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Title: The Four Voyages of Christopher Columbus: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches With Connecting Narrative Drawn from the Life of the Admiral by His Son Hernando Colon and Other (Penguin Classics) by J. M. Cohen, Cohen J.M., Christopher Columbus ISBN: 0-14-044217-0 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: May, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Columbus Resurrected
Comment: J. M. Cohen's translation of various 1st-hand or near first-hand accounts, including that of Columbus' son, Hernando Colon's LIFE OF THE ADMIRAL brings the Columbus story to life.
The Introduction, coming from a translator of literature rather than a historian, is rather uninspiring; however, he does provide a rather thorough rebuttal of the argument, made by many supporters of Bartolome de Las Casas and referred to without explanation by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto in COLUMBUS, that Hernando Colon's work is a forgery. Indeed, since it appeared long before Las Casas' HISTORY was published, the issue of forgery may go in the other direction!
The book, through early Spanish sources, looks at the rumor that Columbus relied on the map of an ailing Portuguese sailor. It makes plain Columbus' error in thinking he was near Japan (Chipangu) and his belief that he would reach Cathay! We see his rather innocent introduction to the potent tobacco plant and how the natives fed his belief that gold, pearl and spices were nearby.
Columbus is shown to be of mixed character: on the one hand, he generally seems to respect the natives he meets and makes an alliance with one chieftain against the 'cannibal' Caribs. On the other, he takes several natives captive (to have them trained in Spanish so that they can serve as translators on future voyages), gives some Carib women to his men (who raped them as in the case of the vile Michele de Cuneo) and discusses conquest and enslavement of idolators [not particularly shocking considering the long history of conflicts and mutual enslavement between the muslim moors of Spain & Northern Africa and the Christians of Spain & Portugal].
Columbus' biggest problem appears to be his tendency to leave his men (39 on the first voyage) as colonies while he explores elsewhere. Whenver he returns, the natives have either killed the colonists or were at war with them - often due to the Spaniards' greed and licentiousness. Indeed, at one point, he leaves his brother in charge and the Spaniards, being forbidden to sleep with the native women revolt and found a rebel colony where the women were supposed to be more accomodating! Columbus ultimately is forced into an accomodation with these Spaniards and eventually conquers the natives. We also see the separate voyage of Ovando to Hispaniola and the beginnings of the gold mines. Columbus, not unlike a number of his successors, suffered arrest and trial and, after his last voyage, was deprive of power and authority.
Columbus' voyages, following in the footsteps of the Henrican discoveries, would likely have eventually been made by someone but Columbus seems especially driven to exploration. It was an unfortunate fact that he was also a very poor (and often absent) governor. His actions, sometimes courageous and thoughtful, sometimes harsh and reflexive probably represent the more civilized men of his time - when the Middle Ages was just ending, slavery and religious wars continued in Spain, Portugal, North Africa and Italy, and people were still being burned at the stake for heresy.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Revelation
Comment: I had to read this book in my college humanities class, and I am glad that I did.
"The Four Voyages" goes a long way in revealing the true Columbus--that is, the man behind the myth. This book consists of a wide range of nicely arranged accounts for all four of the famous navigator's voyages to the Indies, including passages from the explorer's own log entries.
By the end of this book, the reader will no doubt feel symphathy for that brave explorer who risked so much yet ultimately gained so little (at least, that is, in terms of personal gains).
Rating: 4
Summary: Amazing. An in debt look at Columbus and hislifeBuDdaHlOvAh
Comment: This book was excellent. It taught me so much more about Columbus and his journey's. Being a school teacher, this book sure will help me while teaching my students. I now have much more knolege on the subject.
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Title: Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolome De Las Casas, Bartolome De Las Casas, Bartolome De Las Casas, Nigel Griffin ISBN: 0140445625 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 08 September, 1999 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz, J. M. Cohen, Bernal Diaz Del Castillo ISBN: 0140441239 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: August, 1963 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Admiral of the Ocean Sea : A Life of Christopher Columbus by Samuel Eliot Morison ISBN: 0316584789 Publisher: Little Brown & Company Pub. Date: 12 October, 1991 List Price(USD): $28.99 |
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Title: The Diario of Christopher Columbus's First Voyage to America, 1492-1493 (American Exploration & Travel Series, Vol 70) by Oliver Dunn, James E. Kelley, Fray Bartolome De La Casas, Christopher Columbus ISBN: 0806123842 Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: September, 1991 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Letters from Mexico by Hernan Cortes, Anthony Pagden ISBN: 0300090943 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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