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| This article is about the 2006 The Curse of the Black Pearl novelization. You may be looking for the 2003 novelization. |
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a junior novel based on the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. It was released on October 1, 2006. An updated version was later released with extra photographs from the movie.
Publisher's description[]
The Black Pearl, a cursed pirate ship that haunts the seas with tattered black sails and a vicious crew, has just materialized in Port Royal and stolen away the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann. Will Turner, a young blacksmith in love with Elizabeth, sets sail to rescue her by whatever means necessary--even enlisting the help of a pirate! Enter Captain Jack Sparrow, a cunning and charismatic pirate with his own personal stake in the mission...the Black Pearl was once his ship and he aims to get it back.
Back cover[]
There are stories told of a ghostly ship with black sails that haunts the Caribbean—its crew and captain cursed for all time to search for a mysterious treasure. Will Turner, a young blacksmith with no patience for pirates, does not believe the stories. But he should. When the woman he loves is taken by the villainous crew, Will finds himself seeking help from the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack, however, has his own reasons for helping the young Mr. Turner. Now the odd pair must escape the clutches of the Royal Navy, face a crew of cursed men, and chart a course to an island that cannot be found in order to save Will's beloved and get back something Jack lost long ago....
Differences between the film and the book[]
- As with the film, the novelization begins with Elizabeth Swann having a dream about the day she met Will Turner aboard the HMS Dauntless and spotted the Black Pearl moving through thick fog only to wake up. Unlike the film, which takes place eight years later after the day, the novelization implies that Elizabeth had this "vivid and real" dream more than once.
- Lieutenant Norrington does not yell "Man overboard!" when Elizabeth discovers Will floating on a piece of wreckage. He also doesn't tell the crew to rouse the captain.
- While the carriage is driving Elizabeth and her father Governor Weatherby Swann to Commodore Norrington's promotion ceremony, the governor asks his daughter to show more decorum in front of the Commodore because it was only through his efforts that Port Royal became civilized.
- As Captain Jack Sparrow arrives to Port Royal, he sees five skeletons next to the Pirates—Be Ye Warned sign.
- The HMS Dauntless is described as a fifty-gun ship.
- Jack's theft of the harbormaster's purse is omitted.
- Mullroy, Murtogg, and Jack see Elizabeth falling into the water right after Jack reveals he intends to commandeer the Interceptor.
- After saving Elizabeth Jack sees her medallion but doesn't ask her where she got it.
- Jack uses Elizabeth's corset to disarm a marine before taking Elizabeth hostage.
- That night at the governor's mansion, it was described as Elizabeth shivering as the fog came in, whereas the film cuts to the maid Estrella placing a bed warmer at Elizabeth's feet. Also, while the two did bring up Elizabeth's "difficult day" in that Commodore Norrington proposed to Elizabeth, as well as Will Turner being a "fine man", neither brought up the "terrifying" moment in which Elizabeth was threatened by the pirate Jack Sparrow.
- Jacoby was never identified as the pirate Will Turner "killed" with an axe during the attack on Port Royal. Depending on the version of the novelization, the spelling "axe" or "ax" may differ.
- Jack Sparrow calls Will Turner squire when he tries to convince him to wait for the opportune moment.
- Twigg is the one who tells Barbossa "It's you who brought us here in the first place." Attempting to control the crew, Barbossa yells "Any more talk, and I'll chain ye all to a cannon and send ye to the watery depths!" The part with the crew demanding that Barbossa kills Elizabeth is omitted.
- When the crew discovers Jack in the treasure cave Ragetti, rather than Pintel, is the one who says "You! You're supposed to be dead!" Ragetti remains silent when Jack attempts to say Parley.
- The part with Barbossa taking an apple from Jack Sparrow and throwing it overboard is omitted.
- When Will boards the Black Pearl following the destruction of the Interceptor the pistol he takes and aims at Barbossa is identified as Jack's pistol.
- Elizabeth doesn't mention Jack's sack of Nassau.
- Pintel's story about Bootstrap Bill Turner's participation in the mutiny and the curse is omitted.
- Twigg is one of the pirates who remain in the treasure cave while the rest of the cursed crew attacks the Dauntless.
- The scene where Pintel and Ragetti notice the commandeered Black Pearl sailing away is omitted.
- Jack the monkey's return to the treasure cave is omitted.