A Pirate of Exquisite Mind

A Pirate of Exquisite Mind: The Life of William Dampier by Diana Preston and Michael Preston is a 2004 biography of William Dampier.

A Pirate of Exquisite Mind

Author	Diana and Michael Preston
Genre	Non-fiction
Published	2004

Synopsis

William Dampier was the first person to circumnavigate the world three times, the first Englishman to explore Australia, a pirate, and a famous scientist.

Reception

The book received positive reviews from critics.^[1] A review from Publishers Weekly called it "exhaustive" and wrote that "Dampier's scientific and historical legacy holds up better than his swashbuckling escapades, which, though exciting, hold slightly less novelty."^[2] In The New York Times, a review wrote "It is extraordinary to read, in Diana and Michael Preston's carefully researched book, of a swashbuckling English pirate who was primarily motivated by a thirst for knowledge."^[3]