In Enemy of All Mankind Stephen Johnson gives us an account of how a motley collection of European pirates – mainly English but assisted by Danes, Americans and locals – intercepted a Mughal treasure ship and what ensued. The Mughal ship had many more cannon than the pirate but an exploding cannon and a lucky shot saw the day go to the pirates who then became insanely rich.

Of itself, this is a pretty interesting story because it reminds us that globalisation is nothing new and that as late as the early 18th century India and China were economically far more important and just as advanced technologically as Europe.

Johnson writes well and knows how to build suspense. Unfortunately however, he is also addicted to digressions. Now, while this is to be admired in Herodotus, it is not to be encouraged in popular history which typically is at its best when telling a compelling story based on accessible sources. Thus we get a digression on the Bronze Age Sea Peoples whom Ramses III dealt with; an essay on terrorism; a discursion on the Barbary Coast pirates of north Africa and ‘respectable’ English privateers such as Drake and Raleigh; a potted history of the Mughal empire and it fratricidal succession politics.

These are all worthy subjects, but in the context of a very specific story they look like padding and are not necessary context.

Which is a pity because the real story is quite fascinating. The attack on the Mughal treasure ship angered the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and threatened the East India company’s then still precarious toehold in India. The result was that the British offered to protect the fleets in future – for a handsome retainer – and to bring the pirates to justice. Amazingly many of the pirates were apprehended on their return to British possessions or England itself and tried first for piracy – they were acquitted – and then for mutiny – the ship they used in the attack had in fact been stolen from a syndicate of London investors. In the end, British justice was done.

Reviewed by Grant Hansen