Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus

This is an excellent and very well researched book that really engaged me. I'll admit a few brief parts took me a while to read through, usually when Columbus was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean I found the story a bit dull. But large parts of it flew by, especially when they were in the New World and when they got back to spread the word of their discovery and how it captivated the minds of so many.The book did a good job capturing both the man and his times. Just about everything is covered. The rivalry between Portugal and Spain, the importance of the Catholic Church and the Pope as a mediator. Shipping technology, sailors lives, the encounters with the natives and their ways of life. The early navigation techniques(quadrants, magnetic compasses), There is a a sense of the excitement and adventure in Portugal and Spain during that time both before the first voyage and upon Columbus' return when word spread. Of course, Columbus is well fleshed out from beginning to end.Too conclude, I think this is the best book on Columbus and his voyages. I would recommend purchasing one of the many great collections of original diaries and letters to go with it such as "The Four Voyages: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches with Connecting Narratives"(1992) edited by J. M. Cohen.

This book is large, but very readable and the author manages to keep things interesting through all four of Columbus’ voyages of discovery. It was written by Samuel Eliot Morison after he retraced Columbus’ voyages in 1939-1940 with the Harvard Columbus Expedition.Morison, who won the Pulitzer Prize for this work, humanizes Columbus, who is fleshed out warts and all. Columbus is intensely religious, loyal, at times a bore, a peerless admiral and navigator, a so-so and at times poor administrator, courageous, brilliant and at times extremely hardheaded. He made mistakes, took slaves, died under appreciated, yet still completed four of the most important voyages in the history of mankind. He never gave up on the idea that he had actually discovered a new route to the orient, and never fully realized what he had actually found. He was double crossed by his own crew multiple times, faced mutinies, battled arthritis, and was actually led back to Spain in chains following his third voyage.One of the things we struggle with understanding today is the fact that Columbus (and Magellan, along with many other explorers) had no idea where they were going. There were literally no maps at the time to show them what was on the other side of the ocean, or even if there was another side. It takes unbelievable courage to plunge headfirst off the edge of the map and most people now simply cannot understand what it took to face this complete uncertainty without hope of rescue while being responsible for the lives of the crew and property of the crown while doing it.This is a terrific book, well researched and full of interesting details. Fans of true adventure, exploration, discovery, maps, world history and geography will love it.

THE, (Pulitzer Prize Winning), Biography for a very misunderstood man; then, and now. Today he is seen as a killer of native societies, even though in his own lifetime he was much better towards the Native Americans than those Spaniards who came after him. Morison, himself a yacht navigator, Harvard Professor and multi-millionaire, used his family's money to build three glorious replicas of the Nina, Pinta y Santa Maria~! Then he retraced Columbus' steps as according to his immaculately accurate research. The book is a VERY exciting page turner~! Only a person with zero spirit for adventure could not appreciate this biography, published in 1942 at the height of WW~II, of an almost incomprable mariner, and, for better or worse, the man who DID bring the West Indies and Central America to the attention of Old Europe. The "Indians" caught Smallpox and 90% or so were wiped out; the Spaniards caught Syphillis, and, well....that's a whole other story. ENJOY the SUPER read from 1942~~it reads as if it were written yesterday~!!!

Admiral justifiably was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. It was well-researched and competently presented. That being said, the work suffers from the problem inherent in all high-quality historical accounts. Good history requires the recitation of minute details to assure the whole story is told; good narrative requires that the author summarize insignificant and trivial facts that bog the story down. Much of what Morrison reports is repetitive and patently unimportant as narrative. As history, it was essential that he try to identify every little island Columbus and his crew saw in the distance during his peregrinations around the Caribbean. Hence, the book is good history and only passable as a read.

This book is the definitive work on Columbus. Morison is famous for making the same journey that Columbus made with largely the same equipment in order to prepare for writing this book. His experience shines through in the detail thatMorison lavishes on his subject.As is the case with any great biography, Morison has become enamored with his subject, highlighting his strengths and successes while downplaying his weaknesses and failures, but you know that going into any biography and can adjust your interpretation accordingly.The story here is told very well, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. Additionally, the book dispells many of the myths and common misconceptions about Columbus and really fills in a complete picure of the man.Well worth reading for any fan of history or biography.

much more gripping than you would expect

Columbus is "problematic" for many these days, but Morison's Pulitzer Prize winning biography is a very well written & researched piece of history.

Great Read

great book