- 1990 First edition. 176 pages
- Published by Souvenir Press Ltd. London
- Hardcover with dust jacket. Red Boards. Just a little smaller than A4 size book.
- Very good condition. Near new. Small owner stamp on free front end paper.
The Four Voyages of Columbus. Illustrated and Indexed.
In this thoughtful reassessment of Columbus and his achievements, Alexander McKee looks behind the legend to examine the man whose boldness and ambition, sustained over seven long years of rejection at the courst of Europe, led him to attempt an enterprise of unparalleled bravery.
He finds a series of contradictions: a brilliant seaman who accurately assessed the possibilities of the prevailing winds of the Atlantic, yet who, in order to press his theory, based his caclulations on a misconception of the Earth's size; a visionary so blinkered by the goal he had set himself that to the end of his days he failed - or refused - to accept that he found not the outpost os the Indies but a new and unknown land. His attempt to govern a colony failed because his authority was founded on empty promises.
In analysing the failings that denied Columbus the glory he had sought, the author nevertheless writes with admiration of his seamanship, daring and persistence. Illustrated with colour photographs, contemporary woodcuts, engravings and maps, this is a fascinating account of one of the great moments in history.
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