The authoritative biography of British explorer Sir Francis Drake,
from the bestselling author of The Great Siege.
Long considered one of the great heroes of British history, Sir Francis
Drake was a brilliant navigator, intrepid explorer, and fearsome warrior
in Queen Elizabeth's Royal Navy. He was also a pirate and profiteer who
made a small fortune trading slaves. In this compelling biography, Ernle
Brandford offers an unvarnished and finely detailed portrait of this
complex and influential man.
Born to impoverished parents in Devon, Drake rose to power by his own
efforts. In his most famous expedition, he sailed around South America
through the Strait of Magellan, opening new trade routes for Great
Britain. Continuing across the Pacific and around the tip of Africa, he
became the first Englishman to sail around the world. Drake also played
a key role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada when England was
threatened with invasion in 1588. Vastly outnumbered, he led raids into
Spanish ports, destroying dozens of ships. But while tales of his
exploits have been told for generations, few authors have approached the
story of his life with as much depth, authority, and honesty as
Bradford.
