In an age when few people ventured beyond their place of birth; André Palmeiro left Portugal on a journey to the far side of the world. Bearing the title “Father Visitor;†he was entrusted with the daunting task of inspecting Jesuit missions spanning from Mozambique to Japan. A global history in the guise of a biography; The Visitor tells the story of a theologian whose extraordinary travels bore witness to the fruitful contact―and violent collision―of East and West in the early modern era.In India; Palmeiro was thrust into a controversy over the missionary tactics of Roberto Nobili; who insisted on dressing the part of an indigenous ascetic. Palmeiro walked across Southern India to inspect Nobili’s mission; recording fascinating observations along the way. As the highest-ranking Jesuit in India; he also coordinated missions to the Mughal Emperors and the Ethiopian Christians; as well as the first European explorations of the East African interior and the highlands of Tibet.Orders from Rome sent Palmeiro farther afield in 1626; to Macau; where he oversaw Jesuit affairs in East Asia. He played a crucial role in creating missions in Vietnam and seized the opportunity to visit the Chinese mission; trekking thousands of miles to Beijing as one of China’s first Western tourists. When the Tokugawa Shogunate brutally cracked down on Christians in Japan―where neither he nor any Westerner had power to intervene―Palmeiro died from anxiety over the possibility that the last Jesuits still alive would apostatize under torture.
#525394 in Books Harvard University Press 1989-03-15 1989-04-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .85 x 6.13l; 1.15 #File Name: 0674095022318 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very well written and historically detailed account of Kidd's lifeBy Jeff WignallI live on the coast of Connecticut and if you listen to local lore; George Washington slept in nearly every house that existed in the 1700s (and even some that didn't) and Captain Kidd hung out on every beach drinking the local grog and burying treasure on every small island and beneath almost every big old oak tree. I'm not done with this book yet; but I'm having fun reading it and trying to piece together the real story of Captain Kidd and his nefarious (though apparently very busy and productive) life.The book is very entertaining and the writing is excellent and moves along at a great pace. The author is incredibly good at including details and verifiable facts and there is an extensive collection of notes at the end. There is a pretty good index; too; but I was disappointed to not see Connecticut (as a state) mentioned at all.I guess it comes from growing up along the coast and hearing these tales since I was a kid (not a Kidd) but I find that the older I get the more I want to read about pirates. And though Kidd never started out his seafaring career to become a pirate; the road from faithful servant to privateer to pirate was pretty much a given in those times. And it seems like it was an exciting life; except for that little bit at the end with the noose and all.A good read. Bought it used and super cheap. And now I'm going out into my yard with a shovel because if my guess is right; where that old oak tree used to be; if I just walk 10 paces south...0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Thrown Under the Bus of the British EmpireBy Lionel S. TaylorThis is a very interesting and very readable account of the career of William Kidd a sea captain who found himself caught up in the larger political machinations of early 18th century Britain and the East India Company. In short; Kidd left London a privateer with papers giving him permission to give the French and their merchants as much trouble as possible and came back 5 years later as the English crown's public enemy number 1 accused of piracy and a host of other depredations. The book does a good job of tracking Kidd's voyages and unraveling some of the more confusing parts of the account of what happened during the trial and the disposition of Kidd's treasure. The author makes a strong case to the point that while Kidd was by no means completely innocent of what he was accused of; he was also very much a victim of the changing climate of the British Empire and the wider world of maritime trade. This book is highly readable account and is a great companion to Rediker's Villains of all Nations.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. but great addition to my lectureBy Hanna KimStory was a bit difficult to read; but great addition to my lecture. Book came in great condition!
