The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times

Product Description An account of the life and exploits of the notable sixteenth-century English navigator and commander, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and vice-admiral of the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. By the author of. From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up?Meticulous research, thought-provoking details, and clearly delineated individuals hallmark Marrin's work. Sails unfurl, legends live, and vast, unexplored oceans beckon in this definitive portrait of the bold mariner. At the outset, the stage is set, the politics of the Elizabethan Age are revealed, and leading personalities assume their places. The tenor of the times unfolds in a dramatic fashion. This is not a romanticized biography, but a gritty, graphic, and gripping account enumerating the perils of lengthy sea voyages and the political maneuvering among the different social classes on board. Descriptions are so realistic that readers can taste the rancid water and spoiled food and suffer the weariness of a trek through a treacherous jungle. Within the parameters of a prologue and six chapters, youngsters visualize the young Drake, join his search for treasure, experience his height of triumph at the completion of a voyage around the world, and empathize with his subsequent failures and lack of favor with Queen Elizabeth. The weaponry aboard ship and the dangers facing the sailors are described in a manner so detailed that readers assume the pose of an eyewitness. The account of the defeat of the Armada offers a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities and eccentricities of the commanders, coupled with a focused view of an ever-changing battle arena. Visually attractive, the volume combines annotated black-and-white reproductions and maps on pure white paper in a slightly oversized format. Notes on each chapter are supplied; the bibliography is extensive and the index is clear and comprehensive. A riveting biography.?Joanne Kelleher, Commack Public Library, NY Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Gr. 6^-10. In this lively, detailed account of his adventurous life, Sir Francis Drake is firmly set within the context of his times--and what times they were! From his circumnavigation of the globe (1577^-1580) to his days as a privateer to his part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Drake cuts a dramatic figure. Quotations, meticulously attributed in the source notes, bring an immediacy sometimes lacking in biographies. Not every reader, though, will appreciate the many scenes of "execution and torments," whether they appear in quotation marks or not. Numerous black-and-white reproductions of period paintings, engravings, and maps appear throughout the book. A handsome, informative edition. Carolyn Phelan