In September of 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out to find and sail a presumed passage between the Atlantic and the South Pacific in order to find a Western route to the highly coveted Spice Islands. Although not planned as such, this journey ended up the first circumnavigation of the world which proved that the Earth is a round, rotating ball. Magellan himself did not live to see its conclusion as he died during an unnecessary battle in the Philippines, but the important events had already taken place at this point: He had discovered the passage between mainland South America and Tierra del Fuego which was later named the Strait of Magellan in his honour, and he had been the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean which had been named thus by him.
This is a great book because Zweig is a brilliant writer. He not only provides a biography of Magellan himself, but always makes sure to embed it into a greater narrative about the beginning of the Age of Discovery. Historical Parallels are drawn between Magellan and the conquistadores and explorers that came before him, but also those that followed him. Additionally, strong emphasis is put on examining the psychology behind great deeds like this one, and so Zweig provides an in-depth look at Magellan’s personality which presents him as an unrelenting man whose immense boldness was oddly tempered by caution and stone-cold calculation.
Although it is a non-fiction book that has been carefully researched it reads more like an adventure novel. This is due to Zweig’s style of writing which includes a lot of witty commentary and an outstanding grasp of language but is as far from being matter-of-factly as can be imagined. However, this makes it a very entertaining read, even though it is a story full of setbacks, deprivation, and blood. Members of the expedition perished in horrific ways, and only 18 of the 242 men returned to Spain at all, not to mention the negative impact the voyages of European explorers had on the indigenous peoples.
In general, Zweig’s interpretations of people’s actions and the broad generalizations he sometimes employs can be annoying and his flowery language may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed the book a great deal. It provides sound insight into a defining period in early modern history in which in a span of a few decades explorers provided proof for many facts about our world that had only been speculated on for a long time, and which created, for better or worse, the basis for globalization.
CBR11 Bingo: Travel