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OverviewSir Francis Drake (1540 1596) assured his place in history when, in his lone ship the Golden Hind, he sailed the Pacific to become the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Drake the man, however, is an enigma and relatively little is known about his personal life. Historians today have struggled to reconcile the heroic legend with the facts, which show that Drake achieved his status almost exclusively through acts of theft, piracy, and aggression. Drake, who championed England's Protestant queen, used courage and seamanship to gain wealth and fame, and in doing so helped establish England's maritime empire. Yet, after his Armada success, the accomplished lone privateer rarely functioned effectively as part of a larger force, and he fell from royal favor, ending his days feeling cursed.In this new biography, Peter Whitfield, a leading expert in exploration and map history, examines this dilemma to shed light on Drake the man and the legend. Illustrated throughout with original documents, maps and portraits, this biography offers an accessible and highly readable account of one of the greatest explorers of all time. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Peter WhitfieldPublisher: New York University Press Imprint: New York University Press Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 22.90cm Weight: 0.485kg ISBN: 9780814794036ISBN 10: 0814794033 Pages: 160 Publication Date: 01 October 2004 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Out of Print Availability: In Print Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock. Table of ContentsReviews(<p> This is a book that would make Francis Drake proud. )-( Itineraries ), () <p> This is a book that would make Francis Drake proud. Cartographic historian Whitfield indicates that the 19th- and 20th-century romanticizing of Sir Francis Drake is well off the mark. Though compact, this is an exciting and wholly convincing interpretation of an important British figure. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries. - Library Journal Author InformationPeter Whitfield is an independent scholar and a leading expert in map history and exploration. He is a former director of Stanford's International Map Centre in London. His previous books include The Charting of the Oceans: Ten Centuries of Maritime Maps; New Found Lands: Maps in the History of Exploration; and Astrology: A History. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |