"Cowan and Kingsley’s account of pirate history, woven within a broader narrative of religious tensions, international trade and Anglo-Scottish relations during the Stuart era, is a worthy tale to tell. Avery’s story sizzles with drama, and to consider his possible interaction with Defoe is tantalizing. Proof, once again, that our understanding of the past is written in the sand, and for those who dive deep enough, there are treasures lurking, and sparkling jewels waiting to be uncovered."

– The Times (London)

"Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan's The Pirate King, like all good historical mysteries, begins with archival drama. Messrs. Kingsley and Cowan use this letter to tell a story of 'three of the greatest characters of this age,' tying Avery to Daniel Defoe, the author of 'Robinson Crusoe,' and Thomas Tenison, the archbishop of Canterbury. A pirate, a writer and an archbishop. What on earth––or sea––could connect these three men? A dramatic narrative "

– The Wall Street Journal

"Kingsley and Cowan have pulled together the story of Henry Avery, one of the most colorful yet mysterious pirates of the early eighteenth century. The authors do an excellent job evoking the past and bringing Avery and his milieu to life. Fans of pirate stories will be treated to a rousing tale and in the process will learn about how history and historians work."

– Booklist

"In this twisty account, marine archeologist Kingsley and shipwreck hunter Cowan trace the life of 17th-century pirate Henry Avery. [Contains] fascinating descriptions of turn-of-the-18th-century espionage pieced together from archival scraps. A winding yarn."

– Publishers Weekly

"An account of the life of a notorious British pirate and the first English novelist as they intersected in the shadowy world of royal espionage. The authors untangle a web of conspiracy and subterfuge to create an engaging story of the golden age of piracy, following the adventures of two enormously enterprising men. An intriguing unraveling of a mystery that 'beggars belief.'"

– Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Sean Kinglsey

"Indiana Jones would tip his hat to Kingsley, an intrepid archaeologist."

– Booklist

"A fast-paced tale that is part detective story, part travelogue and adventure story."

– Publishers Weekly

"A very important book. Through shipwrecks and the investigations of a small group of underwater explorers, Jacobovici and Kingsley tell the story of slavery in monstrous, unflinching detail. It's a story that needs to be told and Jacobovici (a brilliant storyteller) and Kingsley (a master maritime archaeologist) give it to us point-blank. It's more than a book; it's a message never to be forgotten.”

– Mensun Bound, director of exploration for the Endurance22 expedition, and author of 

“Enslaved vividly explores these disturbing sunken archeological archives.”

– Nature