The Last Voyage of Columbus: Being the Epic Tale of the Great Captain's Fourth Expedition, Includ...
The Year is 1500. Christopher Columbus, stripped of his title Admiral of the Ocean Seas, waits in chains in a Caribbean prison built under ...
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reviews
Aug 21, 2009
Claudia
rated it: 
OMG! I'm just a few pages away from finishing the book... I couldn't put it down but it made me late for work. :o/
This book is awesome! I love how at the beginning of the book, you basically get all the history facts about the discovery of America but not only that, you also get all the details and basically gossip of what and how the politics worked back then. Yeah! it was a bit of a slow start but I enjoyed it very much, because I'm a nerd like that. I like to learn the facts. But More...
This book is awesome! I love how at the beginning of the book, you basically get all the history facts about the discovery of America but not only that, you also get all the details and basically gossip of what and how the politics worked back then. Yeah! it was a bit of a slow start but I enjoyed it very much, because I'm a nerd like that. I like to learn the facts. But More...
Dec 03, 2009
Jack
rated it: 
I stumbled across this book on a Holland America Cruise--checked it out from the ship's library. It was a timely coincidence, since our ship left Spain and was headed to the Bahamas, not too far off from Columbus' original course!
If you ever wanted to be a 'fly on the wall' between conversations Columbus and the royals, this book will take you there. Not only did I learn about Columbus' drive to convince the King and Queen to finance one last voyage, but also how he ineracted with h More...
If you ever wanted to be a 'fly on the wall' between conversations Columbus and the royals, this book will take you there. Not only did I learn about Columbus' drive to convince the King and Queen to finance one last voyage, but also how he ineracted with h More...
Feb 27, 2009
Yofish
rated it:
I learned a lot from this book. It follows Columbus from searching for money for his first voyage through his last (fourth) voyage, focusing on the last. (But it's only half the book.) The author is very pro-Columbus, and makes others (other explorers, the main bean-counter back in Spain, Ferdinand but Isabella less so) seem evil or foolish. CC was a terrible administrator, but a great seaman. Apparently had a good feeling for hurricanes before others really knew what they were. Used the s
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Apr 06, 2011
Blah
rated it: 
A soporific in writing. The material is interesting, but the whole story is told in a jerky parenthetical style. You just about to learn something new and interesting when the author stops to fill you in on the situation, or past events that have created then present environment.
But the material is interesting! Columbus was far more capable and lead a life that was far more romantic than the public schools give us to believe.
I think if the author considers a re-arrangement and some fixes in t More...
But the material is interesting! Columbus was far more capable and lead a life that was far more romantic than the public schools give us to believe.
I think if the author considers a re-arrangement and some fixes in t More...
Apr 06, 2011
Brett
rated it:
A soporific in writing. The material is interesting, but the whole story is told in a jerky parenthetical style. You just about to learn something new and interesting when the author stops to fill you in on the situation, or past events that have created then present environment.
But the material is interesting! Columbus was far more capable and lead a life that was far more romantic than the public schools give us to believe.
I think if the author considers a re-arrangement and some fixes in t More...
But the material is interesting! Columbus was far more capable and lead a life that was far more romantic than the public schools give us to believe.
I think if the author considers a re-arrangement and some fixes in t More...
Apr 11, 2010
Christopher Rex
rated it:
Columbus had said that his 4th Voyage was by far his best. This is an incredible tale by any standards. Love or hate Columbus, he pulled off some amazing feats and the 4th Voyage is no exception - nor is Columbus the only compelling character. Not by a long shot. Well worth reading. Gives a real appreciation of the difficulty of sea-exploration in the 15th-16thC. Anybody who likes adventure, history, the sea, sailing and/or the Caribbean will dig this book. I don't want to throw out spoil
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Aug 06, 2011
Robert
rated it: 
“The only certainty about Columbus is that for better or worse, he chose to live a bold life rather than settle for mediocrity.” This is the last line of the epilogue of the book, but it reminded me of why I enjoy reading and studying history. Reading the great stories and adventures of history are enjoyable in itself, but I find it more worthwhile and edifying when something I read changes, enhances, or encourages me in my own life. Dugard’s account of Columbus’ last voyage did just that.
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Aug 22, 2010
Jason
rated it:
I've read Martin Dugard before. His "Into Africa" traces Henry Morgan Stanley's search for British Explorer David Livingstone deep in the African jungle. "Farther Than Any Man" follows the career of Explorer James Cook. He wrote "The Murder of King Tut" with perennial fiction bestselling author James Patterson. While "Tut" is a bit of a mess and misses whatever target at which it's aiming, "Into Africa" is a thrilling ride, that's exhilarating t
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May 28, 2008
Joe
rated it:
Wow. What a book. Buying this book, I really wasn't expecting much. I was hoping to gain a bit of knowledge about Christopher Columbus.
Not only did I get that, but more. This book truly reads like an adventure movie. It could easily be turned into an exciting movie, and most people wouldn't believe that it was based on truth.
An older man, Columbus was desperate to gain the glory that he once had when he first discovered the New World. He still believed that he could More...
Not only did I get that, but more. This book truly reads like an adventure movie. It could easily be turned into an exciting movie, and most people wouldn't believe that it was based on truth.
An older man, Columbus was desperate to gain the glory that he once had when he first discovered the New World. He still believed that he could More...
Oct 27, 2007
Mike
rated it:
I enjoyed this portrayal of Columbus. Shows the many angles one could take when judging him for good or bad but mainly focuses on him in the midst of his life before history took over. He was a very capable captain and intelligent man dealing with weather prediction before barometers and navigation without telescopes along with keeping nearly continual mutinies at bay or minimized.
Oh the ironies and hypocrisies, we call red peppers such because Columbus wanted to bring pepper back More...
Oh the ironies and hypocrisies, we call red peppers such because Columbus wanted to bring pepper back More...
Oct 16, 2008
Abram
rated it:
Dugard does a fine job of shedding light on the man Columbus, "The Last Voyage of Columbus" seams to be based on factual events, this help to break through the hate Columbus rhetoric that is so common in our schools and universities today. Dugard paints a picture of a inspired and driven man that was undermined on all sides by power hungry aristocrats many of which were on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The controversial subjects of our day such as slavery and genocide are ever
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Sep 06, 2010
David
rated it:
It was a good book but not particularly deep or thought provoking. This can best be seen and read as an introduction to the life of Columbus rather than an exhaustive analysis of the Admiral's last voyage. I enjoyed but it was more a distracted enjoyment rather than anything comprehensive. Again we have a narrative history when an analytical one would have suited better.
Worth a look.
Worth a look.
Jun 23, 2010
Garrett
rated it:
This was great--a lot of fun. Columbus is such an interesting (and controversial) character, and the circumstances of his fourth voyage make for a wonderful and entertaining story. Dugard does a fantastic job a dramatizing the whole thing. The subtitle gives a good synopsis. If you like mutiny, shipwrecks, and discovery, this is the book for you. If not, get back to crocheting doilies.
Nov 02, 2011
Will
rated it:
I loved this book. This would have made a great novel, but all of this really happened. The author gave a refreshing portrait of Columbus: neither a butchering genocidal whack-job, nor a saintly explorer trying only to help the human race, but showed him the way he was, a poor man who had become important through hard work that was trying to make a buck.
Mar 05, 2010
Wade
rated it:
hmm one of my all time favorites. This is where the term swashbuckling developed. I can't believe this happened, and is not a tale. A really engrossing story of Columbus's last trip and the crazy obsticles he encountered.
Jul 15, 2007
eric
rated it:
a well written and easily read history book dealing with columbus and the early explorers (conquerors) of the new world. dugard paints a such a vivid picture of the events surrounding columbus' life that at times i was left wondering if it could all be true. i am left thinking that the feat of the initial trans-atlantic crossings in this era required more courage than even the initial trips to the moon. at least in the case of the moon, one could see the destination from the outset, know the
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Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
rated it:
The story of Columbus' last voyage which lasted from May 1502 to Nov. 1504. It is a tale of betrayal, shipwrecks, rebellion, gold, war, hurricanes and discovery.The reader did a great job with the book.
Jul 28, 2011
José
rated it:
Awesome story. I picked it up and couldn't put down. I haven't a clue how these guys endured s much hardship. Gold, the petroleum of the early sixteenth century, must have had some exceptional motivational effect.
Jan 12, 2009
Biosyd
rated it:
As important as the first voyage was, this: his last voyage really gives a glimpse into his later years with the struggles of money, failing fame, and age. He was truely amazing.
Aug 31, 2011
John
rated it:
One of the best books I have read about early history. Incredibly rich in detail. Columbus was truly an "Admiral" of the seas...A must read for history buffs..
Apr 05, 2011
Cberman
rated it:
I read this awhile ago but remember absolutely loving it! Written very well for a historical novel. Really interesting view into the historical figure.
Jan 28, 2010
This should be required reading for early ocean exploration history. Columbus faced several trials, and a few very long heroic canoe trips were detailed.
Nov 12, 2010
Don
rated it:
Being an explorer in 1500 was not for the faint of heart. About half his crew of 140 on 4 ships were only in their teens. It is an epic tale.
Aug 05, 2011
Writes as if it's impossible to travel by canoe from Jamaica to Hispaniola, yet the Tainos made similar trips constantly.
Jan 19, 2012
Mike
rated it:
a very fluid narrative filled with wonderful details and adventure. A great place to start on the History of North America
Sep 23, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
Really interesting look at Columbus and his last journey to the New World. If you like explorers I think you would like this.
Jan 10, 2012
José
rated it:
Interesting tale about Columbus (and other contemporaneous characters), with some tidbits describing the habits and worldview of people of that historical period.
It's a shame that the author doesn't have a word regarding the current dispute about Columbus' origin (namely, the strong evidences of its portuguese origin), but instead relies on a lot of coincidences to explain seemingly unexplainable facts (you will read the word coincidence and coincident very often in this book ;).
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It's a shame that the author doesn't have a word regarding the current dispute about Columbus' origin (namely, the strong evidences of its portuguese origin), but instead relies on a lot of coincidences to explain seemingly unexplainable facts (you will read the word coincidence and coincident very often in this book ;).
More...
Jul 01, 2009
Jonathan
rated it:
This was a very enjoyable read for one who loves accounts of those bold European white men and their voyages of exploration in the New World.
Apr 28, 2011
Tim
rated it:
Very interesting indeed. I bet none of you knew that ole Christopher Columbus was shipwrecked for over a year in Jamaica. They didn't teach you that stuff at Boone County High School.
Nov 12, 2009
Ryan
rated it:
This book is an excellent read. Martin Dugard does an excellent job of taking non-fiction and making it read like Historical Fiction. It's about Columbus' practically unknown 4th voyage. Everything that goes wrong does in the most fascinating way. Any other Admiral probably would have perished in these circumstances, but Columbus persevered with sheer will alone. I highly recommend this book because it gives you a unique view of history all while being a fun read. This book even has topics
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