The book received positive reviews from critics. A review from
Publishers Weekly called it "exhaustive" and wrote that "Dampier's scientific and historical legacy holds up better than his swashbuckling escapades, which, though exciting, hold slightly less novelty." In
The New York Times, a review wrote "It is extraordinary to read, in Diana and Michael Preston's carefully researched book, of a swashbuckling English pirate who was primarily motivated by a thirst for knowledge." == References ==