Be there pirates? The true story of Capt. Kidd

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

In the seas off Madagascar, Nova Scotia and even Connecticut, the siren call of buried riches has lured treasure hunters and adventurers over many a century.

Many seek the wealth Capt. Kidd accrued during years of pirating and then had to hide when his arrest was imminent.

In popular lore, Capt. Kidd’s name is synonymous with the fearsome, ruthless privateers of the pirate age. But the truth about William Kidd is more nuanced — and interesting.

Historian Samuel Marquis, who is also William Kidd’s ninth great-grandson, writes in his new biography of Kidd:

Though the real Capt. Kidd would have loathed being labeled as one of the most notorious villains of all time, he would have delighted at being a continuing hot topic of conversation for over 300 years and counting.

Marquis’ previous books include “Blackbeard: The Birth of America.” His new book is “Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal,” and he joins Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to sort reality from the scuttlebutt when it comes to the age of pirates.

Guest:

• Samuel Marquis is a historian and author. His new book is “Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal.”

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