Founding the colony of Maryland was the brainchild of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, but it was his son, Cecil, who actually made it a reality after his father's death. This book focuses on his role as founder of the colony, and includes accounts of its early history and the political situation in England. Cecil struggled to keep alive his intention to found a colony that allowed an unusual degree of religious tolerance, at least for Christians. Keeping his dream going in the face of the English Civil War, religious strife and jealous courtiers was a struggle, and Calvert was never able to visit his colony, Lavishly illustrated with mainy color pictures, and billed as a juvenile, this is a good, brief biography for adults who want the basic facts about Calvert and the early history of Maryland. The books contains sidebars explaining issues (such as the English reformation) that affect the history, but are not directly part of it. There is a chronology, and a list of resources, including some websites. There is a mediocre index. ( )