Synopses & Reviews
An enthralling new biography of the most exciting and charismatic adventurer in the history of the English-speaking worldTall, dark, handsome, and damnably proud, Sir Walter Raleigh was one of historys most romantic characters. An explorer, soldier, courtier, pirate, and poet, Raleigh risked his life by trifling with the Virgin Queens affections. To his enemies—and there were many—he was an arrogant liar and traitor, deserving of every one of his thirteen years in the Tower of London.
Regardless of means, his accomplishments are legion: he founded the first American colony, gave the Irish the potato, and defeated Spain. He was also a brilliant operator in the shark pool of Elizabethan court politics, until he married a court beauty, without Elizabeths permission, and later challenged her capricious successor, James I.
Raleigh Trevelyan has traveled to each of the principal places where Raleigh adventured—Ireland, the Azores, Roanoke Islands, and the legendary El Dorado (Orinoco)—and uncovered new insights into Raleighs extraordinary life. New information from the Spanish archives give a freshness and immediacy to this detailed and convincing portrait of one of the most compelling figures of the Elizabethan era.
Review
"This thorough and accomplished work is the new standard for Raleighana." Booklist
Review
"Trevelyan's meticulously researched narrative will be informative for anyone looking to learn more about Elizabethan England and one of its most influential characters." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[A] fascinating and well-balanced account....Highly recommended." Library Journal
Review
"The best place for Sir Walter Raleigh, the English historian A.L. Rowse once observed, was the Tower of London. This well-written life by namesake and descendant Trevelyan makes a long but engaging rebuttal." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 593-599) and index.
Synopsis
"Engaging and thorough . . . the best modern biography of the man. Why isn't there a great movie about Sir Walter Raleigh? His life had everything." -Los Angeles Times
Tall, dark, handsome, and damnably proud, Sir Walter Raleigh was one of history's most romantic characters. He founded the first American colony, gave the Irish the potato, even trifled with the Virgin Queen's affections. To his enemies, he was an arrogant liar, deserving of every one of his thirteen years in the Tower of London. Regardless of means, Raleigh's accomplishments are unquestionable: he was the epitome of the English Renaissance man.
Raleigh Trevelyan has traveled to each of the principal places where Raleigh adventured-Ireland, the Azores, Roanoke, and the Orinoco-finding new insights into Raleigh's extraordinary life. His research gives a freshness and immediacy to this detailed, convincing portrait of one of the most compelling figures from the Elizabethan era.
About the Author
Raleigh Trevelyan, a direct descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh, was for many years a distinguished publisher; his previous books include T
he Fortress and
Rome 44. During the last two decades he has combed the British, Spanish, Italian, and his own familys archives to write this authoritative life story. He lives in London and Cornwall.
Table of Contents
Family and childhood -- With the Huguenots: 1568-72 -- Desirous of honour: 1572-9 -- Foothold at court: 1580 -- Ireland: 1580-81 -- A kind of oracle: 1582-3 -- Grandeur at Durham House: 1583 -- The first Virginia voyage: 1584 -- The Roanoke Fort: 1585 -- El Draque: 1586 -- More riches: 1586-7 -- A competition of love: 1587 -- Armada: 1588 -- Two shepherds meet: 1589 -- The lost colonists: 1590 -- Grenville of the revenge: 1591 -- Scandal and the tower: 1592 -- The school of night: 1593 -- The mind in searching: 1594 -- Arrival at Trinidad: 1595 -- Guiana: 1595 -- Drake's last voyage: 1595 -- No forgiveness yet: 1596 -- Cadiz: 1596 -- An uneasy triumvirate: 1597 -- The islands voyage: 1597 -- Crisis in Ireland: 1958 -- Age like winter weather: 1599 -- Rage and rebellion: 1600 -- Machiavelli and parliament: 1601 -- Malice and betrayal: 1602 -- The main and the bye: 1603 -- The trial: 1603 -- Waiting for the end: 1603 -- Life in the bloody tower: 1604 -- Friendship with the prince: 1605-7 -- The great history: 1608-9 -- O eloquent, just and mighty death!: 1610-12 -- The Overbury affair: 1613-15 -- Release: 1616 -- Aboard the destiny: 1617 -- Chronicle of death: 1617 -- My brains are broken: 1618 -- Piratas! Piratas!: 1618 -- Cold walls again: 1618 -- Even such is time: 1618 -- Afterwards.