The unlikely pairing of gentleman landlubber Stede Bonnet and the battle-hardened Blackbeard proves to be a great success… at least for one of them. It may not turn out to be the equal partnership Bonnet had envisaged. For Blackbeard though, it's everything he could dream of and more. His name is soon scorched across the Americas. A legend in his own lifetime. But is he really as fearsome as his reputation suggests? What's the real story behind his sudden rise? And what part did the colonies play in creating the monster that now stalks them? Meet the man behind that notorious beard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices