Martin Frobisher: Elizabethan Privateer

by James McDermott

Details the life and exploits of the privateer who served Elizabeth I, battled against the Spanish Armada, and attempted to find the Northwest Passage.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Pirates

528 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2001

Reviews

[Tom Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profound and highly entertaining biography of a pivotal character in English history. James McDermott, now writing fiction as Jim McDermott, paints a picture of a highly complex man exercising enormous strengths while struggling with debilitating shortcomings. McDermott’s Frobisher never fully realizes his potential but always manages to avoid complete failure. Despite serious character flaws, he plays an important role in England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada and wins the respect of Queen Elizabeth.

James McDermott’s well researched and articulated masterwork brings both his subject and this historical period to life. McDermott is thorough, balanced and elevating. He expertly illuminates the clash of strong personalities with an insightfulness that is creative and convincing. His skillful turn of phrase and employment of a remarkably vocabulary entertains while it enlightens. Anyone with a taste for thought provoking historical drama should put this at the top of their reading list.

[SeaShore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will take a long time to read- if you want the details of personal stories etc or as a teaching tool or group read then fine.
The excitement for me could be gleaned through each chapter. Why was Frobisher Bay named after him and was it worth it?
He could be described as a seaman and explorer. serving Elizabeth I with distinction and also a privateer who single-mindedly pursued his own interests. Born 1535, died 1594 and he was on his three voyages in the 1570s; the third, with Francis Drake.
McDermott is an Independent Scholar. He was an adviser to the Canadian Museum of Civilization's Meta Incognita Project.
It is a slow read but I persevere; today January 15, 2020- I read Chapter 2 : London and Yorke. McCermott academic style provides the setting accurately and whether I like Frobisher or not is not the point. It is more what was it like in this world, in the 1500s. the pressures and consequencesof these novel economic and spiritual uncertainties began to work their changes upon men whose fathers had been among the most conservative-minded of her citizens ... This life would be imprinted on the young Frobisher. His relationship with Sir John Yorke was to provide several striking lessons.
This book was bublished in 2001.

[Shrike58 · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is the material for a great historical novel (maybe even a series) in this work as while Frobisher led a fascinating life as an explorer, pirate, military commander, and operative in the great game of Elizabethean intelligence, the man left very little behind to give one a sense of his personal life, providing a fine canvas for the enterprising novelist. If nothing else McDermott does a fine job of putting Frobisher into context, for example noting that the English might not have taken to the high seas in a big way if their traditional wool trade had not collapsed, or observing that it was probably the Castilian annexation of Portugal who brought Elizabeth and Philip to blows. Also muchly appreciated for a work such as this, is that McDemott displays a sly and cynical sense of humor.

Originally written: December 24, 2005.

[Jim McDermott]

I wrote it!