Magellan: The Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages

The name of the navigator Ferdinand Magellan has forever entered history due to the first circumnavigation of the world 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 numerous than his achievements: most of his ships were lost, his subordinates died or remained in foreign lands, and his ambitions went 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 a failure in essence but played a huge role in the development of science; as well as to 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 man with his virtues and shortcomings.
This book is being published in Russian in two series titled «Magellan: The Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages» (the «Persona» series) and «The Great Discoveries of the Late Middle Ages: Magellan» (the «Historical Interest» series).