Balboa: Swordsman and Conquistador

by Felix Riesenberg, Fedor Rojankovsky (Illustrator)

Juvenile educational book-history.

Genres: Biography, World History, Nonfiction, History

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Felix Riesenberg was an American maritime officer and writer of maritime professional, historical, and fictional literature in the early 20th Century.

Riesenberg was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He later attended the New York Nautical School graduating in the class of 1897. Afterward, he secured a position as a deck officer in the merchant marine, being part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and also serving in the Naval Reserve until 1909. Riesenberg was hired by Walter Wellman to be a part of the support crew in an unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole by airship in the summer of 1906. He was rehired by Wellman the following year to be the navigator aboard the three man airship America in a second failed attempt to reach the North Pole in 1907.

After this, Riesenberg enrolled and graduated from the Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1913.

Riesenberg worked as a civil Engineer for New York State from 1913 to 1915 and then again from 1920 to 1922. In the interim, he was the Chief Officer of the United States Shipping Board.

Riesenberg was the superintendent of the New York Nautical School on two occasions, from 1917 to 1919 as Commander of the barkentine "Newport" and again from 1923 to 1924.

Riesenberg was also a prolific author, publishing a textbook, Standard Seamanship for the Merchant Service that became commonly used, as well as several maritime historical works and novels. He wrote several articles that appeared in the magazine The Nation. Riesenberg published his memoir Living Again in 1937.

Riesenberg died 19 November 1939 in Scarsdale, New York. After a funeral service held in Bronxville his ashes were scattered at sea.

He had four children, Felix Jr., William, Margaret (Peggy), and John (Jack). Priscilla was Felix Jr's wife. His son Felix Jr. (1913–1962) was also an author of numerous maritime books.

The New York Nautical School is today called "Maritime College" and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Present day cadets are still taught the 'Riesenberg Saying': "The sea is selective; slow at recognition of effort and aptitude, but fast in sinking the unfit."

Reviews

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Bahman Bahman · Rating 2 out of 5]

"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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.