Magellan

Bought as a Christmas present for my hubby. He has wanted to buy it, but couldn't find it in the local bookstore.

Magellan's trip, beginning September 20, 1519 and lasting 3 yearsis a magnificent book to own and read. This is the case for theuniqueness of the content, the almost 500 years that have gone bysince that special voyage to the present day.The chance that Magellan's Passage would be discovered, or thefirst circum-navigation of the Earth by man in all time, thechances for survival (perhaps only 8% of the crew survived), andthat the manuscript would be published are thin, but succeeded. Infact, were it not for academic passion, economic viability and apolitical and religious freedom today, it could not be presentedto readers.Along with a number of contemporary works concerning theConquistadors in South America, and colonialism, explaining theurgency and economic necessity at the time that justified suchexploration projects, this one seems essential to understand themotivations of the travelers.This edition is published on thick white paper. It is somewhatbland from a total lack of graphics, diagrams, cartoons orphotographs but as such, is faithful to a personal diary andaccount of what transpired over 3 years on board a ship.It is a work that can be studied, underlined, and re-read as manytimes as needed and shared with others with a propensity to readHistory.