Dr. Elliot Engel returns to Piedmont Arts with “Blackbeard! Pirate Enemy Number One,” a lecture on the infamous pirate, on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Everyone knows that Blackbeard has one of the most fearsome reputations of any pirate in history. What is not always known is the astonishing story of how Edward Teach, a quiet and educated man, transformed himself into this dreadful pirate and became known as the “Scourge of the High Seas.” Dr. Engel provides all the hair-raising details, background and context.

Engel lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he has taught at NC State University, the University of North Carolina and Duke University. He earned an MA and Ph.D. from UCLA and was awarded that university’s Outstanding Teacher Award. He has written ten books published in England, Japan, Turkey and the United States. His mini-lecture series on Charles Dickens aired on PBS stations nationwide. His articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and national magazines. He has lectured throughout the United States and on all the continents, including Antarctica. He was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in England in 2009 for his academic work and service in promoting Charles Dickens.

Guests are invited to attend a dinner with Dr. Engel at 5:45 p.m., followed by the lecture. Reservations for the dinner must be made in advance by purchasing tickets. Tickets to the dinner and lecture are $50.

The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the galleries and is open to the public. Tickets to the lecture alone are $25.

This event is sponsored by King’s Grant.