From Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake to lesser-known scientific explorers and even an unknown mariner, a batch of new nonfiction works share previously overlooked stories set during the age of discovery. These titles expand our thinking about the people and missions that jumpstarted maritime travel and commerce.

In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire
Laurence Bergreen, Mar 2021, Custom House, an imprint of Harper Collins
Themes: World history, Maritime history, British empire, Age of Discovery

IN SEARCH OF A KINGDOM is an engaging nonfiction narrative exploring Francis Drake, his major voyages of exploration, and his relationship with Elizabeth I.
Take-aways: Educators will find the relationships among the key players along with the specifics of Drake’s expeditions to be helpful in understanding the bigger picture of piracy, enslaved people, diplomacy, and the quest for fame and riches during this period. ( )

Many details of Drakes life and the Spanish Armada I I hadn’t heard before.
It was interesting to learn that Elizabeth I had small pox in the early years of her reign and that is why she wore heavy make up.
Provocative gossip about the licentiousness of her court. New insights for me.
Francis Drake has long been a heroic figure for me. I found it interesting to learn more of his background and exploits.
I hadn’t realized the central contribution his piracy made to the financial solvency of the Elizabethan court. ( )

Somewhat long, boring, but still interesting look at the life of Francis Drake and his voyages. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Sir Francis Drake’s life and the birth of the British Empire. We follow him on his journey to be the first person to circumnavigate the earth. Originally a slaver he becomes a fierce opponent to slavery and is usually fair with those he defeated (unless they are shooting poison darts at him). Not a bad fellow in the end. I also learned more about John Dee, the original “007”! Highly recommended. ( )

In Search of a Kingdom is a great introduction, and adventure story, of a defining figure of the 16th century. There are so many English explorers and pirates - Thomas Cavendish, Walter Raleigh, William Dampier - it's easy to become confused (for this American), but Drake was the first to become famous, he would inspire and influence all one who came after. He is probably most famous as the first English captain to sail around the world and return alive - Ferdinand Magellan was killed on his journey and his crew returned barely alive, whereas Drake came home with a healthy crew and ship in polished condition. He was also something of a colorful personality and natural leader who even his enemies admired; he sometimes captured a ship and set the captives free with a bit of the loot as a gift; he usually dined on ship with musicians serenading his meal. Still, despite being so privileged to have seen the world, it's geography, native cultures, flora and fauna, he returned home largely unchanged as a person. His influence as such is a secondary consequence of his actions - contrast with William Dampier a century later, whose writings and outlook changed the way the world sees.

Bergreen's theme, as the sub-title, is that Drake was the beginning of the British Empire. This idea is not original, nor dwelled upon, but it is valid. England under Elizabeth was an indebted secondary kingdom without much of a navy in a world dominated by wealthy and powerful Spain. But the Spanish Empire had an Achilles heel - it needed to ship treasure, which made it vulnerable to attack. Drake was not the first of Elizabeth's "Sea Dogs" (privateers) but was the most successful, bringing home enough loot to pay off England's debt and more besides. This wild success spawned more piracy, and solidified the idea that England could be a maritime power with colonies of its own. It's an old theme that when glorified as the Victorians did is tone deaf these days, but important to understand the context of how colonialism began - inter-state competition over global resources and culture. Bergreen does not glorify, maybe to a fault one has to bring a sense of awe and wonder, but he is a reliable narrator of events. ( )