope in that final line, that states this beauty can live on even after the fall, which hints at Mariko's legacy after her death. Poetry such as this is relevant throughout the book, but especially more meaningful in the TV show. Also the ending dialogue between Yabu and Toranaga was equally powerful and poetic which made everything very clear at the end. It was a great show and I look forward to the seasons to follow that will expand on Toranaga's new shogunate.     

Folklore Study: History of Vampires

Before my trip to Prague I read a book set in the city to help me better understand it's mystique. The book was entitled The Lights of Prague, set in the 1850s pertaining to a war against vampires and their hunters. I started reading this book shortly after finishing The Witcher video game, which was also fittingly so about monster hunting. The book had an original semi-dark style to it, as it glorified the city of Prague while telling a suspenseful story. This story pertaining to vampires was already an impression I already had about Prague and really set the stage for my visit. However the book also got me into a vampire phase, a more gothic area that I usually stay away from. 

This recent fascination with vampires is really just an academic curiosity for me, no different then when I made my deep dive into the history of witchcraft a couple years ago. What's so interesting however is how much content and culture there is regarding to this paranormal creature. The first vampire that always comes to mind of course is Count Dracula. I'll later dive deeper into the history and literature regarding this figure, but shockingly it wasn't Dracula that started this vampire craze. Folkloric beliefs of blood-sucking monsters went much further back to medieval and ancient times. I'd like to study the evolution of this folkloric belief regarding vampires.

I'm going to break this study into three parts. First is the historical evolution of the vampire, pertaining to it's history in society. I'd like to understand where this fear of vampires came from and what inspired so much fictional content. I'd then like to break down the common traits and attributes of a vampire (such as their blood-sucking ways). Finally I'd like to highlight the many forms of media pertaining to vampires such as novels, art, movies, and television shows. It's no doubt quite a sub-culture, that has it's undeniable lure to the more macabre, horror, and gothic crowd. 

History of Vampire Folklore

The term "vampire" was born out of eastern Europe in the 1730s, and it's no question that most of it's source material takes place in that central-eastern European Slavic region (such as Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Romania). However this embodiment of the blood-sucking monster referred to as the vampire goes back into ancient times. Many ancient civilizations and religions believed in bloodsucking demons and devils. The Indian Hindus introduced dark spirits to their mythological beliefs such as the "vetalas" or the "pisacas" who would feed on the flesh of live creatures. 

The ancient Persians were one of the first civilizations to have tales regarding blood sucking demons, and created the iconic Lilitu (later known as Lilith by ancient Hebrew text). According to the Persians and the Jews, she was a blood-sucking demon who fed on humans and spawned a species of beautiful yet savage vampires known as "estries". The Greeks and Romans also added vampire-like demons to their mythological beliefs such as the shape-shifting "Empusae, the child-eating Lamia, and the nocturnal birdlike striges. 

During the medieval period, there was some minimal accounts of folkloric vampire creatures written by British and Old Norse poets, often pertaining to undead zombies such as revenants. By the mid 1300s however this fear became a reality when there were various accounts in the Czech region of buried corpses seen committing murders. There was also an account in Croatia in 1672 about a young man named Jure Grando who came back to life to commit murder. Certain historic figures such as Vlad the Impaler of Wallachia and Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary were later accused of having vampire tendencies with no hard evidence. It's no question that the vampire hysteria we know of as today was first rooted in eastern Europe during the 1600 and 1700s. From here came the legends and folklore pertaining to the villainous vampires and their common attributes, which later spread to western Europe. 

During the European Witchcraft frenzy of the 1600-1700s, there were also many real cases of vampire sightings and trials. This hysteria unfolded particularly in the 1720s in East Prussia there were many accounts of vampire attacks. There were also real accounts in Serbia of people returning from the dead to murder others by sucking out their blood. These two Serbian cases specifically led to an uproar of vampire fear, hysteria, and controversy throughout Eastern Europe. These legends later spread throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas who incorporated their own variations on the vampire. In 1897 Irish author Bram Stoker wrote the iconic novel of Dracula, which made the vampire a common monster in folklore. 

Vampire Attributes

The physical features and traits of the vampire have changed much throughout history, but really began to take shape into a structure by the 19-20th century. The vampire we know of as today, best demonstrated by the iconic Count Dracula consists of the following common attributes:

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  Undead Creatures: Vampires are former human beings, who have died and yet their corpse lives on. In this regard they are immortal, unless they are beheaded or staked in the heart. It is commonly understood that to become a vampire one must be bitten by another vampire.
• Blood-sucking savages: Vampires have predator sharp fangs to feed on the blood of others. They constantly have a thirst for blood which will often turn their civil behavior into animal behavior. 
• Supernatural Strength: Aside from their predator fangs, vampires are often depicted with supernatural strength, speed, and other paranormal powers. For this reason it is very difficult to kill a vampire.
  
• Immortality: Since they are already technically dead, vampires are immortal creatures. They do not age, yet rather are depicted with youthful beauty and classy style. 
• Hallucination: Vampires often have the power to hallucinate or manipulate other people's minds.
• Transformation: On various accounts vampires have the ability to shape-shift or transform into smoke or a bat. 
• Sexuality: Vampires are often depicted with a heightened libido, or a more hungry sexual appetite. 
• Enemy of Werewolves: In many stories, shows, and movies they are often depicted as having extreme prejudice, hate, and violent conflicts with the werewolf race
• Fear of the Light: It's commonly understood that vampires must dwell in the darkness and cannot survive in the daylight. They will often sleep in coffins during the daytime. For this reason they have very pale skin. 
• Methods of Vampire Protection: Vampires have various weakness which humans will often use to protect themselves. This can range from magical symbols, to mirrors, garlic, wild rose, hawthorn, or mustard seed. It is also commonly accepted that the vampires have a weakness towards religious symbols such as a crucifix, rosary, holy water, or bible. 
• Methods of Vampire Hunting: Most vampires are immortal and do not age. However they do have weaknesses. The most common way to murder a vampire is to stake it through the heart. Beheading the vampire is also an affective way to bring it's life to an end. 

Literature on Vampires

Of course the first book that comes to mind is the classic Dracula by Bram Stoker. This book more-or-less established the iconic image of the vampire. However long before Bram Stoker's book there were various poems and books about vampires or consisting of vampire creatures as the villains. In more modern times there has been a reawakening of vampire novels, most notably the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Her books essentially modernized the outdated notions of vampires in a way that JK Rowling modernized witchcraft. I for one never read the Twilight books and still do not intend to, however I am going to watch the movies now just out of cultural curiosity.    

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  Lenore (1773): This poem is often regarded as one of the first popular works of literature pertaining to vampires. Written by German author Gottfried August Burger, it is considered a Gothic ballad. The premise is a grieving woman who confronts a mysterious person who at first appears to be her husband but is later revealed as death. This macabre story demonstrates the darker side of undead vampires. 
  
• Varney the Vampire (1845): One of the first popular novels pertaining to the vampire character this horror book was written by British authors James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest. This book was a major influence on Bram Stoker and established some of the classical attributes of a vampire such as their sharp fangs. 
• Carmilla (1872): This Gothic novel written by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu was another major inspiration to Bram Stoker. The novel deals with a female protagonist who is a countess that happens to be a vampire. It deals with lesbian romance as the countess/vampire has controversial desires for other women. This book was way ahead of it's time and also captures the sexual drive and lustfulness often portrayed among vampires. 
• Dracula (1897): It is the popular Horror gothic novel written by Irish author Bram Stoker that created to this day one of the most famous vampire characters. The character of Count Dracula is described to live in the Transylvania region in a castle in the mountains (which is modern day Romania). He is later hunted by the doctor and scientist Van Helsing who also established the common attributes for vampire hunting. The character of Count Dracula was a reference to the Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler who ruled from 1448-1476. While he is considered a hero of Romania, he is coined with the term impaler in reference to Saxon enemies that he had impaled. It's no doubt that this cruel nature of Vlad the Impaler as well as other Transylvanian folklore inspired Bram Stoker's iconic novel. 
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  Interview with a Vampire (1976): Written by American author Anne Rice, this book portrays the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac who tells his story to a reporter. The vampire is based out of New Orleans, LA and travels the world in search of other vampires. The book inspired the popular 1994 film adaptation starring Brad Pitt in the lead role. 
  
• Twilight (2008-2020): American author Stephanie Meyer revamped the vampire culture with this very popular romance series. Just as with Harry Potter, the book was targeted to the teenage crowd and noted for it's darker elements. The author originally published four books from 2005-2008 (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) and recently released two more in 2015 and 2020 (Life and Death and Midnight Sun). The book was adapted into a popular movie series starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
• Lights of Prague (2021): Probably not so much of a popular book but I actually enjoyed this and it's the root of my inspiration with vampires. Written by American author Nicole Jarvis it is an action romance between a vampire hunter and a vampire. I especially enjoyed the setting of 1850s Prague, where the vampire hunter was a lamplighter. The story dives deep into vampire culture and uses the term "pijavica" to describe their monstrous nature.   

Television Shows about Vampires

• 
  Dark Shadows (1966-1971): This was a popular Gothic soap opera about a wealthy family in Maine who happened to be vampires. The show depicted all manners of horror creatures from werewolves, ghosts, zombies, and witches. A movie adaptation was later released about the family starring Johnny Depp. 
  
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003): I remember this show as a kid starring the attractive blonde, Sarah Michelle Gellar as the vampire hunter. I maybe caught a few scenes here and there and would consider it more of a teenage soap opera than a proper gothic horror drama. 
• The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017): Although I have not seen this show, I have heard of it and understand it to be a popular teenage drama about vampires. The show ran for 8 seasons and produced 171 episodes which is certainly saying something about it's popularity. 
• Castlevania (2017-2021) Based on the popular video game, it pertains to the family of Dracula as they seek vengeance for the murder of Count Dracula's wife. 
• True Blood (2008-2014) A comedy/drama produced by HBO, based off the popular book series by Charlaine Harris. It stars the attractive Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse. The show is set in modern day Louisiana and pertains to vampires and many other wicked monsters. I'm actually currently watching this show and can say after nearly 3 seasons I really do enjoy it. It is yet another well written show by HBO and has a unique blend of dark comedy and drama.  

Movies about Vampires

• Dracula (1931): There are many many film adaptations of Bram Stoker's famous novel but it appears this is considered the most classic. The title character was famously portrayed by Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi. 
• Interview with the Vampire (1994): Based off the popular book by Anne Rice it tells a modern day biography of a vampire living among society. It stars top A-listers such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, and Kirsten Dunst. 
• 
  Van Helsing (2004): Based on the heroic scientist Dr. Van Helsing, it stars Hugh Jackman in the title role. It is an action film, where Van Helsing is hunting monsters all across Transylvania, along with his attractive sidekick played by the Gothic queen herself, Kate Beckinsale. The film had a clever setting, but received negative reviews, and I for one did not care much for it. 
• The Blade Trilogy (1998-2004): It is a Marvel superhero trilogy, with Wesley Snipes portraying the the title character. Blade is considered a dhampir (a creature that has vampire superpowers, but is not immortal). I never watched a single one of these movies, but understand they were quite popular during my teenage years. 
  
• I am Legend (2007): Based off the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson it is a post-apocalyptic action movie starring Will Smith. Due to a deadly virus the majority of society has transformed into blood sucking vampire demons. Will Smith must isolate, defend, and survive against these horrific monsters.   
• Hotel Transylvania (2012-2020): An animated comedy about Count Dracula welcoming other monsters in Transylvania to his castle. The film series starred Adam Sandler in the title role and produced 5 films as well as a TV series. I may have caught the first film but don't remember anything noteworthy from it. I enjoyed Steve's Carrell's portrayal of Gru much more in Despicable Me, even though he is not considered a vampire.  
• Underworld (2003-2016): Starring the very sexy Kate Beckinsale it is a vampire action movie about an underground system of monsters living in modern day. The premise is essentially a modern day war between vampires and werewolves (a common theme in vampire content). It has all the modern day vampire attributes with the very pale skin and the tight black leather. 
• Dark Shadows (2012): Directed by the king of the Gothic genre, Tim Burton and starring his prodigy Johnny Depp this pertains to the popular 1960s comedy. It has a slew of big name actors such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, and Jackie Earle Haley. 
• Twlight Saga (2008-2012): This very popular teenage drama pertains to vampire romance and conflicts with other vampires and werewolves. I never cared much for the series but am giving it another try this time around. Two movies in, I'm still not very impressed. 

Historical Study: Witchcraft during the Colonial Age

During my recent full immersion into the Colonial Age, I have noticed a subtle backdrop element of witchcraft. It seems during this new birth of Protestant purity, came a reactive component of superstitious paganism.  There's no doubt that the practice of witchcraft goes far beyond the Colonial Age, however it certainty reached a height of hysteria during the 1600-1700s. In this post I'd like to make a general study on witchcraft during the Colonial Age (with an emphasis on Christian accusations). I'd like to better understand the accused practices of witchcraft as well as the most infamous trials of the period.

As a devout Catholic I tend to stray away from anything related to horror or the dark arts. However I cannot deny my fascination with this topic as a scholarly enthusiast of history. There's also an element of fantasy to it, which I have always enjoyed in popular literature such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and the Harry Potter series. The idea of witches today have a light-toned perception to them, often associated with the spooky elements of Halloween. In a way our popular culture has embraced the frowned upon witches just as they have with pirates.

Nonetheless it wasn't always this way and for most of history the mere idea of witchcraft, was the tool of the devil and the enemy of the church. To engage in any superstitious practice that was not associated to the Christian church was considered a blasphemous injustice. While the Catholics were no doubt guilty of these religious persecutions long before the Protestant Reformation, the practice of witch-hunting reached it's pinnacle during the European Wars of Religion. It was during this period of the Counter Reformation (1580-1630) that nearly 50,000 witches were killed.

As I have recently read various books pertaining to the Colonial Age and specifically the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, I am often left with one simple question; did people actually practice witchcraft in those days or was it all the result of religious hysteria. It's my belief in the latter, that that these hunts were more so conducted by fanatical purification rather than any hard proof against the accused. To put it simply in the days of Puritan "righteousness" to be different from the norm could result in harsh accusations. However with that said I do believe there were those who engaged in the unorthodox superstitious practice of witchcraft. It just seems quite rational for their to be naysayers and cults of witchcraft as an offshoot to Puritan extremism.

The Accused Practices of Witchcraft

Once again I don't intend to dive too deep into this dark topic, but would just like to get a general understanding of what constituted as a witch. There is really no hard evidence that a secret society of witches and devil-worshipers ever existed in those days. It seems much more likely that each witch who ever confessed was an isolated event not connected to some well organized cult. Furthermore while most were unusual characters, none could engage in any real supernatural magic only superstitious practices. However of course there are theories and conspiracies which is probably what makes this topic so intriguing.

The first major source of the study of witchcraft was Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of the Witches) by Heinrich Kramer in 1486. The German Catholic clergyman conducted a detailed inquest into the dark art and ultimately encouraged the total extermination of this practice by any means necessary. He defined several characteristics of witchcraft pertaining to dealings with the devil and the practice of wicked magic. The book was a major source of information during the heightened witch trials of the Counter Reformation. The belief of a witch-cult reached new popularity in the early 1900s thanks to various publications on the topic from renown historian, Margeret Muller. The general theory was that the witch-cult served as a Pagan religion long before Christianity and partook in dark rituals.

The hypothesis of there being a pagan religion of witchcraft during the Colonial Days seems far-fetched and mostly disproved. However the practice of witchcraft in it's broader sense was still very prevalent in those days. What began to occur in the mid 1500s, most likely as a result of the Malleus Maleficarum as well as the Protestant Reformation, was not so much a new growth of witchcraft yet a much stricter purging of witchcraft. It was ultimately the trials that brought new attention to this dark art that had been practiced for a millennium. In these trials the authorities used various accusations to determine a witch.

• Spell-casting: Purely a superstitious practice that often was engaged thru the incantation of words, ritualistic dances, symbols, herbs, potions, or poppet dolls. 
• Occultism: Belief in the supernatural study of astronomy, alchemy, astrology, palm reading, and magic 
• Secularization: Isolated, non-conformist, and non-religious values
• Demonology: The study of demons and worship of the devil
• Necromancy: To rise dead spirits from the dead 

Once again none of these practices were anything supernatural yet more so a frowned upon way-of-life. The witch trials were mostly conducted thru accusations and the ridiculous tool of spectral evidence. Thru this use of spectral evidence an accuser would share his bewitched experience with the court in which he was haunted, bitten, or pinched in a dream or a vision. Without any hard evidence, the court could use the accuser's word-of-mouth claim, to try and hang a witch. This was not only poor legal practice yet also very poor Christian practice in an age of "righteousness".

Other tools and tests the court officials used to determine a witch were severe questioning, by which the magistrate would entirely intimidate and lead the witch into a confession. Then there was the touch test, where if an afflicted person would touch the accused and were suddenly healed it was because that person was the one who afflicted them. Another belief was the "witch's teat", a supposed blemish or wart on the person's body that represented a bite from the devil. These were all very idiotic tests, and even the confessions were mostly done-so out of fear of being hanged.

The Infamous Trials of Witch-craft

All throughout history there have been isolated events of witch-hunts, trials, and executions. This practice of total panic and paranoia goes as far back as the days of Ancient Egypt, China, and Greece. During the Medieval Age, the Catholic church led a series of inquisitions against witches, yet their primary target were heretics and enemies of the church. It was not until the 1500s that communities began a widespread purging of witchcraft. This sudden influx was the result of many factors born from the Renaissance, such as a rise in the occultism as well as the Protestant Reformation. Henrich Kramer's publication in 1486 became the new manual and the rallying cry to exterminate all witches.

Of course there were many isolated accounts through this period targeted at one witch at a time. The witch was often accused and eradicated by an angry mob, trial, or execution. However below I would like to list the most infamous trials conducted on a communal grand-scale. In these instances mentioned below it was not just an isolated case of witchcraft, yet more so an epidemic that had plagued a town or region. Some of the greatest number of accusations and casualties occurred in Germany and Scotland. Also of note that while women made up the majority 80% of accusations, men, animals, and even werewolves were accused. 

• Lisbon Witch Trials (1559-1560)
• Occurred in Lisbon, Portugal
• est 35 accusations, 7 executions
• Wiesensteig Witch Trials (1562-1563)
• Occurred in Wiesensteig, Germany
• 67 executions
• Trier Witch Trials (1581-1593)
• Occurred in Trier, Germany
• est 1000 executions
• North Berwick Witch Trials (1590)
• East Lothian, Scotland
• est 70-100 executions
• Great Scottish Witch Hunt (1597)
• Occurred in Scotland
• est 400 tried; 200 executions
• Fulda Witch Trials (1603-1606)
  
• Occured in Fulda, Germany
• est 250 executions
• Koge Huskors Trials (1608-1615)
• Occurred in Koge, Denmark
• est 15-20 executions
• Basque Witch Trials (1609-1611)
• Occurred in Navarre, Spain
• est 7000 accusations, est 100 executions
• Ellwangen Witch Trials (1611-1618)
• Occurred in Ellwangen, Germany
• est 450 executions
• Pendle Witch Trial (1612)
• Occurred in Lancashire, England
• 12 accused; 10 executions 
• Northamptonshire Witch Trials (1612)
• Occurred in Northampton, England
• 5 executions 
• Eichstatt Witch Trials (1613-1630)

• Occurred in Eichstatt, Germany
• est 224 executions
• Roermond Witch Trials (1613)
• Occurred in Roermond, Netherlands
• est 64 executions
• Spa Witch Trials (1616)
• Occurred in Spa, Belgium
• est 14 executions
• Vardo Witch Trials (1621)
• Occurred in Northern Norway
• est 150 executions
• Moravia Witch Trials (1622-1696)
• Occurred in Silesia, Czech Republic
• est 250 executions
• Wurzburg Witch Trials (1626-1631)

• Occurred in Wurzburg, Germany
• est 900 executions
• Bamberg Witch Trials (1626-1631)
• Occurred in Bamberg, Germany
• est 1000 executions
• Mergentheim Witch Trials (1628-1631)
• Occurred in Mergentheim, Germany
• 126 executions
• Livonia Werewolf trials (1633-1692)
• Occurred in Livonia, Latvia
• 31 accusations 
• Bury St. Edmonds Witch Trials (1645-1662)
• Occurred in Suffolk, England
• est 18 executions
• Nogaredo Witch Trials (1646-1647)
• Occurred in Nogaredo, Italy
• est 8 to 10 executions
• Great Scottish Witch Hunt (1649-1650)

• Occurred in Scotland
• est 612 accusations, 300 executions
• Great Scottish Witch Hunt (1661-1662)
• Occurred in Scotland
• est 660 accusations, 200 executions    
• Vardo Witch Trials (1662-1663)
• Occurred in Northern Norway
• 20 executions
• Esslingen Witch Trials (1662-1666)
• Occurred in Esslingen, Germany
• 37 executions
• Finspang Witch Trials (1668-1676)
• Occurred in Ostergotland, Sweden
• est 7 to 9 executions
• Mora Witch Trials (1669)
• Occurred in Mora, Sweden
• est 60 accusations, 17 exeuctions
• Torsaker Witch Trials (1675)

• Occurred in Torsaker, Sweden
• 71 executions
• Salzburg Witch Trials (1675-1690)
• Occurred in Salzburg, Austria
• 139 executions
• Affair of the Poisons (1677-1682)
• Occurred in France
• 36 executions
• Lichtenstein Witch Trials (1679-1682)
• Occurred in Lichtenstein
• est 100 executions
• Salem Witch Trials (1692)
• Occurred in Salem, USA
• 19 executions
• Paisley Witch Trials (1696)
• Occurred in Paisley, Scotland
• 7 executions
• Szeged Witch Trials (1728-1729)
• Occurred in Szeged, Hungary
• 14 executions

By 1750 the practice of witch-hunting and trials had begun to decline throughout Europe and America. By this point witchcraft was no longer considered a criminal offense. This was most likely due to the fact of the countless accusers and officials who later recanted their accusations as ill-advised and simply incorrect. In 1735 Great Britain passed a new law which prohibited anyone from accusing someone of witchcraft. This act demonstrated the widespread realization that witch-hunting was no more than a paranoid hysteria.

I suppose in defense of the legal proceedings, the witch trials were not so much about proving supernatural powers yet more were against the worship of the devil. To this day the practice of black arts and satanic worship are still very frowned upon however the trials of old have long pasted. On the flip side of the dark arts there is also the practice of white magic, a form of healing and folk religion. These good witches would probably have been tried and hanged all the same as the bad witches back in the colonial days, however today they openly practice their beliefs. The religion of Wicca was established in the 1920s and today remains as the most populated Pagan religion.

Popular Culture pertaining to Witches

Although I know I have only scratched at the surface of this topic with a brief focus on the colonial age, I'd like to also consider this post as a cultural study. As I mentioned above the idea of witches has captured the fascination of many writers in modern history. Today it is embedded in most societies as an iconic character of popular culture. The common witch is usually depicted as an old hag, with a big nose, a black hat, riding on a broom stick, and accompanied by cats. Next to pumpkins, witches are probably the most distinctive element of Halloween. They are commonly associated with spookiness yet more-so in a light-tone satirical sense.

Just like with pirates, witches are often represented as the archetype villain in a fantasy. For me the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz was probably my first experience of witches and to this day I think she is the most definitive image of a witch. However also just like with pirates there are good witches as demonstrated in other forms of literature and movies. It was quite recently that the author JK Rowling brought a whole new perspective to witchcraft with her popular books of Harry Potter. Here she expanded on the fictional world of witchcraft by adding more wizards and a school for the magically gifted. This series was mostly a light-toned fantasy, however it did get a bit darker and more intense in the later novels.

Below is a list of what I consider some of the most iconic representations of witches in books, TV, and movies. I'm sure I'll be missing some on this list however these are the main ones for me that come to mind. Also as mentioned many times before I am not a fan of horror films and realize that witches are probably a common character in those productions.

• Hansel and Gretal (1812) Perhaps one of the earliest depictions of a witch in fantasy literature was published by the Grim Brothers in this popular German fairy tale. Two children are lost in the woods and welcomed by a witch who plots to fatten the children and eat them. This is one of many popular German fairy tales published by the Grim Brothers that pertains to the villainy of witches. 
• The Scarlet Letter (1850) this classic work of American literature by Nathaniel Hawthorne pertains to an adulteress woman who is very much tempted by witchcraft. This is because she is cast out from society and remains on the brink of madness. The witch Ann Hibbins is the historical witch in this story who unsuccessfully tempts Hester on various occasions. 
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900, 1939) This children's novel by L. Frank Baum has become one of the most famous stories pertaining to witchcraft. The story's main character Dorothy arrives in the land of Oz and encounters 4 witches (2 good and 2 bad). The most iconic of these witches is the Wicked Witch of the West. In the popular 1939 film she was played brilliantly by Margaret Hamilton. The story has sense had many adaptations and expansions to it's universe. 
• Lord of the Rings (1937, 2001-2013) This epic fantasy novel by JR Tolkien mostly pertains to wizards. The character of Gandalf is the heroic good wizard while Sarumon is the evil wizard and pawn of the dark lord Sauron. Their wizard battle in The Fellowship of the Rings was very exciting material. The book was later adapted into very popular films in 2001, 2002, and 2003 directed by Peter Jackson. 
• Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) Were a popular fantasy novel written by CS Lewis consisting of 7 books. The main antagonist of the first two books was Jadis the White Witch. In the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe she has frozen all of Narnia and seeks to imprison the young Pevensie children. Three of these books were later adapted by Disney; The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 
• The Crucible (1953) This famous play by Arthur Miller is a historical drama pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. By taking some liberty with the characters, Miller creates a very engaging drama in the midst of this hysteria. To this day it is considered one of Miller's most famous plays and the story was later adapted into a film in 1993 starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day Lewis. 
  
• Sleeping Beauty (1959) this Walt Disney animated film demonstrated yet another very iconic witch in Maleficent. She is in my opinion one of the most powerful witches in all of the Disney films. Her character was later portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the recent live-action films.   
• The Sword in the Stone (1963) This Disney animated film portrayed the legendary wizard of Merlin as he counseled the young boy Arthur. The movie is filled with light-toned magical musical, and humorous sequences. However Merlin does have a decent sorcery battle with the dark witch known as Madam Mim.
• Hocus Pocus (1993) This Disney comedy film of three witches has become somewhat of a Halloween classic over the years. I think I've only seen it once and found it be somewhat sappy overall.
• Charmed (1998-2006) This popular TV series pertained to three modern day sisters who engaged in witchcraft and the supernatural. I have not ever watched the show yet am familiar with it, more so because of the very attractive actresses. 
• Harry Potter Series (1997-2013) Are a series of fantasy novels by JK Rowling pertaining to the secret world of witchcraft and wizardry. It's main character Harry Potter is welcomed to the school of witchcraft, Hogwarts, where he makes various friends and enemies. While the book begins as a light-hearted children's novel it later gets into darker elements of witchcraft pertaining to the antagonist Voldermort. Nonetheless it is still a very entertaining story that has brought new perspective to the appeal of witchcraft. The books were quickly adapted into popular fantasy films. 
• Wicked (2003) This popular Broadway musical is an expansion of the Wizard of Oz story from the perspective of the witches. I am not yet familiar with the story or it's
  
  music however am
  aware of it's popularity. The show is currently the fifth longest running Broadway show in production.  
• Into the Woods (2014) This is a musical film I have not seen yet adapted from Stephen Sondheim's 1986 Broadway Musical. The story is basically a merging of various Brother Grimm fairy tales. However the main antagonist played by Meryl Streep received great acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.     
• The Witch (2015) As stated many times before I don't care for horror films, however did recently watch this in the spirit of this fascination. This film set in 1630 New England, wasn't all that scary and actually had some impressive costume and settings. The young girl must come to terms with her ailment and eventually her whole family is killed while she joins the cult in the forest. Truly a terrible story, but still a good historical setting and no doubt the adult representation of witchcraft. 

Historical Study: Golden Age of Piracy

Ever since I was a little kid, I've always been fascinated by the idea of pirates. They have often been portrayed as villainous mercenaries of the sea yet also celebrated for their lifestyle of adventure. Pirates have been a part of pop culture for many years now demonstrated in books, movies, television shows, songs, sports teams, and so forth. Perhaps my earliest association of the cliche portrayal of pirates must have been the Disney films, Peter Pan and Hook. I was especially partial to the story of Peter Pan since we performed the play at school when I was in 1st grade. In J.M. Barrie's classic novel, the heroic Peter Pan does battle with a gang of pirates led by the cruel Captain Hook. From then on began many other associations to the adventurous portrayal of pirates.

Pirates in Popular Culture

Another early association for me was the many sports teams that carry pirate themes. For starters the private school I went, our team name was the St. John New Haven Raiders. Also there was my love of baseball as a young boy, and I remember that cool team out of Pittsburgh with their black and yellow colors led by their superstar Barry Bonds, known as the Pirates. By the time I had gotten to fourth and fifth grade I began to enjoy the NFL, and became familiar with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a young boy/teenager it just seemed cool to be a free-spirited pirate sailing the sea in search of treasure. 

I later remember in junior high reading the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and becoming familiar with the infamous character Captain Long John Silver. I also loved seafood since I was kid (perhaps part of being Catholic) and loved our trips to the pirate-themed seafood restaurants of Red Lobster and Long John Silver. I later remember in my teenage years enjoying the Nickelodeon cartoon Spongebob Squarepants which also had major pirate elements to it's comedy.

Then of course when I was in high school Disney released perhaps one of the most iconic pirate films to date, the Pirates of the Caribbean starring Johnny Depp as the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow. The film series went on to release 4 more sequels yet none were near as good as the original. Nonetheless Disney made a fortune from the film series and revitalized the legends of pirates celebrated in classics such as Treasure Island and Peter Pan. To this day pirates are a popular theme among kids, costume parties, seafaring trips, or any other form of entertainment. However the question I would like to better understand is the history of these pirates. 

As I noted in the previous post, this recent fascination with pirates and the age of exploration is derived from the game Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (of which I will later have a review on.). The game is set on the Caribbean Islands during the early 1700s in what is often considered as the Golden Age of Piracy. There can be no doubt that this idea of piracy goes back to the ancient days of history and was quite prevalent during the height of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Yet the iconic portrayal of pirates as we know them today was derived from the period ranging from 1650-1730. This was an age of lawlessness in a new world that was undergoing discovery and establishment. 

History of the Golden Age

By the late 1500's the Caribbean had become a booming center of trade, attracting many Europeans (such as the Spanish, British, French, and Dutch) to seek new fortune. There was a new boom in privateering businesses, seeking former navy sailors to set sail on warships of trade, exploration, or military purposes. This privateer lifestyle offered new freedoms from the harsh discipline of the navy and many Europeans quickly sought out work as privateers. In essence these were mostly sea-mercenaries hired by the government or some major company to seek a fortune. From this new booming business came the wicked cousin of the privateer, piracy. 

The major difference between the privateer and the pirate, was that the pirate was operating without any financial backing. Unlike the privateer, still operating as an employee, the pirate was more so a freeman loyal to the captain and the ship. Also worth noting there were good pirates and bad pirates. The good ones often operated on behalf of their nation such as the English, Francis Drake . Others stole from the rich to give to the poor such as the the famous Spanish corsair, Amaro Pargo. However the bad ones took advantage of their lifestyle of lawlessness and partook in crime, pillaging, and plunder. By the early 1600s the piracy business had begun to thrive in the new world of the Caribbean, with major seaports operating out of Tortuga, Nassau, and Port Royal.  

These thriving pirates operating out of the Caribbean were also referred to as Buccaneers (to separate them from piracy elsewhere in the world). The piracy in the North Africa trade routes were referred to as Barbary pirates or Ottoman corsairs. After the Thirty Years War was finished in 1650 the Europeans (specifically the Spanish and English) re-averted much of their financial endeavors into sea trade. Spain was in the midst of a major transition, losing much of the power they had once held under King Philip. Therefore the Caribbean region became a booming center of colonial trade that was highly contested among warring nations, yet also freelance pirates. During this time the Caribbean Sea had become a melting pot of chaos, outlaw, and opportunity, similar to the Wild West, which gave way to the Golden Age of Piracy.

By the late 1600s there were nearly 2400 active pirates operating throughout the Caribbean Sea. Most of which were former sailors, criminals, slaves, privateers, or various other seafaring backgrounds. They lived a life of freewheeling, loyal to the code of their ship and to their captain. Many notorious sea captains found great success as pirates during this age such as Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Bartholomew Roberts, and Mary Read. By the early 1700s in response to this booming problem of piracy, the European nations began establishing navy ports in the Caribbean to protect their financial interests. New laws were enacted with very harsh punishments against piracy, including executions and public hangings. By the 1720s following the post Spanish Succession period, piracy in the Caribbean had withered away. 

Famous Historical Pirates

• Barbarossa Brothers 
• Origin: Ottoman
• Years Active: 1500-1545
• Piracy: Hayreddin Barbaossa and his elder brother Oruc Reis, were notorious Ottoman corsairs during the early 1500s. They raided many European trade ships along North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. Hayreddin was later made grand admiral of the Ottoman Navy by Suleiman the Magnificent. His greatest claim to fame was the capture of Algiers in 1516 from the Spanish by which he became ruler of and later annexed the territory to the Ottoman Empire.  
• Sir Francis Drake

• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1563-1596
• Piracy: Perhaps one of the most famous British naval captain's in history, he was regarded as a privateer, an explorer, a military captain, yet also a pirate. His first claim to fame came in 1577 with his circumvention of the world in one single trip and his discovery of California. During this voyage he partook in a campaign of piracy against Spanish ships located in the South Pacific Ocean. He captured and looted treasure from these Spanish ships in the name of his English Queen Elizabeth. The Queen later rewarded Francis Drake's loyalty with a knighthood and a vice-admiral post. After his piracy and exploration campaigns Sir Francis Drake played a vital role in commanding the English navy to victory at the Spanish Armada of 1588. 
• Francis l'Olonnais
• Origin: French
• Years Active: 1660-1668
• Notable Ships:
• Piracy: Francis l'Olonnais was a French servant who later became a buccaneer based out of Tortuga and established a crew of pirates. His greatest claim to fame was his sacking of Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1666 with a fleet of 8 ships and 440 pirates. This plunder of Spanish wealth brought him great profit yet also notoriety by which he was later hunted by the Spanish Empire. Also known as the "Bane of Spain", Francis' final campaign was in Nicaragua in 1667 by which he was forced to retreat to land, and was later captured and executed by an indigenous tribe in Panama.   
• Henry Morgan

• Origin: Welsh
• Years Active: 1663-1671
• Notable Ships: Oxford
• Piracy: In the likes of Sir Francis Drake, Henry Morgan was a heroic pirate he acted on behalf of his British Empire. Throughout the late 1660s he conducted various campaigns of piracy against the Spanish fleets located in Maracaibo. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame was his sack of Panama City in 1671. In an effort to appease Spanish hostilities the British kingdom recalled and arrested Henry Morgan for his pirate campaigns. However revered by the British public as a hero, Henry Morgan was later assigned to public office, as lieutenant governor of Jamaica. He is among the most iconic pirates celebrated in various novels and films, yet most recognized for the popular Jamaican brand of rum, Captain Morgan.     
• Henry Every
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1694-1696 
• Notable Ships: Charles II later renamed the Fancy
• Piracy: Henry Every, also referred to as Benjamin Bridgeman or Long Ben is often considered to be one of the most profitable of pirates in history. His greatest claim to fame was being able to retire with his loot, rather than be captured or executed for his crimes. His greatest plunder in 1695 was of the Mughal Empire, and their 25-ship convoy of treasure located in the Indian Ocean. Despite there being a worldwide manhunt for him, Henry Every was able to retire from piracy and live out the rest of his days in hiding. 
• William Kidd

• Origin: Scottish
• Years Active: 1695-1701
• Notable Ships: Adventure Galley, Quedagh Merchant
• Piracy: William Kidd is one of several famous pirates who transitioned from privateering to pirating. He was first commissioned to hunt pirates throughout the Indian Ocean in 1695. However after facing various mutiny threats from his crew he switched his allegiance and began piracy campaigns from the ports of Madagascar. His greatest plunder came in 1697 when he commandeered the Armenian ship Quedagh Merchant. This not only gave him a sizable profit yet also a powerful new ship. Kidd was eventually hunted and arrested in the Boston harbor. In 1701 he was tried and executed by the English courts, and his body was famously hung in a cage on the River Thames to warn others against piracy. 
• Amaro Pargo
• Origin: Spanish
• Years Active: 1712-1729
• Notable Ships: Ave Maria y Las Animas
• Piracy: Often considered the Spanish equivalent to Sir Francis Drake, Amaro Pargo was another example of a patriotic pirate acting on behalf of his country. Throughout his heyday he stole from various English and Dutch ships throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean. He was also renown for giving away much of his treasure and loot to the poor, in a rather Robin Hood style. In 1725 he was honored by the Spanish Crown as a hero of nobility.  
• Edward Teech "Blackbeard"
• Origin: English
  
• Years Active: 1716-1718
• Notable Ships: Queen Anne's Revenge
• Piracy: Often regarded as one of the most infamous and notorious pirates in history, Edward Teech was renown for his cruel and unusual tactics. He was a very intimidating figure with his black beard that he would often light with fuses. During his brief heyday he established one of the most threatening ships in the North Atlantic Ocean with 40 cannons and a crew of 300. His blockade and ransom of the port of Charleston, SC was perhaps his greatest claim to fame. Shortly after this the governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood organized a fleet to capture Blackbeard by which he was killed in battle in November of 1718. His terrifying appearance has become the iconic image of the fictional pirate villain. 
• John Rackham "Calico Jack"
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1718-1720
• Notable Ships: The Kingston
• Piracy: While a rather short-lived campaign of piracy his story is most celebrated for his love affair with the female pirate Anne Bonny. His first claim to fame came in 1718 when he lead a mutiny of the infamous pirate of the Bahamas, Charles Vane. He later became captain of the Kingston and conducted various raids of piracy throughout Port Royal. During this time he fell for Anne Bonny, the wife of another sailor, and ran off with her to take part in piracy together. Calico Jack was eventually hunted, captured, and executed in Port Royal in November of 1720
• Anne Bonny

• Origin: Irish
• Years Active: 1718-1720
• Piracy: She lived as wife to a sailor located in Nassau, Bahamas which was a booming port of piracy during the time. It was there that she began a love affair with the pirate Calico Jack and later ran off with him. Since it was often considered bad luck to have a woman onboard a ship, she would disguise herself as a man. However she later became pregnant and had her baby in Cuba. She later rejoined Calico Jack's crew, until they were all captured and imprisoned in 1720. Anne managed to give birth, however there is no source pertaining to her death. 
• Mary Read
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1718-1721
• Piracy: At an early age Mary Read was a bit of a tomboy and often dressed as a boy to get further ahead. On a voyage to the West Indies in 1718 her ship was attacked by pirates of which she decided to join. She later joined Calico Jack's crew, disguised as a man, and was secretly discovered by Anne Bonny, who was also disguised as a man onboard the ship. For this reason there is often speculation that the two shared some form of lesbian relationship, alongside Bonny's affair with captain Calico Jack. This unique love triangle is no doubt the stuff of a juicy adventure soap-opera. Nonetheless Mary Reed was also captured with Calico Jack and Anne Bonny and eventually she died in prison in 1721. 
• Bartholomew Roberts
• Origin: Welsh
  
• Years Active: 1719-1722
• Notable Ships: The Good Fortune
• Piracy: Also known as "Black Bert" Bartholomew Roberts is often regarded as the most successful pirate of the golden age of piracy, measured by the amount of vessels he captured, over 400 ships. Beginning as a privateer, Roberts later became renowned for his leadership and navigation abilities and became a captain engaged in piracy. In  July of 1719 he conducted various campaigns near Brazil and throughout the Caribbean Sea. In 1720 he plundered ships along the American Atlantic coastline, as far north Newfoundland. In 1721 he engaged in piracy along the coast of West Africa until he was hunted by a British navy officer and killed in battle near the Calabrar River of Nigeria. Bartholomew Roberts is often regarded as one of the principle sources of the pirate code.    

Books, Movies, and Shows about Pirates

• General History of the Pyrates (1724) biographical book by Captain John Charles Johnson. This biographical book by the mysterious author, is considered the main source of history and lore regarding the golden age of Piracy. This book went on to inspire the whole swashbuckling fascination with Pirates, most notably the famous novel, Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. 
• Treasure Island (1883) novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is no doubt the most famous novel pertaining to pirates. It tells the tale of a young boy's experience hunting for treasure with a band of mischievous pirates led by the iconic Captain Long John Silver. The book has undergone many film and tv adaptations and even influenced a popular fast food chain Lohn John Silvers. 
• Peter Pan (1904) theater play and book by J.M. Barrie. Perhaps the 2nd most iconic story recounting pirates after Treasure Island. This is a classic tale of a young girl who doesn't want to grow up and escapes to Neverland with Peter Pan. Here on this fantasy island she encounters other run-away children, fairies, mermaids, native-Americans, and villainous pirates. One of the most infamous of these pirates is Peter Pan's arch-nemesis Captain Hook. This original work by JM Barrie went on to inspire many other TV and film adaptations such as Walt Disney's animated film (1953) and live action film Captain Hook (1991). 
• Captain Blood (1934) this was one of many classic pirate films and stars the iconic outlaw Errol Flynn. It was nominated for 5 Oscars and considered among the most famous of early pirate films. 
• The Buccaneer (1938) Another classic pirate film, directed by the great Cecil B. Demille. It recounts the story of the French buccaneer Jean Lafitte, who aided the Americans in defeating the French at the Battle of New Orleans in 1812. The film was later re-made in 1958 starring Antony Quinn and Charlton Heston. 
• Treasure Island (1950) Of the many film and TV adaptations this one is often regarded as the pinnacle. The film was one of the first of many Disney pirate-themed productions and stars Robert Newton as Captain Long John Silver and Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins (who later voiced Peter Pan in Disney's animated classic).  
  
• Peter Pan (1953) This animated classic produced by Walt Disney was in my opinion the best adaptation of the classic Peter Pan story. The film was a huge success, among a string of great Disney films released in the 1950s. While controversial for it's display of native Americans, the film provided quintessential pirate elements.  
• A Pirate Looks at Forty (1974) song by Jimmy Buffet. While I know there are many melodies and songs about pirates this is one of my all time favorites. It basically recounts the life of a man who looks back at his life of piracy and ponders his future. Although I'm not a huge Jimmy Buffet fan, this is hands down my favorite of his songs. Jack Johnson also has a great cover of this song with Dave Matthews. 
• Hook (1991) Yet another pirate film from Disney studios, this was a live action adaptation of the Peter Pan story. It starred Robin Williams as Peter Pan, Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook. I honestly wasn't too impressed with the film, however it is still worth mentioning here as it was nominated for 5 Oscars. 
• Spongebob Squarepants (1999-present) This was one of my favorite cartoons during my high school years, that pertains to fish living under the sea. While the main characters (Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward) are not affiliated with piracy, the comedic show is loaded with pirate references, such as Patchy the Pirate. 
• Pirates of the Caribbean Series (2003-2017) Disney has reinvigorated the pirate genre with it's major blockbuster franchise in recent days. It is a complete original production, pertaining to the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (played brilliantly by Johnny Depp) on board his Black Pearl. I loved the first film, however have not cared much for the following 4 sequels. It's my understanding that the franchise is not finished and further films are being considered for production. 
• Black Sails (2014-2017) I have yet to see this Starz TV series however I have heard that it is top quality drama. The TV show blends elements of fiction with historical pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy. There are 4 seasons with 38 shows and definitely a must-watch for anyone who enjoys the genre of pirates (historical and mythological).