Rebecca Simon

Rebecca Simon is an American historian, author, and public speaker who specialises in the history of piracy, public executions, and crime in the early modern Atlantic world. Her book Why We Love Pirates examines the enduring cultural fascination with pirates, tracing how real historical figures have been transformed into romantic heroes and rebels in popular imagination and exploring why this mythology continues to resonate so powerfully in contemporary culture. Simon holds a PhD in history and has established herself as one of the leading popular historians of piracy, combining rigorous academic research with an accessible, engaging writing style that makes her work appealing to general readers as well as scholars. Her approach goes beyond the familiar swashbuckling stereotypes to explore the social, economic, and political contexts that produced piracy as a historical phenomenon, while also analysing how and why subsequent generations have romanticised these often brutal criminals into figures of freedom and adventure. Simon is a sought-after speaker and media commentator, regularly appearing on podcasts, documentaries, and news programmes to discuss maritime history and the cultural legacy of piracy. Her ability to connect historical events to contemporary cultural phenomena makes her work particularly relevant and engaging. Why We Love Pirates is available as an audiobook, offering listeners a fascinating, entertaining exploration of how real history became legend and why pirates continue to capture our imagination centuries after the golden age of piracy.