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, STARRED review

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.

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…

In Search of a Kingdom

*In Search of a Kingdom* is a great introduction, and adventure story, of a defining figure of the 16th century often told only in pieces in other books. There are so many English explorers and pirates - Thomas Cavendish, Walter Raleigh, William Dampier - it's easy to become confused, but Drake was the first to become famous, he would inspire and influence all one who came after. He is probably most famous as the first English captain to sail around the world and return alive - Ferdinand Magellan was killed on his journey and his crew returned barely alive, whereas Drake came home with a healthy crew and ship in polished condition. He was also something of a colorful personality and natural leader who even his enemies admired; he sometimes captured a ship and set the captives free with a bit of the loot as a gift; he usually dined on ship with musicians serenading his meal. Still, despite being so privileged to have seen the world, it's geography, native cultures, flora and fauna, he returned home largely unchanged as a person. His influence as such is a secondary consequence of his actions - contrast with William Dampier a century later, whose writings and outlook changed the way the world sees.

Bergreen's theme, as the sub-title, is that Drake was the beginning of the British Empire. This idea is not original, nor dwelled upon, but it is valid. England under Elizabeth was an indebted secondary kingdom without much of a navy in a world dominated by wealthy and powerful Spain. But the Spanish Empire had an Achilles heel - it needed to ship treasure, which made it vulnerable to attack. Drake was not the first of Elizabeth's "Sea Dogs" (privateers) but was the most successful, bringing home enough loot to pay off England's debt and more besides. This wild success spawned more piracy, and solidified the idea that England could be a maritime power with colonies of its own. It's an old theme that when glorified as the Victorians did is tone deaf these days, but important to understand the context of how colonialism began - inter-state competition over global resources and culture. Bergreen does not glorify, maybe to a fault one has to bring a sense of awe and wonder, but he is a reliable narrator of events.

P.s. thank you Harper for including a PDF with maps and pictures.

What one never knew

This book explains a great of things that never made sense in standard histories, at least up to now. It is very clearly written and well read. My one bit of feedback it the refer

Engaging

What a guy. True dude. Elizabeth too. Impressive couple of Brits. Great listen. Never lost my attention.