Pieces of Eight

The lovable rogues of childhood fiction belie the harsh reality of the scourges of the seas. Claire Saul previews the National Maritime Museum's latest treasure

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Coddling catfish! Captain Pugwash and his adventures aboard the Black Pig was once essential teatime viewing, the start of the five-minute animation heralded by the familiar accordion strains of the Trumpet Hornpipe. The pirate theme is one which we were well used to, being an enduringly popular subject for imaginative play. Many of us will have bought pirate dressing-up outfits and toys, read pirate-inspired stories or hosted pirate-themed parties for our own children or grandchildren.

But who were these rogues of the high seas, really? As the Pirates exhibition opening at the National Maritime Museum this month seeks to show, the fictional portrayal of these scoundrels, and their swashbuckling adventures associated with lush, palm-laden islands, flamboyant dress and buried treasure, obscures the reality of their brutal history. Covering theatre, film and fashion, the exhibition brings together almost 200 objects to explore both myth and reality, sourced from its own extensive archive plus loans from organisations such as the National Archives (nationalarchives.gov.uk) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (020 7942 2000, vam.ac.uk).