A Powerful Historical About-face! The intense research that went into this book is phenomenal. Edward Teach, Blackbeard was portrayed as a murderous pirate, that ravaged across the Atlantic is all askew. There's no factual account of Blackbeard killing anyone.
Lady Selah has decoded the mystery of Blackbeard's Flag and put into a clear narrative that describes Blackbeard's true lineage. One would have never suspected his links to royalty.
I highly recommend reading this book to anyone that enjoys facts and history.
Blackbeard Decoded, by Lady Selah Sujuris, is a fascinating work of forensic history, in which Lady Selah overcomes the classic problem that "dead men tell no tales" to unearth a wealth of information about the famous pirate Blackbeard. The story of Blackbeard, or Edward Teach, (1680 - 1718) is shrouded in mystery and misinformation. The most famous of all pirates, Captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge, nevertheless was never seen killing anyone, although he was reported to have captured and plundered between 40-55 ships. Lady Selah thoroughly researched history, lineage, and, perhaps most importantly,
his flag, perhaps the most misinterpreted relic of all.
Blackbeard's flag--when symbolically studied (called vexillology), largely becomes the "truth hidden in plain sight," as does the naming of his ship. Lady Selah's research process, meticulous and carefully documented, is as interesting as the topic itself, showing how forensic historical analysis can unearth previously unknown facts in history.
The book is generously illustrated with photos, maps, and other images, all carefully described and highlighted with specific detail. In addition, nine full pages of reference sources are provided, to document the work.
The book is as much a tour de force of the research process as it is a decoding of the Blackbeard mythology, and I can't recommend it highly enough in both regards.