Pirates have been a part of the public imagination since ancient times, but what is known about the women who chose that life for themselves? In today’s episode, I will analyze pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two women who have become more mythical than factual. Joining me today is historian Dr. Rebecca Simon, an expert on all things pirates and author of Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read. 


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Anne Bonny and Mary Read

They were adulterers, murderers, mistresses, religious zealots, thieves, and traitors. They were queens, wives, mothers, young, and old. What binds the women together in this podcast is their legacies. These are women who were known during their lifetimes or reinvented after their deaths as wicked women. The lenses of history are often gendered, damning women for some of the same actions that men have been lauded for. The nuances surrounding the women in this podcast were removed in exchange for a one-sided portrayal. Within Wicked Women: The Podcast, I do not attempt to excuse or condone the wrongs committed by these women, instead, the podcast looks at their overarching story and examines the origin of their negative legacy. Alongside a brief biographical overview of the woman, I will be incorporating interviews I have held with experts on the subject to provide multiple and diverse perspectives.


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