In Search of a Kingdom

Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire

De: Laurence Bergreen

Narrado por: Michael Page

In this grand and thrilling narrative, the acclaimed biographer of Magellan, Columbus, and Marco Polo brings alive the singular life and adventures of Sir Francis Drake, the pirate/explorer/admiral whose mastery of the seas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I changed the course of history

“Bergreen masterly portrays...the swashbuckling life and times of the explorer who achieved what Magellan could not - and made England’s fortune in the process.” (Kirkus)

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.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2021 Laurence Bergreen (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Best biography of Drake so fat !

Having grown up with the legend if my family relationship to Drake ( he had no offspring, but his sister married a man who’s surname I inherited; so thus claim my descent from Drake’s blood :) ; I am grateful for this detailed dive into Drake’s character and exploits.

A rollicking adventure around the world with an epic character who kicked ass with style and charm

Thank god this is narrated by an Englishman. It just would not have been good otherwise. Drake was apparently super important, very much a maverick for his age in all the right ways, and just an all around larger than life character. I have been listening to lots of books about explorers and other expeditions during the age of sail, all of them excellent, but this one seemed to start out a touch dry compared to the others, which read almost like fiction though they were not. However, after continuing to listen I became engrossed in the story of such a wild and unique guy (Drake) while also learning all about Elizabethan England and the beginning of the end of the Spanish empire. The level of detail, the way in which the details of events are laid out, and the somewhat monotonous tone of the narrator (though still pleasantly English) may seem slightly dull at first, but the relevance to world history (I was truly surprised) and the charm of Drake really won me over in the end and I bet they will for you as well. I might just start it over from the beginning…

READS LIKE A NOVEL

Web
Lloyd written and most entertaining. Great narration. Really brings to life a fascinating Era.

too gruesome to continue to listen.

Madame hate the Spanish of Drakes time. as bad as the nazis. probably good history

Great Listen

Opens up so much insight to early American history with details and granularity I had not heard before.

Very informative

I thought the book was well researched, and the narration was good. I do think a bit of additional editing would have been in order, since the author had a tendency to repeat ideas (Drake 's "second rich wife" was referred to the same way too many times etc.). This is a small complaint, however.

Delightfully entertaining history

The narrator has a lovely cadence to his speech; very affecting style. The actual history is fascinating depicting Francis Drake as a complex yet very human and heroic figure. I feel I would definitely like to meet him. I’d be spellbound by his actual words. What additional tales he could tell!

If you're a history buff like me, you'll love this

Such a fascinating compilation of historically correct events that quite literally sew together the past we know...for the better or the worse.

A good story of a dashing historical figure

A fun book. It tells a good tale.Drake is the archetypal gentleman pirate. Most of it is brisk and moves along well. It needed better editing because the timeline and order of events sometimes gets muddled. But never so badly that it is a problem, just an occasional meandering and repetition. As a history teacher, I wouldn't credit this as a fully reliable history because he makes some broad assertions and gossipy statements about key players like Elizabeth without evidence. Again, not a real problem if you're looking for a dashing read. It does do a good job of explaining the historical and geopolitical context in interesting ways that add to the story.

a fascinating look at England

an eye opening look at the birth of the English empire and piracy. how to become famous by stealing from thieves