Pirates, Jack Tar, and Memory

Book excerpt: These nine essays explore new directions and ways to pursue the elusive Jack Tar--the common sailor in the early modern world. We see him as a pirate, learn something of the ships he sailed, and share his experience in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. We also see him as a spinner of yarns--a great story teller--helping to mold his own and our national identity, while contributing to the development of a unique American literature. We see some Jacks seeking social mobility. We see others challenging authority aboard ships and during shipwrecks. While Jack in some ways remains elusive, and it is impossible to calculate his movements, as sailor Nathaniel Ames wrote, these essays move us closer to an understanding of his eccentric path.