Sir Francis Drake

Wow incredible book. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone with the slightest bit of interest in this period of history.First the author was very delightful to read. I was often just lost in the enjoyment of the story. I actually felt like I knew Sir Drake personally by the end of the book. The character development was outstanding for biography written 400 years after the death if it's subject.Second the author had a wonderful subject to write on. Sir Drake was a larger than life character. His accomplishments were almost super human. To top it off he was a gentleman that was easy to like. Biographies about people I like are always so much more fun.I must admit that it is a fairly long book, certainly not a quick read. However, it was worth every minute of time I put into it.

The Consummate SeamanSir Francis DrakeJohn SugdenMore than a cruise on the Golden Main—a book of plunder and piracy—or merely the adventures of a superior and charismatic seaman, this is an excellent and highly articulate, carefully documented book of history and comparative religion, that situates Drake within his cultural context, against the background of drastic shifts in social structure, geopolitics and faith. Europe in the 16th century was a time of exceptional leaders and remarkable mutations, most of them, despite occasional slips in syntax, carefully researched by this scholarly author. Yet the author in Britain finds a mystery in Spanish America, and never quite sorts it out. North America actually ends in Panama, its southernmost point, since Central America is a political but not a geographical entity. This was actually a recurring question on “Jeopardy”. North America encompasses Alaska, Canada, the United States and Mexico, and technically embraces the Caribbean and its islands, as well as the five nations in so-called “Central America” (Belize (formerly British Honduras), Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, plus Panama which was originally wrenched by Theodore Roosevelt from its home territory in Colombia. And there begins South America. There was a time when children in Spain were taught only of “America”, and considered it a single continent, therefore justifying the original five Olympic rings, but in all truth there are eight: North and South America taken separately, as well as Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Oceania (erroneously grouped together), plus Antarctica. Is the North Pole a continent? No, it is an ice cap. As for his references to “Mexico” or the “Mexican flota”, he means “New Spain” or Spanish ships therein. “Mexico” only became a political entity with the 1810 war of independence from its European mother country.Back to Drake, one of the twelve sons of a Protestant pastor, and alternately adored and reviled by Queen Elizabeth Tudor who enmeshed him regularly in her intricate plans, as her relations with Spain, France and the Netherlands constantly shifted.Worthy of note is Drake's clever application of the Elizabethan contention, that it was the occupation and development in formerly unrecognized territories that predisposed a claim of ownership; discovery alone would not suffice. The inhabitants of a land remained entitled to it, she said, despite the self-serving fifteenth century declarations of Pope Alexander VI, the Spanish Borja become Borgia. The Pope, Elizabeth Tudor reminds us, had spiritual, and not territorial authority, thus in a phrase she, and Drake, discarded the Treaty of Tordesillas, which had, with absolute insolence, divided the globe by equal parts assigned respectively to Spain and Portugal. This arbitrary assignation of hegemonies was radically realigned as a result of Drake’s machinations with the pretender to the throne of Portugal, the commercial and religious thrashings of Holland and France, and finally with the defeat, but not the destruction, of the Spanish Armada in 1588.We would have liked more details on Drake's sailing ventures, particularly the perusing of the California coast and especially the circumnavigation, only the second European excursion of its kind, more extensive and more detailed than the earlier Magellan-Elcano affair, but having proceeded on verbal orders from Elizabeth, written logs were scarce. No evidence to condemn either the pirate or his sovereign, no accounting to Phillip. Yet the fate of hundreds of sailing men is glossed over, the scarcity of victuals, the crowding, the diseases, and they are literarily as well as physically tossed over the sides of contended ships, there to resolve their inglorious destiny.Drake was the most famous, and the most infamous, seaman of his day. Yet he outlived his glory, the monumentality of his reputation, even the fear engendered by the very mention of his name. “El Draque” was the bogeyman, until he became old, clumsy and conservative. Even success can overextend itself.

Brilliantly researched and excellently written but a little dry at times . There are so many surprises in this book but the greatest is that pirate who turned into a national hero by heading off the Spanish Armada was a very compassionate man. It was an age when the victrious sailing boat would haul the losers from the water and look after them well .. He hated two things Catholicism and the King of Spain...but his hatred of the Spanish was based on the fact that the Governor of Mexico broke his solemn word and attacked the British fleet , after promising an armistice .Good reading

Why, oh why, did they not put the glossary of terms at the front of the book? Pictures of the ships would have been a big help. The author uses a lot of phrases that are much more complicated than need be. Drove me crazy.Otherwise I liked the book. Very well researched and very interesting. Could have used some good maps.

I had gotten very behind in any knowledge about Drake, and this straightened that all out. There is a wealth of detail and documentation in this biography, which is always praise worthy. Drake must have been an iron man, for he survived some very rigorous sea journeys over and over--not the least of which was his historic circumnavigation. He survived it; Magellan did not, personally. Drake had far, far more going for him in people skills. The author establishes beyond a doubt what a collection of thieves, pirates and thugs the Elizabethan corsairs were--though even they paled when compared to the Spanish and Portuguese. It was a brutal time. Also he established how clever Queen Elizabeth 'played' these chaps--in most instances not even giving them letters of marque during some of their diverse exploits. One thing I learned, is that Drake had no letter of marque from the Queen during his circumnavigation, despite (eventually) making her so much money. Like so many future Kings, Queens and heads-of-state, she expertly built in room for a denial factor. A real negative of this book, is that for the periods when Drake was not being a corsair, i.e. sticking to land-based activities, it was very boring--almost excruciatingly so. Then later in his career as a genuine Admiral during the battles w/ Spain, I found it also confusing, and this too made it drag.

Sugden accurately conveys a detailed historical religious and political context, freeing Drake of the simple label of “the Queen's pirate”.

This outstanding biography is an enjoyable way to review 16th century history as the author draws a balanced portrait of the life of a national hero in the light of his times, and reviews scholarship since and as a result I am now a fan of Sir Francis Drake and will place him in my hall of fame of this world's outstanding leaders, explorers and inspirations. Highly recommended!

Liked it very much, backs up what I already new and adds so much more being a Plymouth man born and bred and where I must have traveled over ground that him and his men trod. My Mother was born on the barbican.

full of facts but written in a very accessible way, highly recommended for anyone interested in maritime history or indeed any facet of the period as provides lavish background of life at the time. My only reason for writing this is to attach photos of the print - other reviews criticise the font as being unreadable; I'm very poor sighted and have NO problems with this, in fact I wish ALL books would use this density of ink and font size! The volume is to the right, the left page is of a random modern OUP world's classics novel, just for comparison. I know which one is easier on MY eyes.

Über den Inhalt kann ich noch nichts sagen, aber die Druckqualität ist unerträglich schlecht. Sie wechselt nahezu von Seite zu Seite. Wenn sie für eine Seite auf Fettdruck wechselt, kann man fast nichts lesen. Die Schriftgröße ist ohnehin sehr klein. Die Karten sind in dunkelgrau / schwarz gedruckt, Küstenlinien lassen sich erahnen, Städtenamen sind unleserlich. Erstaunlich, wie so ein Buch auf den Markt kommt. Schade um den Inhalt!Update 12.1.2020:Habe meine Bewertung aufgrund des exzellent recherchierten und spannend geschriebenen Inhalts um zwei Sterne erhöht. Ohne die miserable Druckqualität oder die unleserlichen Karten hätte ich fünf Sterne gegeben.

Really interesting but a bit if a slog

I purchased this book for my husband as he is extremely interested in Sir Francis Drake. He loved it. The book is well written, well researched and offered more information on the subject than previous books he had read.Would recommend this book to anyone interested in Sir Francis Drake.