Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages: Magellan

The name of the navigator Ferdinand Magellan has forever entered history in connection with the first round-the-world voyage from 1519 to 1522. This expedition made him famous, but it was not destined for Magellan to return alive. A strait, birds, galaxies, craters, and scientific awards are named in his honor; his heroic image has become a symbol of the Great Geographical Discoveries alongside Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Amerigo Vespucci. However, the failures of this fearless man are no less than his merits: a large part of his ships were lost, subordinates perished or remained in foreign lands, and ambitions turned to dust. Those who admire Magellan and his achievements often do not know who he really was.
The book by British history professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto is dedicated to the history of this extremely complex and dangerous journey, which turned out to be essentially a failure but played a huge role in the development of science; as well as the fearless navigator who commanded the expedition. The author debunks the myths surrounding this voyage and depicts Magellan in all his ambiguity—not only as a hero but as a person with his own strengths and weaknesses.

This book is published in Russian in two series titled «Magellan: Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages» (the «Persona» series) and «Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages: Magellan» (the «Historical Interest» series).