BALBOA Swordsman and Conquistador

by Felix Riesenberg Jr

The life of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean, is a story of adventure which needs no polishing by any writer. But it is true that great jealousy and iron censorship partly succeeded in erasing much of the man's past.

Genres: Biography, World History, Nonfiction, History

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

Reviews

[Caleb Meyers]

This is a good biography of him. My only disclaimer is that he writes quite a bit of conjecture/ historical fiction in the first 40-50 pages. For example, the dual he fights at 17 is made up, and the battle a little later on is unverifiable. Overall, this is a great introduction to his life.

It was surprising to find out he married the daughter of a chief, and that they had a marriage for many years. It represents both the positives and negatives of Spanish colonization.

[Kelly Hohenstern]

Another landmark book. Again a great leader trying to do well by his crew and country. First man to see the Pacific Ocean. Yet, he was hated and condemned for being a good man. Executed at the age of 44.

[Scott Fargo]

One of the first books I ever read as a youth. I remember liking it very much.

[Dad]

I read this book as part of my 10th grade English assignment. I worked hard in that class. I enjoy books about the exploration and coonization of the Americas. I learned a lot. To add to this I was taking Spanish that year and Balboa is from Spain.

[Emma Filbrun]

I had never read the story of Balboa. Very interesting--and sad.

[Bahman Bahman]

"واسکونو نیز دو بالبوآ دریانورد اسپانیایى در بیست و چهارم دسامبر 1475م در دهی واقع در جنوب اسپانیا به دنیا آمد. چون والدین او بی ‏بضاعت بودند واسکونونیز ناگزیر از سن شانزده سالگی در سلک ملازمان یکی از اشراف اسپانیایى درآمد و مدت هشت سال در خدمت او به سر برد تا اینکه به درجه سرهنگی ارتقاء یافت. وی از آن پس با هدف دست یافتن به طلا که انگیزه اصلی بسیاری از مردم آن زمان بود و در جریان آن خطرات و توفان‏های مخوف دریا را تحمل می‏کردند، به سفر پرداخت.
بالبوآ وقتی که به سواحل امریکای مرکزی وجنوبی رسید، نامه‏هایى برای پادشاه اسپانیا نگاشت و متذکر شد که در آنجا، مروارید و طلای فراوانی وجود دارد. او در این سفرها خطرات بی‏شماری را به جان خرید وجنگ‏های بسیار نمود و بر برخی از آن نواحی، حکمرانی کرد. او در 29 سپتامبر 1513م از پاناما عبور کرد و اقیانوس کبیر را دید و ادعای مالکیت آن را نمود. از این رو، بالبوآ کاشف اقیانوس کبیر یا آرام می‏باشد. وی پس از کسب غنائم و افتخارات قصد مراجعت به اسپانیا را داشت ولی چون ارتباط او با پادشاه اسپانیا تیره گردید، این پیروزی‏ها را نادیده گرفتند. بالبوآ سرانجام به اتهام خیانت به شاه محاکمه شد و در 8 ژوئن 1517م در چهل و دو سالگی اعدام شد."

[Mary Farmer]

Aimed at younger readers, this life of Balboa is fictionalized enough to qualify as a biographical novel. It is also very sympathetic toward its subject who was, admittedly, one of the better men to become a conquistador in the New World.

Painting Balboa in heroic colors may make this a more interesting book for some juvenile readers. To this adult, it sometimes seems a bit excessive and too much like an adventure novel. However, the author does stick to the basic known facts of the man’s life and does not fabricate anything that would contradict them.

As a biography for its intended audience, ‘Balboa: Swordsman and Conquistador’ is a readable and entertaining choice.