Kevin Duffus, the 2014-2015 North Carolina Historian of the Year, will discuss Blackbeard the Pirate in a History Talk at Coastal Carolina University on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Lib Jackson Student Union's Coastal Theater. His presentation is free and open to the public.

Duffus will discuss his book, "The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate," and its historical research. He challenges the image many have of the notorious Blackbeard and believes the truth is more interesting than the tale.

Duffus is the author of many other books, including: "Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks;" "War Zone - WWII off the North Carolina Coast," winner of the 2013 North Carolina Society of Historians History Book Award; and "The Lost Light - A Civil War Mystery," which won the same award in 2014.

In this presentation, Duffus will elaborate on the widely held myths of Blackbeard's ferocity, his purported birth date, his many houses and wives and his long lost treasure.

The Lib Jackson Student Union is located at 100 Spadoni Park Circle, Conway. For more information, contact Ben Burroughs, director of the Horry County Archives Center, at ben@coastal.edu or call 843-349-4056.