Felipe Fernández-Armesto is a distinguished historian whose extensive body of work spans diverse subjects, from American history to the Spanish Armada. His scholarship is marked by a profound engagement with global perspectives and the interconnectedness of various cultures and civilizations. Through his writings, he explores the intricate relationship between humanity and the environment, offering a unique lens through which to understand the unfolding of world history. His prolific research and contributions to historical discourse establish him as a significant figure in the field.
How could Geraldine resist the invitation from charming and enigmatic Ellis, especially as it includes travel on a private plane?It will be a glamorous change from her increasingly chaotic life, and a chance to meet his friends, as they reunite at their oldcollege in Indiana for a football game. Not that Geraldine is interested in sport, unless shopping counts. She’s jet-set readyand eager for take off. What can possibly go wrong?
A lucid, entertaining and story-filled romp through 400 years of Latin American and Spanish history.
Beyond the Myth of Magellan
"With Straits, celebrated historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto subjects the surviving sources to the most meticulous scrutiny ever, providing a timely and engrossing biography of the real Ferdinand Magellan. The truth that Fernández-Armesto uncovers about Magellan's life, his character, and the events of his ill-fated voyage offers up a stranger, darker, and even more compelling narrative than the fictional version that has been celebrated for half a millennium. Magellan did not attempt--much less accomplish--a journey around the globe. In his lifetime he was abhorred as a traitor, reviled as a tyrant, self-condemned to destruction, and dismissed as a failure. Straits untangles the myths that made Magellan a hero and discloses the reality of the man, probing the passions and tensions that drove him to adventure and drew him to disaster. We see the mutations of his character: pride that became arrogance, daring that became recklessness, determination that became ruthlessness, romanticism that became irresponsibility, and superficial piety that became, in adversity, irrational exaltation. As the real Magellan emerges, so do his real ambitions, focused less on circumnavigating the world or cornering the global spice market than on exploiting Filipino gold. Straits is a study in failure and the paradox of Magellan's career--that renown is not always a reflection of merit, but the gift and accident of circumstance"--Publisher's description
Exploring the imaginative leaps that define humanity, this book delves into over two thousand years of history, challenging traditional narratives focused on prominent figures. Instead, it emphasizes the ideas—both beneficial and detrimental—that have shaped human existence. With a blend of wit and insight, the author presents a sweeping survey of human development, from ancient practices to contemporary global issues, encouraging readers to reconsider their understanding of who we are and our origins.
An extraordinary journey through the history of the human imagination, from the dawn of civilization to the present day
We are a weird species. Like other species, we have a culture. But by comparison with other species, we are strangely unstable: human cultures self-transform, diverge, and multiply with bewildering speed. They vary, radically and rapidly, from time to time and place to place. And the way we live - our manners, morals, habits, experiences, relationships, technology, values - seems to be changing at an ever accelerating pace. The effects can be dislocating, baffling,sometimes terrifying. Why is this? In A Foot in the River, best-selling historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto sifts through the evidence.
An eminent scholar finds a new American history in the Hispanic past of our diverse nation.
A vivid new book from an established and bestselling historian
Intended as an antidote to potted biographies and piecemeal reconstructions of his voyages, this volume draws on judicious selections from Christopher Columbus' own writings - chronologically arranged, and translated into idiomatic English - to relate his self-perception and personal history, as far as is possible, in his own words.
The narrative explores the vibrant life of Amerigo Vespucci, portraying him as a charismatic figure intertwined with historical giants like Christopher Columbus. Known for his adventurous spirit and tumultuous failures, Vespucci's journey takes readers from Renaissance Florence to the Spanish court and across the Atlantic to the New World. The book combines rich historical insights with captivating anecdotes, offering a deep understanding of Vespucci's impact and the era's exploration.