The drama; expansion; mansions and wealth of New York City's transformative Gilded Age era; from 1870 to 1910; captured in a magnificently illustrated hardcover.
#329396 in Books 2006-05-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .72 x 5.51l; .95 #File Name: 0316154563320 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. An Engaging HistoryBy James PilcherChristopher Columbus has always interested me. Martin Dugard's book is written with the flair of a novel; but provides tremendous insight into the flawed genius of Christopher Columbus. I had little idea the magnitude of what he accomplished beyond his first voyage. One of the more interesting revelations of the book is when Mr. Dugard writes that Columbus; in his westward search for the orient; knew of the narrow isthmus of Panama and the great ocean (Pacific) beyond; he just had no means of exploring it.I highly recommend this book and others written by Martin Dugard. He has become an author I seek out.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great explorer;navigator;seaman. Admiral of the Seas. Later wanted Governorship and riches in his old age and for his heirsBy Thomas EricksonMartin Dugard has wrote a very good book in the last Voyage of Columbus. The 295 page book is an exciting page burner I read in 2 days.I knew Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492 and hit islands in the Caribbean. I wanted to learn more.Here is a book that shows the courage of Columbus; his great exploring from sea; navigation and superb seamanship. We also learn he was a sick man in his 50s with gout; severe arthritis and losing his sight from squinting looking for distant objects constantly at sea ( no telescopes).He even predicted a hurricane and tried to warn people but was ignored. We see him racing for a safe harbor and anchoring; thus saving his ships; while others that ignored him and took their ships to sea were sank.I learned Columbus was no saint and at times collected slaves and was willing to ruthlessly execute native Indians and mutineers that opposed him. He was loyal to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. His early voyages he did for the Glory of Spain and to find more land and riches for Spain. He was always under pressure to find gold for Spain. He does find some and lots of pearls; but not enough.Queen Isabella had strong feelings for Columbus but being in the Catholic faith would not commit adultery. King Ferdinand had no such morals and committed lots of adultery. King Ferdinand names Columbus Admiral of the Seas but later King Ferdinand reneged on Columbus and took back almost all the wealth; power and land Columbus was promised.Later we see Columbus wanted to find the passage to China and then into India for the spice riches. The closest he got was near Panama.He had the right idea but did not realise there was another huge ocean; the Pacific beyond North and South America. He thought Cuba was part of China. We see his last voyage; a failure ...he desperately wanted riches for himself;to be Governor of Hispaniola and to leave wealth to his heirs.We see his shipwrecks; battles with hostile native Indians; and cutthroat mutineers. Also his being booted out of Governorship of Hispaniola. I won't ruin the good ending and Epilogue for you.A very complex man. The reader will learn much history about his voyages. Much; much more than the little taught in high school. Martin Dugard tells the history in a nice exciting story telling way giving dates. We also learn about Columbus's brother and out of wedlock son. Also lots of other men that sailed on his various ships. There are also some charts. An excellent book; I enjoyed very much. 4 1/3 stars.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Martin Dugard did a masterful job of bringing to the reader the awesome story of these early seafaring explorersBy Susan BIt seems the stories of early exploration are at once both tragic and triumphant. Tragic in that they relate man's inhumanity to man. Triumphant in that they express the the ability of man to face and conquer the most adverse conditions of body and spirit. This book is a very impressive history of the four voyages of Columbus. Who knew such a story existed? Our school history books only drilled into us the 1492 story of the first voyage. One must read these exploration stories without judgement. For we cannot enter into the the historic psyche of the parties involved. We cannot judge the parties by our current sensibilities. In any case; Martin Dugard did a masterful job of bringing to the reader the awesome story of these early seafaring explorers; the sailing mastery of Columbus along with his human weaknesses; and a broad perspective of the world political scene that motivated the entire story. Excellent!Note: My Kindle version did not contain maps which would have been amazingly useful and added much to the story. I do not know if the print version has such maps.
