Marcus Rediker has written several books on maritime history, always with a ‘working man’s struggle’ perspective on his subject. Right now, I’m reading “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”, which in fascinating detail reconstructs the everyday life of seafaring men in the early 18th century, far from any romanticism, exposing the crude reality of one of the very harshest and most dangerous professions of the time.
Two other books by Rediker focus on the forces revolting against the unbearable working conditions and ruthless multinational companies in the ‘golden age’ of sailing:
“Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age”
“The Many-Headed Hydra: The Hidden History of the Revolutionary Atlantic” (together with Peter Linebaugh)
