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Juan Ponce de Leon: And the Spanish Discovery of Puerto Rico and Florida
Juan Ponce de León was an important figure in the history of the Spanish colonization of what are today Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the southeastern United States. While many people are familiar with the name Ponce de León, only a handful know the historical truth of what Ponce did -- and did not -- do! Juan Ponce de León and the Spanish Discovery of Puerto Rico and Florida is the most extensive biography to date of this important but mis-represented figure in the early colonial history of America. Written by one of America's foremost experts on 15th and 16th century exploration and discovery, this book dispels the myths about Ponce de León and credits him with discoveries for which he previously has not been credited. The author assembles the most extensive collection ever of facts, reasoned inference, translations of critical documents, original maps, historical illustrations, and photographs bearing upon the life and legacy of this important figure. Ponce de León's life and legacy are examined in the context of Spain's ambitions in the New World during the 16th century.
284 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 22, 2015
Although Fuson has written one of the most complete works on Ponce de Leon's discoveries in the New World, I often felt like there was too much that distracted from the the central focus of the work.
In reality, only about half the book is about Ponce de Leon, while the first part gives us background on the Spanish conquest, the middle section goes on diversions for pages (including de Soto and Cabeza), and the last section informs us of how Florida came to be settled decades after Ponce de Leon's death. As someone who has been reading about all these various explorations, I found all this background information interesting, but I'm not necessarily sure how some of it related directly to Ponce de Leon. Part of this was Fuson's valiant effort to fill in huge gaps about the explorer's life for which historians are just not certain. The entirety of the second voyage is mostly unknown, so Fuson has to reconstruct as much as possible with the few available resources. He honestly tells us when historians don't know specific information (which is often) and will sometimes relate three and four different versions based on the various differing historical narratives. The result is a book that feels awkwardly arranged, a bit rambling, and often repetitive. The entire Epilogue is simply a repeated summary of the main points of Ponce de Leon's life which we have just read, followed by Fuson's repetition (I lost track of how many times) that the explorer should be known as the founder of the Gulf Stream and not for the failed search for the Fountain of Youth.
These criticisms aside, I learned a great deal about the explorer, as well as interesting points about Pineda, Menendez, and others. The primary documents were excellent (although perhaps they could have been included as end notes?), and the photos added a nice personal touch.
In reality, only about half the book is about Ponce de Leon, while the first part gives us background on the Spanish conquest, the middle section goes on diversions for pages (including de Soto and Cabeza), and the last section informs us of how Florida came to be settled decades after Ponce de Leon's death. As someone who has been reading about all these various explorations, I found all this background information interesting, but I'm not necessarily sure how some of it related directly to Ponce de Leon. Part of this was Fuson's valiant effort to fill in huge gaps about the explorer's life for which historians are just not certain. The entirety of the second voyage is mostly unknown, so Fuson has to reconstruct as much as possible with the few available resources. He honestly tells us when historians don't know specific information (which is often) and will sometimes relate three and four different versions based on the various differing historical narratives. The result is a book that feels awkwardly arranged, a bit rambling, and often repetitive. The entire Epilogue is simply a repeated summary of the main points of Ponce de Leon's life which we have just read, followed by Fuson's repetition (I lost track of how many times) that the explorer should be known as the founder of the Gulf Stream and not for the failed search for the Fountain of Youth.
These criticisms aside, I learned a great deal about the explorer, as well as interesting points about Pineda, Menendez, and others. The primary documents were excellent (although perhaps they could have been included as end notes?), and the photos added a nice personal touch.
February 6, 2022
Ponce de Leon appears most often in American textbooks as a foolish, vain man who desperately sought the Fountain of Youth to achieve immortality. Fuson sets out to right this wrong, and mostly succeeds. Drawing on predominantly primary sources, Fuson goes into detail about Ponce's fascinating life: his participation in Columbus' second voyage, his contributions to the founding of modern day countries/territories Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba, and the discovery of the Gulf Stream. This book is not just a biography though. There are also interesting tidbits about the French's nearly successful colonization of Florida and other events that occurred after Ponce's death (including a cameo by Ponce's grandson - another highly ironic piece of history).
My concern about the information is that, like with many biographers, the author clearly is a bit of "fanboy." Fuson goes out of his way to characterize Ponce as a decent man who was focused on exploration, agriculture, family, and duty to country far more than conquest and enslaving local populations (essentially stating that Ponce never engaged in those things and that Ponce was perhaps the most prepared and even-keeled conquistador in all of the New World). It is difficult for this reader to know for sure whether this is accurate or not as this is the only volume I have read which predominantly covers Juan Ponce de Leon.
My concern about the information is that, like with many biographers, the author clearly is a bit of "fanboy." Fuson goes out of his way to characterize Ponce as a decent man who was focused on exploration, agriculture, family, and duty to country far more than conquest and enslaving local populations (essentially stating that Ponce never engaged in those things and that Ponce was perhaps the most prepared and even-keeled conquistador in all of the New World). It is difficult for this reader to know for sure whether this is accurate or not as this is the only volume I have read which predominantly covers Juan Ponce de Leon.
February 21, 2023
Juan Ponce de Leon is a lesser known but still important player of early Spanish exploration and colonization in the Americas. Having gone to the New World on Columbus's second voyage, he became the first Governor of Puerto Rico and led the first Spanish exploration of Florida. Quoting original source material extensively, the book also covers the wider historical context by reviewing the history of Spain up until this point and situating Ponce de Leon's pursuits in the context of other explorers and conquistadores of the period. Given the gaps in the sources on several periods in Ponce de Leon's life, this broader overview helps to tell a better flowing story than might otherwise have been the case. As a result, this book is an excellent introduction not only to Ponce de Leon's life and journeys, but also to early and post-Columbus Spanish exploration and colonization in the New World.
In spite of it being an otherwise clearly written and engaging account, the book does have one significant drawback in that minimizes Ponce de Leon's engagement in Spanish cruelties against the Natives. The author highlights how Ponce de Leon criticized Spanish treatment of the Natives and supposedly treated the Natives better, which may well be the case comparatively, but which glosses over the fact that Ponce de Leon still participated in and benefited from the oppressive Spanish system.
In spite of it being an otherwise clearly written and engaging account, the book does have one significant drawback in that minimizes Ponce de Leon's engagement in Spanish cruelties against the Natives. The author highlights how Ponce de Leon criticized Spanish treatment of the Natives and supposedly treated the Natives better, which may well be the case comparatively, but which glosses over the fact that Ponce de Leon still participated in and benefited from the oppressive Spanish system.
August 13, 2017
R.H. Fusion spends too much time dismissing facto-logy based on lack of historical records. At the end he does not paint a deeper picture. We learn mostly of what did not happen.
February 28, 2013
Esta es la historia de un hombre que le dio nombre a muchos lugares en Puerto Rico: Desde un municipio hasta el más humilde de los kioskos; todos quieren tener un poco de este prócer cuya grán virtud fue estar en el lugar preciso en el momento adecuado, y tener una visión clara del potencial de la isla. Seguro que si Ponce hubiese vivido varios cientos de años, hubiera logrado mucho más de la tierra, pero una vez muertos los próceres, es muy difícil continuar con sus obras.
April 20, 2009
As a recent emigrant to the Caribbean this book was a great introduction to the history of Puerto Rico. Standing elevated in El Yunque and looking north to the beach. There is a vista hopefully we shared c JP de L. It is a view that has not changed much in 500 hundered years.
January 3, 2015
An excellent, concise overview of the voyages of Ponce de Leon and their context. Be aware that Fuson differs from the scholarly consensus on a few minor points of fact.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews