In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire

Description

"FASCINATING . . . Dramatic and timely." -New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice In this grand and thrilling narrative, the acclaimed biographer of Magellan and Columbus reveals the singular adventures of Sir Francis Drake, whose mastery of the seas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I changed the course of history. "Entrancing . . . Very good indeed." -Wall Street Journal Before he was secretly dispatched by Queen Elizabeth to circumnavigate the globe, or was called upon to save England from the Spanish Armada, Francis Drake was perhaps the most wanted-and successful-pirate ever to sail. Nicknamed "El Draque" by the Spaniards who placed a bounty on his head, the notorious red-haired, hot-tempered Drake pillaged galleons laden with New World gold and silver, stealing a vast fortune for his queen-and himself. For Elizabeth, Drake made the impossible real, serving as a crucial and brilliantly adaptable instrument of her ambitions to transform England from a third-rate island kingdom into a global imperial power. In 1580, sailing on Elizabeth's covert orders, Drake became the first captain to circumnavigate the earth successfully. (Ferdinand Magellan had died in his attempt.) Part exploring expedition, part raiding mission, Drake's audacious around-the-world journey in the Golden Hind reached Patagonia, the Pacific Coast of present-day California and Oregon, the Spice Islands, Java, and Africa. Almost a decade later, Elizabeth called upon Drake again. As the devil-may-care vice admiral of the English fleet, Drake dramatically defeated the once-invincible Spanish Armada, spurring the British Empire's ascent and permanently wounding its greatest rival. The relationship between Drake and Elizabeth is the missing link in our understanding of the rise of the British Empire, and its importance has not been fully described or appreciated. Framed around Drake's key voyages as a window into this crucial moment in British history, In Search of a Kingdom is a rousing adventure narrative entwining epic historical themes with intimate passions.

Laurence Bergreen is the author of the highly acclaimed biographies Capone: The Man and his Era, As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, James Agee: A Life and Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life.

"Fascinating. ... Engaging. ... Drake's story is both dramatic and timely. ... In Laurence Bergreen's colorful assessment, an unlikely alliance between Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Francis Drake empowered English Protestants to ... stake out the beginnings of the British Empire." - New York Times Book Review, "Editors' Choice" "A dramatic tale of discovery. ... A comprehensive look at Drake, in all his contradictions. ... A lively and compelling history of a man whose blend of audacity, piety and cruelty changed the world." - San Francisco Chronicle "Vivid. ... Entrancing. ... The accounts of Drake's circumnavigation and his subsequent naval career are very good indeed. They will surely delight aficionados of imperial history and anyone keen on real-life adventure stories." - Wall Street Journal "With a keen sense of adventure and a sharp grasp of personalities on sea and land, Bergreen details Drake's round-the-world adventures as well as political intrigues and mutinous sailors." - Booklist (starred review) "The swashbuckling life and times of the explorer who achieved what Magellan could not-and made England's fortune in the process. ... Demonstrating his deep knowledge of the era, the author energetically recounts Drake's action-packed journey. ... Bergreen masterly portrays the principal characters in this drama. ... A smooth, dramatic, and well-fleshed world history." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "The great pleasure of In Search of a Kingdom is the revelation of Drake as a man of apparent contradictions that helped rather than hindered his ambitions. Readers in search of a story of how a clergyman's son gained the support of a queen and helped found the British Empire will not be disappointed." - Washington Independent Review of Books "Laurence Bergreen's new book tells the swashbuckling tale of Sir Francis Drake. ... Drake's trip around the globe, which Bergreen describes in great and fascinating detail, was truly a marvel. ... The account of Drake's remarkable trip and Bergreen's parsing of this complicated character will repay the time of readers who choose to take this 400-page trip." - American Spectator