The Ocean Is a Wilderness: Atlantic Piracy and the Limits of State Authority, 1688-1856

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The book challenges the conventional narrative that the British Empire's rise eliminated piracy by illustrating its persistence in the eighteenth century. Guy Chet argues that despite governmental efforts, illegal trade thrived due to the Royal Navy's limited effectiveness and the cultural acceptance of smuggling. The author highlights how traditional views on state growth overlook enduring attitudes that favored piracy, driven by economic incentives rather than mere confrontation. This work contributes to borderlands scholarship, reevaluating the dynamics between the evolving state and its imperial frontiers.