"A general history of the pyrates: from their first rise and settlement in the…" by Captain Charles Johnson is a book published in 1724 containing biographies of contemporary pirates. This influential work shaped popular conceptions of piracy, introducing features like buried treasure, the Jolly Roger flag, and mythical portrayals of figures like Blackbeard. Though not a historical primary source, it inspired writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and J.M. Barrie. The true author's identity remains unknown, with theories suggesting Daniel Defoe or publisher Nathaniel Mist.
Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_General_History_of_the_Pyrates Charles Johnson may possibly be a pseudonym for Daniel Defoe, but it's not entirely clear.