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The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus
A gifted historian presents a definitive book on Columbus—his life, his legacy, and the many controversies that outlived him.
Two thousand books have been written about Columbus, most of them spirited defenses or relentless attacks. Recently, the balance has the Genoese navigator, once considered a hero, is now blamed for bringing plunder and genocide to the Americas. In The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus, historian Matthew Restall takes us beyond polemic, sifting through the evidence across nations, languages, and five centuries to explore the central questions of Columbiana. He demonstrates that we know a great deal about Columbus’s life, and what we know shows that Columbus was not nearly as remarkable as many have assumed—or as he himself believed. But his afterlives are another Restall narrates the international contest over Columbus’s bones and the dozens of regional and national claims on his birthplace (some turning him into a secret Jew), examines how he became an American hero and then a hero of Italian Americans, and more. The result is a kaleidoscopic account of a single man that becomes a new history of the modern world.
Two thousand books have been written about Columbus, most of them spirited defenses or relentless attacks. Recently, the balance has the Genoese navigator, once considered a hero, is now blamed for bringing plunder and genocide to the Americas. In The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus, historian Matthew Restall takes us beyond polemic, sifting through the evidence across nations, languages, and five centuries to explore the central questions of Columbiana. He demonstrates that we know a great deal about Columbus’s life, and what we know shows that Columbus was not nearly as remarkable as many have assumed—or as he himself believed. But his afterlives are another Restall narrates the international contest over Columbus’s bones and the dozens of regional and national claims on his birthplace (some turning him into a secret Jew), examines how he became an American hero and then a hero of Italian Americans, and more. The result is a kaleidoscopic account of a single man that becomes a new history of the modern world.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
31 people are currently reading
4282 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Restall
33 books78 followersMatthew Restall is a historian of Colonial Latin America. He is an ethnohistorian and a scholar of conquest, colonization, and the African diaspora in the Americas. He is currently Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Latin American History and Anthropology, and Director of Latin American Studies, at the Pennsylvania State University. He is President of the American Society for Ethnohistory, a former editor of Ethnohistory journal, a senior editor of the Hispanic American Historical Review, editor of the book series Latin American Originals, and co-editor of the Cambridge Latin American Studies book series.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2025
3.5 stars
October 4, 2025
Quick Summary: A "Biographies & Memoirs | History" book
My Review: The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus by Matthew Restall is a historical non-fiction work that presents the case on the controversial figure, Cristoforo Colombo. The book is scheduled for release on 10/7/25.
About the Book: "In The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus, acclaimed historian Matthew Restall...presents a new, authoritative biography of Columbus, while at the same time tracing his many afterlives down into our own time. He explores the mysteries...that color our understanding of Columbus even in the twenty-first century...
Restall takes us beyond polemic, sifting through the evidence across nations, languages, and five centuries to explore the many questions that make up what he calls 'Columbiana.'"
In My Own Words: A detailed portrait of a man with many faces
Why I Was Interested in Reading This Book: When I saw this book, I immediately became interested in reading it. There were a number of reasons why this was so.
- For over three decades, I have been intrigued with learning about this infamous figure. The man I came to know about as a young grade school student and the man I came to unveil as an adult learner and lover of history were not one and the same. I have made it a point to study the character, the life, and the legacy of this polarizing man. This book offered me an opportunity that I could not pass up.
- The title of this book grabbed my attention. I found it to be captivating. I knew, without a doubt, that the author would peel back the layers on the "merchant mariner who became an explorer, slave-trader, and conquistador-settler." I felt that he would, perhaps, offer a fresh perspective, thereby giving me new food for thought.
- Even before opening the book, it began speaking. The cover of this book was eye-catching. It reminded me of a puzzle. In looking at the life of Columbus, I feel strongly that he was, indeed, the very thing Restall tried to piece together- a puzzle. He was an enigma. The explorer's life was one filled with controversies, mysteries, and contradictions.
- The draw of the multicultural perspectives was largely appealing. In reading the book, I wanted to understand the viewpoints of the diverse people groups represented. Columbus had colorful, remarkable, tainted, and tragic ties to many histories. I was curious how Restall would paint his picture.
What I Liked:
- I liked the layout of the book, from the design to the order of presentation.
- I liked the conversational tone that the author used to communicate the story of Columbus' "lives." He did not demonstrate a dry retelling, rather his narration came across as thought-provoking.
- I liked the Q & A format that was used in the chapters. It is my preferred approach when it comes to dissemination of information.
- I liked the inclusion of drawings, pictures/photos, etc. that were sprinkled throughout the material.
What I Did Not Like/Care For:
- Some of the language used was extremely crude and very profane. I did not care for it.
- In certain places where the more disturbing content was shared, the contemporary tone became distracting.
- I expected the author's voice to remain neutral, however, I felt that there were clear glimpses of his opinionated stance on certain issues. By the end of the book, his views were extremely evident, despite his expressed desire to be polemic.
- I did not necessarily agree with some of Restall's thoughts on the perpetuation of cited myths.
The Most Interesting Life Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9.
Life 1 -The Genoese
Life 2 - The Admiral
Life 3 - The Remains
Life 5 - The Lover
Life 9 - The Italian
My Final Say: This book certainly warrants consideration for those who have a keen interest in "Columbiana." Restall did a fair job with it. I think that both the scholar and the layman may find it to be an intriguing work.
While it was challenging for me to get past my own biases concerning Columbus, I will say that Restall's book afforded this reader with a curious and noteworthy take on "The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus."
Other: I would definitely suggest this work as a history book club recommendation. I think it would generate much discussion and a healthy debate.
I also believe this book will invite readers to conduct their own in depth research on the topic (as they should).
*** Potential readers are advised to read any and all content warnings provided by the author and/or publisher. ***
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐
Note: Content warning
Triggers: Yes
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (W. W. Norton & Company), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have shared in my review are my own thoughts and opinions.
My Review: The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus by Matthew Restall is a historical non-fiction work that presents the case on the controversial figure, Cristoforo Colombo. The book is scheduled for release on 10/7/25.
About the Book: "In The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus, acclaimed historian Matthew Restall...presents a new, authoritative biography of Columbus, while at the same time tracing his many afterlives down into our own time. He explores the mysteries...that color our understanding of Columbus even in the twenty-first century...
Restall takes us beyond polemic, sifting through the evidence across nations, languages, and five centuries to explore the many questions that make up what he calls 'Columbiana.'"
In My Own Words: A detailed portrait of a man with many faces
Why I Was Interested in Reading This Book: When I saw this book, I immediately became interested in reading it. There were a number of reasons why this was so.
- For over three decades, I have been intrigued with learning about this infamous figure. The man I came to know about as a young grade school student and the man I came to unveil as an adult learner and lover of history were not one and the same. I have made it a point to study the character, the life, and the legacy of this polarizing man. This book offered me an opportunity that I could not pass up.
- The title of this book grabbed my attention. I found it to be captivating. I knew, without a doubt, that the author would peel back the layers on the "merchant mariner who became an explorer, slave-trader, and conquistador-settler." I felt that he would, perhaps, offer a fresh perspective, thereby giving me new food for thought.
- Even before opening the book, it began speaking. The cover of this book was eye-catching. It reminded me of a puzzle. In looking at the life of Columbus, I feel strongly that he was, indeed, the very thing Restall tried to piece together- a puzzle. He was an enigma. The explorer's life was one filled with controversies, mysteries, and contradictions.
- The draw of the multicultural perspectives was largely appealing. In reading the book, I wanted to understand the viewpoints of the diverse people groups represented. Columbus had colorful, remarkable, tainted, and tragic ties to many histories. I was curious how Restall would paint his picture.
What I Liked:
- I liked the layout of the book, from the design to the order of presentation.
- I liked the conversational tone that the author used to communicate the story of Columbus' "lives." He did not demonstrate a dry retelling, rather his narration came across as thought-provoking.
- I liked the Q & A format that was used in the chapters. It is my preferred approach when it comes to dissemination of information.
- I liked the inclusion of drawings, pictures/photos, etc. that were sprinkled throughout the material.
What I Did Not Like/Care For:
- Some of the language used was extremely crude and very profane. I did not care for it.
- In certain places where the more disturbing content was shared, the contemporary tone became distracting.
- I expected the author's voice to remain neutral, however, I felt that there were clear glimpses of his opinionated stance on certain issues. By the end of the book, his views were extremely evident, despite his expressed desire to be polemic.
- I did not necessarily agree with some of Restall's thoughts on the perpetuation of cited myths.
The Most Interesting Life Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9.
Life 1 -The Genoese
Life 2 - The Admiral
Life 3 - The Remains
Life 5 - The Lover
Life 9 - The Italian
My Final Say: This book certainly warrants consideration for those who have a keen interest in "Columbiana." Restall did a fair job with it. I think that both the scholar and the layman may find it to be an intriguing work.
While it was challenging for me to get past my own biases concerning Columbus, I will say that Restall's book afforded this reader with a curious and noteworthy take on "The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus."
Other: I would definitely suggest this work as a history book club recommendation. I think it would generate much discussion and a healthy debate.
I also believe this book will invite readers to conduct their own in depth research on the topic (as they should).
*** Potential readers are advised to read any and all content warnings provided by the author and/or publisher. ***
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐
Note: Content warning
Triggers: Yes
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (W. W. Norton & Company), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have shared in my review are my own thoughts and opinions.
October 15, 2025
This dense book demonstrates that 98% of what is known and repeated about Christopher Columbus is myth. The whole campaign by revisionists to blame him for everything wrong in the New World for the last 500 years is ridiculous. The reason I rated it a 3 star is that it dwells at length on his family and the legal disputes over 300 years to maintain his title and wealth. It also focuses on the fact that he was a representative of Spain and the Catholic Church from 500 years ago. Have you ever thought about why no long lived, stable democracies have arisen in the Latin world? Well this in part explains it. He was a somewhat itinerate sailor who served his ego and his desire for wealth and fame. Within 10 years after 1492, 1000's crossed The Atlantic seeking the same things. Yes, the Native Peoples were devastated, but this was a result of another tradgic tide of history. Remember the germ theory of disease was not discovered until 1870. To end this, in his later life he became a religious zealot, an instrument of the church. There was even a substantial movement in the 19th century to canonize him. Again, ridiculous.
December 9, 2025
The nine lives that Matthew Restall refers to are, for the most part, perceptions of Christopher Columbus, along with an actual biography of the real Columbus. He dispels myths about Columbus right and left. And let's face it, much of what most people think they know about Columbus is based more on myth than fact. For example, even though historical records are clear about his birth in Genoa, many nations have tried to claim him as their own. Spain, of course, but also France, other regions in Italy - even Greece and Scandinavia.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the descriptions of how Columbus was perceived at different points in history. Hero. Visionary explorer. Brutal enslaver. Even a candidate for sainthood. In the United States, Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries employed him as a means to improve American attitudes toward the many immigrants from Italy.
Whether you prefer to commemorate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, this is an interesting look at a man who has been forced into a number of roles long after his death.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the descriptions of how Columbus was perceived at different points in history. Hero. Visionary explorer. Brutal enslaver. Even a candidate for sainthood. In the United States, Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries employed him as a means to improve American attitudes toward the many immigrants from Italy.
Whether you prefer to commemorate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, this is an interesting look at a man who has been forced into a number of roles long after his death.
December 1, 2025
A most excellent history book.
The author has done a fantastic job of doing his research. He puts forward all the stories, legends and misconceptions surrounding Christopher Columbus that exist, and have existed throughout history. He then proceeds to thoroughly dissect them to see if they hold the credibility they claim. The result is a fantastic journey through many different versions of Christopher's life, with countless "facts" debunked on the way, leaving only the mostly likely historical truths.
The author maintains his unbiased stance all throughout, which adds value and authenticity to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the truths and untruths surrounding the enigmatic character in history that is Columbus.
The author has done a fantastic job of doing his research. He puts forward all the stories, legends and misconceptions surrounding Christopher Columbus that exist, and have existed throughout history. He then proceeds to thoroughly dissect them to see if they hold the credibility they claim. The result is a fantastic journey through many different versions of Christopher's life, with countless "facts" debunked on the way, leaving only the mostly likely historical truths.
The author maintains his unbiased stance all throughout, which adds value and authenticity to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the truths and untruths surrounding the enigmatic character in history that is Columbus.
December 25, 2025
Aan de hand van 9 aspecten van Columbus zoals wij die kennen uit wetenschappelijk en pseudo-wetenschappelijk (mythen) over deze historische figuur, wordt veel van wat wij denken te weten over Columbus onderuitgehaald en tot de ware en vrij kleine realiteit terug gebracht.
Het is een boeiend, goed geschreven verhaal. Deels al bekend, maar ook veel - voor mij - nieuwe feiten. De auteur behandelt ook uitgebreid de protesten, vooral in VS, in het kader van BLM movement en de zeer terechte protesten van de autochtone bewoners van Amerika.
Het is een boeiend, goed geschreven verhaal. Deels al bekend, maar ook veel - voor mij - nieuwe feiten. De auteur behandelt ook uitgebreid de protesten, vooral in VS, in het kader van BLM movement en de zeer terechte protesten van de autochtone bewoners van Amerika.
August 7, 2025
Columbus was scum. He IS responsible for everything that happens no matter how much you want him to be a hero
November 12, 2025
The author does a good job debunking the myths surrounding Columbus , both good and bad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews