A Pirate of Exquisite Mind
{{Short description|2004 book by Diana and Michael Preston}}
{{Infobox book
| author = Diana and Michael Preston
| published = 2004
| genre = Non-fiction
}}
A Pirate of Exquisite Mind: The Life of William Dampier by Diana Preston and Michael Preston is a 2004 biography of William Dampier.
Synopsis
William Dampier was the first person to circumnavigate the world three times, the first Englishman to explore Australia, a pirate, and a famous scientist.
Reception
The book received positive reviews from critics.{{Cite journal |last=Doody |first=Heather |date=2004-12-01 |title=Book Review: A Pirate of Exquisite Mind. Explorer, Naturalist, and Buccaneer: The Life of William Dampier |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/084387140401600280 |journal=International Journal of Maritime History |language=EN |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=413–414 |doi=10.1177/084387140401600280 |issn=0843-8714}} 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."{{Cite web |title=A PIRATE OF EXQUISITE MIND: The Life of William Dampier: Explorer, Naturalist, and Buccaneer by Diana Preston, Michael Preston |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780802714251 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.publishersweekly.com}} 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."{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Sara |date=2004-04-18 |title=The Highbrow Hijacker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/books/the-highbrow-hijacker.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}