Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin (also spelled Esquemeling, Exquemeling, or Oexmelin) (c. 1645–1707) was a French, Dutch or Flemish writer best known as the author of one of the most important sourcebooks of 17th-century piracy, first published in Dutch as De Americaensche Zee-Roovers, in Amsterdam, by Jan ten Hoorn, in 1678.
Frontispiece to 1st edition of Buccaneers of America, 1678
Born about 1645, it is likely that Exquemelin was a native of Honfleur, France, who on his return from buccaneering settled in Holland, possibly because he was a Huguenot. In 1666 he was engaged by the French West India Company and went to Tortuga, where he worked as an indentured servant for three years. There he enlisted with the buccaneers, in particular with the band of Henry Morgan, whose confidante he was, probably as a barber-surgeon, and remained with them until 1674. Shortly afterwards he returned to Europe and settled in Amsterdam where he qualified professionally as a surgeon, his name appearing on the 1679 register of the Dutch Surgeons' Guild. However, he was later once again in the Caribbean as his name appears on the muster-roll as a surgeon in the attack on Cartagena in 1697.[1]
The bibliographic legacy of Exquemelin's History of the Buccaneers of America is complex. It was first published in Dutch (1678), then translated into German (1679), Spanish (1681) and English (1684).[2] The German translation is a faithful translation of the original Dutch. The Spanish translation adds new material quite freely and without acknowledgment, and mistranslates the Dutch frequently, while the English translation appears to be as much a translation of the Spanish edition, including most of its deviations from the Dutch original. The French translation of 1686 is substantially a new work with many additions, including new pirate biographies (Daniel Montbars and Alexandre Bras-de-Fer) and complete rearrangements in some sections incorporating new material of unknown source.[3] Subsequent editions and translations added additional new material and whole biographies.
Following publication of the English translation in 1684, Henry Morgan took steps to discredit the book and successfully brought a libel suit against the book's publishers William Crooke and Thomas Malthus. Morgan particularly objected to the description of the capture of the third castle at Portobello in 1668 where the book said he had ordered the construction of ladders wide enough for three men to climb abreast; when they were completed he "commanded all the religious men and women whom he had taken prisoners to fix them against the walls of the castle ... these were forced, at the head of the companies to raise and apply them to the walls ... Thus many of the religious men and nuns were killed".[4] In Morgan's affidavit he stated that he had "against evil deeds, piracies and robberies the greatest abhorrence and distrust", and that "for the kind of men called buccaneers", he "always had and still has hatred". The court found in his favour and the book was retracted; damages of £200 were paid to him.[5] The passage about the use of nuns and monks as a human shield was retracted from subsequent publications in England.[6]
For a comparison of the 1678 Dutch edition and the 1686 French translation, see the 1974 translation and interpretation by the Danish author and historian Erik Kjærsgaard.[7] For a contemporary reprinting, see Esquemeling, Alexander O., The Buccaneers of America. A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga (both English and French), containing also Basil Ringrose’s account of the dangerous voyage and bold assaults of Captain Bartholomew Sharp and others.[8]Peter Benchley, in his book The Island, referred to Exquemelin at length, having used his work in his research.
Referencesedit
^Jack Beeching, "Introduction" in A. O. Exquemelin, The Buccaneers of America, London: Folio Society, 1972.
^Richard Frohock, Buccaneers and Privateers: The Story of the English Sea Rover, 1675–1725, University of Delaware Press, 2012, 28.
^Haring, Clarence Henry (1910). The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century. New York: E. P. Dutton. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
^Exquemelin, John (2010) [1684]. The Buccaneers of America: A True Account of the Most Remarkable Assaults Committed of Late Years Upon the Coasts of the West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. pp. 144–145. ISBN978-1-108-02481-5.
^Cundall, Frank (1936). The Governors of Jamaica in the Seventeenth Century. London: The West India Committee. pp. 70–71. OCLC 3262925.
^Breverton, Terry (2005). Admiral Sir Henry Morgan: The Greatest Buccaneer of them all. Pencader, Carmarthenshire: Glyndŵr Publishing. p. 43. ISBN978-1-903529-17-1.
Works by or about Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin at Internet Archive
Works by Alexandre Exquemelin at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
De Americaensche Zee-Roovers (selections from the original 1678 Dutch-language copy of The Buccaneers of America, illustrated). From the Library of Congress.
De Americaensche Zee-Roovers Full text of the 1678 Dutch edition, from Gallica.
Die americanische see-räuber Full text of the 1679 German translation from the Library of Congress.
Piratas de America Full text of the 1681 Spanish translation, from the Library of Congress.
Histoire des avanturiers qui se sont signalez dans les Indes Full text of French translation of 1686, from Google Books.
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Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin also spelled Esquemeling Exquemeling or Oexmelin c 1645 1707 was a French Dutch or Flemish writer best known as the author of one of the most important sourcebooks of 17th century piracy first published in Dutch as De Americaensche Zee Roovers in Amsterdam by Jan ten Hoorn in 1678 Frontispiece to 1st edition of Buccaneers of America 1678Born about 1645 it is likely that Exquemelin was a native of Honfleur France who on his return from buccaneering settled in Holland possibly because he was a Huguenot In 1666 he was engaged by the French West India Company and went to Tortuga where he worked as an indentured servant for three years There he enlisted with the buccaneers in particular with the band of Henry Morgan whose confidante he was probably as a barber surgeon and remained with them until 1674 Shortly afterwards he returned to Europe and settled in Amsterdam where he qualified professionally as a surgeon his name appearing on the 1679 register of the Dutch Surgeons Guild However he was later once again in the Caribbean as his name appears on the muster roll as a surgeon in the attack on Cartagena in 1697 1 The bibliographic legacy of Exquemelin s History of the Buccaneers of America is complex It was first published in Dutch 1678 then translated into German 1679 Spanish 1681 and English 1684 2 The German translation is a faithful translation of the original Dutch The Spanish translation adds new material quite freely and without acknowledgment and mistranslates the Dutch frequently while the English translation appears to be as much a translation of the Spanish edition including most of its deviations from the Dutch original The French translation of 1686 is substantially a new work with many additions including new pirate biographies Daniel Montbars and Alexandre Bras de Fer and complete rearrangements in some sections incorporating new material of unknown source 3 Subsequent editions and translations added additional new material and whole biographies Following publication of the English translation in 1684 Henry Morgan took steps to discredit the book and successfully brought a libel suit against the book s publishers William Crooke and Thomas Malthus Morgan particularly objected to the description of the capture of the third castle at Portobello in 1668 where the book said he had ordered the construction of ladders wide enough for three men to climb abreast when they were completed he commanded all the religious men and women whom he had taken prisoners to fix them against the walls of the castle these were forced at the head of the companies to raise and apply them to the walls Thus many of the religious men and nuns were killed 4 In Morgan s affidavit he stated that he had against evil deeds piracies and robberies the greatest abhorrence and distrust and that for the kind of men called buccaneers he always had and still has hatred The court found in his favour and the book was retracted damages of 200 were paid to him 5 The passage about the use of nuns and monks as a human shield was retracted from subsequent publications in England 6 For a comparison of the 1678 Dutch edition and the 1686 French translation see the 1974 translation and interpretation by the Danish author and historian Erik Kjaersgaard 7 For a contemporary reprinting see Esquemeling Alexander O The Buccaneers of America A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga both English and French containing also Basil Ringrose s account of the dangerous voyage and bold assaults of Captain Bartholomew Sharp and others 8 Peter Benchley in his book The Island referred to Exquemelin at length having used his work in his research References edit Jack Beeching Introduction in A O Exquemelin The Buccaneers of America London Folio Society 1972 Richard Frohock Buccaneers and Privateers The Story of the English Sea Rover 1675 1725 University of Delaware Press 2012 28 Haring Clarence Henry 1910 The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century New York E P Dutton Retrieved 22 August 2017 Exquemelin John 2010 1684 The Buccaneers of America A True Account of the Most Remarkable Assaults Committed of Late Years Upon the Coasts of the West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga Cambridge University Press Cambridge pp 144 145 ISBN 978 1 108 02481 5 Cundall Frank 1936 The Governors of Jamaica in the Seventeenth Century London The West India Committee pp 70 71 OCLC 3262925 Breverton Terry 2005 Admiral Sir Henry Morgan The Greatest Buccaneer of them all Pencader Carmarthenshire Glyndŵr Publishing p 43 ISBN 978 1 903529 17 1 Bogen om de amerikanske sorovere ISBN 87 85160 29 6 Dover Publications Inc New York City reprinted 1967 ISBN 0 486 40966 XExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin Works by Alexandre Exquemelin at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin at Internet Archive Works by Alexandre Exquemelin at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp De Americaensche Zee Roovers selections from the original 1678 Dutch language copy of The Buccaneers of America illustrated From the Library of Congress De Americaensche Zee Roovers Full text of the 1678 Dutch edition from Gallica Die americanische see rauber Full text of the 1679 German translation from the Library of Congress Piratas de America Full text of the 1681 Spanish translation from the Library of Congress Histoire des avanturiers qui se sont signalez dans les Indes Full text of French translation of 1686 from Google Books Schimmelin Alexander Oliver Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography 1900 Life of Alexandre Exquemelin with links to further information personal blog http honfleurthenandnow blogspot co uk 2012 09 pirates and crocodiles html Spanish Version EPUB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandre Exquemelin amp oldid 1178427070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
