MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 3, 2025) — Dr. Elliot Engel gave a talk on the life of the infamous pirate Blackbeard to around 100 guests on Oct. 2 at Piedmont Arts.
The program sifted fact from fiction to reveal the real life of the 18th-century pirate who has fascinated the world for centuries. Engel detailed how Edward Teach, a quiet and educated man, transformed himself into the infamous pirate and became known as the “Scourge of the High Seas.” He pointed out that even though Blackbeard was one of the most feared pirates of his day, he never killed or tortured his victims. His fearsome reputation was heavily embellished through a clever public relations strategy and Blackbeard’s own penchant for theatrics and costumes.
This marked Engel’s 18th lecture at Piedmont Arts. He has spoken on subjects as varied as Robert Frost, Edgar Allan Poe, the history of the English language and the Brontës. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he has taught at NC State University, the University of North Carolina and Duke University. He has written 10 books and numerous articles that have appeared in newspapers and national magazines. He has lectured throughout the United States and on all the continents, including Antarctica. His lecture series on Charles Dickens aired on PBS stations nationwide, and he was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in England in 2009 for his academic work and service in promoting Dickens’ work.
This event was sponsored by King's Grant.
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