Five Black Ships

by Napoleón Baccino Ponce de León

In 1519, Magellan and his five ships set out for the Spice Islands on a trip to circle the globe. In this rich, sensuous novel of robust prose and earthy humor, a new writer from Uruguay spins a tale of the real men behind history's list of names. A marvelous novel about explorers who face suffering and death, and about the life-giving power of the imagination.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Napoleón Baccino Ponce de León (Montevideo, 1947) es un escritor uruguayo. En 1989 ganó el premio Casa de las Américas por su novela Maluco. La Novela de Los Descubridores.

Reviews

[Gabriela Morales Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“¿Eres poeta, no? Sólo cierra los ojos y dime lo que ves”

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad but not great either. I read the author is a literary critic and I feel like this is his attempt at writing a literary novel. The thing is, he is trying far too hard and it shows. It's frustrating because there is a great story here, it's just hidden beneath bloated introspection.
Check out St. Elmo's Fire for a much better take on Magellan's journey.

[Stev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this 23 years ago, but it has stayed with me, mainly because I’ve never met anyone else who has read this book. I am always in awe of explorers, especially those who set out to sail off the face of the Earth. The author covers this perfectly, as he does the low key return.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe, 1519-20, told by the King of Spain’s jester who allegedly joined the expedition and became one of the few survivors, is the historical premise of this novel written by a Uruguayan author. There are some great moments, particularly in the depictions of the suffering, the discoveries in exotic lands as well as the descriptions of the ocean itself but it’s a bit of a slog at times. 2.5 stars.

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Black ships by Napoleion Baccino Ponce de Leon is subtitled A Novel of Magellan. It tells a story of what might have happened on Magellan's journey to circumnavigate the earth through the eyes of the ship's fool. Very cleverly done using the fool's voice as he relates the tale of the voyage to his king, hoping to have his pension reinstated. A great read, very cleverly written.

[Ana Enriques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una novela grandiosa para aquellos que, como yo, disfrutan adentrarse en los hechos históricos desde la ficción. Una mirada muy emotiva y humana del explorador Hernando de Magallanes y su accidentada expedición en busca de llegar a las islas de "la especiería" a través del estrecho entonces desconocido y que hoy lleva su nombre.

Además es una excelente novela para reflexionar poéticamente sobre los alcances de la palabra, la imaginación y la actividad literaria.

[Kitty Red-Eye · Rating 1 out of 5]

«Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla, bla bla bla bla bla. Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla? Bla bla bla bla.»

Not a story about the actual journey as much as using that journey as a frame for… don’t know. Ramblings about life, maybe. It didn’t work for me.

[Nicolas Arzamendia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me dejé llevar por ese viaje interminable a través del mundo. Salvo los excesos de ciertas descripciones disfrute el relato.

[Jean Papillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cleverly written

[JO i els Meus Llibres · Rating 3 out of 5]

El viaje de Magallanes al Nuevo Mundo explicador por un bufón, pero no és una narración humorística.

[Santiago Rojas F · Rating 5 out of 5]

El juego termina siempre con la misma pregunta: ¿Y qué es el Maluco?

[Pedro Puech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary!! The story of Magellan´s expedition told by the court clown. It is a novel, but vivid, real, and faithful to history.If you like historical fiction, don´t loose this one.

[Qulia]

One of the worst books I've ever read

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si encuentras este libro, compralo! O mejor aún, regálamelo. =)