First Circumnavigators: Unsung Heroes of the Age of Discovery

by Harry Kelsey

Prior histories of the first Spanish mariners to circumnavigate the globe in the sixteenth century have focused on Ferdinand Magellan and the other illustrious leaders of these daring expeditions. Harry Kelsey’s masterfully researched study is the first to concentrate on the hitherto anonymous sailors, slaves, adventurers, and soldiers who manned the ships. The author contends that these initial transglobal voyages occurred by chance, beginning with the launch of Magellan’s armada in 1519, when the crews dispatched by the king of Spain to claim the Spice Islands in the western Pacific were forced to seek a longer way home, resulting in bitter confrontations with rival Portuguese. Kelsey’s enthralling history, based on more than thirty years of research in European and American archives, offers fascinating stories of treachery, greed, murder, desertion, sickness, and starvation but also of courage, dogged persistence, leadership, and loyalty.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

239 pages, Hardcover

Published June 28, 2016

Reviews

[Michov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breve resumen de los primeros viajes de la vuelta al mundo no da excesivos detalles de cada viaje, pero cada relato parece estar fundamentado en los escritos de los protagonistas o de época próxima. Como buen británico menciona a dos compatriotas que dieron la vuelta y solo mencionando sus virtudes. Destaca la cantidad de "desconocidos cirncunnavegantes" que menciona y la buena bibliografía que aporta.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But after a century of circumnavigation and dozens more circumnavigators, circling the globe was no longer a novelty. There's something to be said for being first." (137)

[Peter Geyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aim of this book is to report on the first sailors to circumnavigate the world, in the 16th century. Descriptions of various voyages are given, including those who undertook them and the personal and political conflicts inherent in those who sailed, and of course who they encountered in these travels. Issues of navigation, conversion and coercion are presented and discussed.

It appears to be the result of much archival investigation by the author, Harry Kelsey, which at times makes for a stodgy writing style, notwithstanding the importance of providing detailed information. Although this made me drift off a little at times, this was still an interesting book on a topic that has been of personal interest since I was very young

[Trey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good overview of the first century of navigation, from Magellan all the way to Drake and Cavendish. It wasn’t super in depth and really only covered the basic points of each circumnavigation but it was still fun to read about the ones I didn’t know about. The Magellan and Drake being the ones I knew most about but I cannot fault them for being short or lacking details because this book is short and there’s really only so much to talk about. This book is a good overview and if you have a passing knowledge of Spanish history and sailing history then it is of some use, otherwise perhaps other books would be better introductions on circumnavigation. Still good though!

4/5

[David Spanagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Documents the names and travels of approximately 4 dozen men who managed to circumnavigate the Earth during the sixteenth century. The most interesting feature of Kelsey's account is his discussion of the puzzle that Spanish navigators spent more than 4 decades trying unsuccessfully to solve--how to return from the Philippines back to Mexico eastward across the Pacific (and thus be able to manage their global empire entirely within the domain accorded to them by the Tordesillas agreement without having to circumnavigate the planet on every voyage).

[Stoned nINJA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely informative but a dull book none the less .
5/10