Pirates! The word that used to strike fear in the hearts of sailors has now struck gold for Disney through its Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise and theme park ride. "Pirates" have overrun pop culture in everything from children's toys to the recent "Talk like a pirate" day phenomenon. Pop culture chronicler George Beahm, in association with the newly launched "Pirates" Magazine, traces the rise of the pirate craze and separates pirate fact from fiction. Bridging the gap between children's books and academic historical texts, "Caribbean Pirates" features a reader-friendly, sound-bite format covering all aspects of pirate life as well as the folklore surrounding the notorious mariners.