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A Singular Captain: Magellan's astounding voyage
Mutiny, murder and mayhem on the first circumnavigation of the world.
The Line of Demarcation divides the world between Portugal and Spain but no one knows on which side the fabulous Spice Isles lie, least of all the inhabitants. Only one man has the skill, knowledge, and iron will to settle the question: Ferdinand Magellan, who is hated in both Spain and Portugal.
Antonio Pigafetta, former ambassador of the Vatican and a refugee from religious turmoil, casts his lot with a captain set up to fail. He has no idea what he has let himself in for. Mutiny, murder, shipwreck and religious wars are just part of it In the background is the sinister figure of Bishop Fonseca, head of the Casa de Contratacion with power over the ships of the armada and all its people. The bishop's bastard, Juan de Cartagena, covets command of the armada and will stop at nothing to displace Magellan but he underestimates the captain general's iron will and steely determination. Magellan is ruthless in putting down any threats to his authority while confronting his own demons. Not once but three times he stamps out rebellion, which only brings him into submission to the highest authority of all.The fatal flaw in his character is his own downfall.
For Pigafetta, the first circumnavigation of the world is a spiritual journey as well as an unparalleled adventure. At a time when the Spanish Inquisition tortures and murders unbelievers, Pigafetta discovers compassion and questions his own faith. Pigafetta's dilemma is whether the puzzle of how a man as eminent as Pope Leo could be so wicked and how a man as wicked as Magellan could be so noble.
Review by: Rod Fisher This is a great read of Magellan's voyage as seen through the eyes of Pigafetta, his personal assistant. Too often men like Magellan who have made a profound impact on the history and discovery of the world are denigrated by revisionist historians who dwell on their mistakes and weaknesses. But when the world was a mystery it took rare exceptional personalities to lead others into the unknown. Magellan and Columbus had faults but they had a singular unwavering purpose and never faltered in accomplishing it. This account of Magellan's voyage doesn't judge him by our modern cultural standards but places him in the proper context of the 16th century. Well done Mr. Regan.
The Line of Demarcation divides the world between Portugal and Spain but no one knows on which side the fabulous Spice Isles lie, least of all the inhabitants. Only one man has the skill, knowledge, and iron will to settle the question: Ferdinand Magellan, who is hated in both Spain and Portugal.
Antonio Pigafetta, former ambassador of the Vatican and a refugee from religious turmoil, casts his lot with a captain set up to fail. He has no idea what he has let himself in for. Mutiny, murder, shipwreck and religious wars are just part of it In the background is the sinister figure of Bishop Fonseca, head of the Casa de Contratacion with power over the ships of the armada and all its people. The bishop's bastard, Juan de Cartagena, covets command of the armada and will stop at nothing to displace Magellan but he underestimates the captain general's iron will and steely determination. Magellan is ruthless in putting down any threats to his authority while confronting his own demons. Not once but three times he stamps out rebellion, which only brings him into submission to the highest authority of all.The fatal flaw in his character is his own downfall.
For Pigafetta, the first circumnavigation of the world is a spiritual journey as well as an unparalleled adventure. At a time when the Spanish Inquisition tortures and murders unbelievers, Pigafetta discovers compassion and questions his own faith. Pigafetta's dilemma is whether the puzzle of how a man as eminent as Pope Leo could be so wicked and how a man as wicked as Magellan could be so noble.
Review by: Rod Fisher This is a great read of Magellan's voyage as seen through the eyes of Pigafetta, his personal assistant. Too often men like Magellan who have made a profound impact on the history and discovery of the world are denigrated by revisionist historians who dwell on their mistakes and weaknesses. But when the world was a mystery it took rare exceptional personalities to lead others into the unknown. Magellan and Columbus had faults but they had a singular unwavering purpose and never faltered in accomplishing it. This account of Magellan's voyage doesn't judge him by our modern cultural standards but places him in the proper context of the 16th century. Well done Mr. Regan.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2013
17 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 29, 2013
I picked this up as a freebie from Smashwords.
I knew very little about Magellan before reading this novel. I knew who he was, from school history classes, but at the time I went through school, there was a very strong bias towards British history. Magellan wasn't British, so he got a mention, but little more than that. So this book, a fictional account of his journey to the Spice Islands, was certainly fascinating.
The story itself seems to be pretty close to what is known of that final voyage. Many, if not all, of the characters were real historic figures, and the author does a very good job of filling in the gaps and making the characters come to life. Pigafetta, the Italian who joins the expedition as a supernumerary, and who ends up providing the chronicle of the voyage, was a sympathetic central character, a nice contrast to the stern Magellan. There's plenty of action and peril, and the author provides a good portrait of the travails and hardships of such an expedition, weaving politics, religion and loyalty (or lack thereof) together to create a compelling narrative.
If you're interested in Magellan, exploration, maritime fiction or historic fiction, this is worth a read.
I knew very little about Magellan before reading this novel. I knew who he was, from school history classes, but at the time I went through school, there was a very strong bias towards British history. Magellan wasn't British, so he got a mention, but little more than that. So this book, a fictional account of his journey to the Spice Islands, was certainly fascinating.
The story itself seems to be pretty close to what is known of that final voyage. Many, if not all, of the characters were real historic figures, and the author does a very good job of filling in the gaps and making the characters come to life. Pigafetta, the Italian who joins the expedition as a supernumerary, and who ends up providing the chronicle of the voyage, was a sympathetic central character, a nice contrast to the stern Magellan. There's plenty of action and peril, and the author provides a good portrait of the travails and hardships of such an expedition, weaving politics, religion and loyalty (or lack thereof) together to create a compelling narrative.
If you're interested in Magellan, exploration, maritime fiction or historic fiction, this is worth a read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review