Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates; Fiction, Fact & fancy, Concerning the Buccaneers & Marooners of the Spanish Main presents a romanticized account of pirates and piracy, mainly of Caribbean variety, enlivening the old stories and legends of some notorious characters. Pyle provides thorough and informative history of the pirates with historical accounts of well-known pirates such as Captain Henry Morgan, Captain Edward Teach, aka the infamous Black Beard, and the Isla de Tortuga. Also, the book contains several adventure stories and fictionalized accounts of brave men who crossed paths with pirates and lived to tell about it.

Howard Pyle (1853-1911) is an American author known primarily for his books for young people. His best known work is The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, and his other books frequently have medieval European settings, including a set on King Arthur. He is also well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating what has become the modern stereotype of pirate dress.