The Cartographer ~ 1492 [Paperback]

Othniel J. Seiden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

1492: The Spanish Inquisition, Christians burned at the stake, Moslems and Jews expelled from Spain and the Columbus expedition... This historical novel takes you into the lives of everyday Christians, Moslems, Jews and Secret Jews of ancient Spain and what they had to endure during that horrific time in history. The details of the epic voyage were researched meticulously using Columbus' personal journal. Othniel Seiden takes you on the voyage itself, beyond the discoveries through the fears, victories and superstitions of the adventurers of that era into the humanity of all souls encountered on the journey.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Masterfully done, weaving in the history of the Columbus voyage straight from his journals, then adding in the Spanish Inquisition with all its insanity, and combining it with a truly wonderful adventure and love story. Hats off to Dr. Seiden. --John Craig

You told Columbus' greatest secret! Great book - lots of wonderful complicated story and plot twists. Great fiction, great history, great book! --EJ Thornton, best-selling author

Masterfully done, weaving in the history of the Columbus voyage straight from his journals, then adding in the Spanish Inquisition with all its insanity, and combining it with a truly wonderful adventure and love story. Hats off to Dr. Seiden. --John Craig

About the Author

Interested in history as the background for his novels, Othniel Seiden became fascinated with fifteenth century Spain, the Inquisition and its influence on the Columbus voyage west. The circumference of the earth had been brilliantly calculated centuries before Columbus' time. This sea captain, geographer and adventurer was well aware of that and the distance to China by traveling east. He thus had to know there wasn't any ship in those days that could have carried sufficient supplies to have traveled the great distance to China sailing west. Delving further into Columbus charade, Dr. Seiden saw the beginnings of a historical novel which began to weave together the atrocities of the Spanish Inquisition, burning Christians at the stake, expelling Moslems and Jews from Spain in 1492 and how these events influenced and brought about the greatest voyage in history. Beginning with the planned of the voyage in spite of opposition by the all powerful Church and Inquisition the story takes you into the everyday life of that horrible time. Convincing the Royal Couple, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to sponsor this voyage of exploration against the wishes of the Inquisitor was a fascinating plot in itself. The story of the voyage to the New World is taken from Columbus own ships log. After reaching the Indies and the sinking of his flagship the Santa Maria, Columbus' most harrowing adventures were just beginning...

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Books To Believe In; 1st edition (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980194121
• ISBN-13: 978-0980194128
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,298,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I do not have a literary background, though I did a year of graduate study at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, my real background is medical. I graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1964 and practiced for 44 years, first as a General Practitioner, and the last 30 as an E.R. doc. I began writing as an avocation to help me unwind after a long day in the E.R. My writing went in two directions, one Historical Fiction, and the other Medical Self-Help, my forte translating medical information into easily understood lay language. In recent years that Self-Help has been more in the direction of Baby Boomer and senior health and emotional problems.
My Historical Novels deal mainly with Judaical, Holocaust, and Biblical History. Most of my books are both in print and on Amazon Kindle. Please enjoy! With over 40 books published by 10 different publishers I've been named Colorado's most prolific author. Google Othniel Seiden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No history book has ever explored Columbus' spirituality... Why?, April 25, 2008

By 

Charles "author of many published books" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cartographer ~ 1492 (Paperback)

Maybe because also in 1492 - There was the Spanish Inquisition, Christians burning at the stake, Moslems and Jews being expelled from their homelands in Spain.

No history book ever mentioned Columbus' spirituality - why? Was he hiding a secret that the world is just now discovering? This historical fiction begs that question... using his private journal and understanding the political environment he was forced to deal in, author Othniel Seiden paints a picture of intrigue surrounding Christopher Colombus as has never been seen before...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction starring Christopher Columbus - An unexpected adventure - keeps you riveted!!!, March 2, 2008

By 

EJ Thornton "Publisher and author of "Sec... (Denver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cartographer ~ 1492 (Paperback)

This historical fiction novel is set in ancient Spain during the time of the Inquisition and the dark ages, one Don Jacob Duponte (fictional) was falling in love and enjoying his career and travels as a cartographer. Unbeknownst to him, someone called him a heretic and in those days, that is all it took to have someone thrown into a torture chamber or worse all in the name of the Inquisition.

Don Jacob was rescued because of his talents as a cartographer by the explorer Christopher Columbus, who at the time of their meeting was still trying to get Queen Isabella of Spain to finance a journey across the Atlantic.

Thrown then into intrique and a secret world where one's personal spirituality had to be kept hidden for fear of the Inquisition, Don Jacob found himself protecting secret Jews; Jewish people who had to keep their faith and their heritage totally secret.

The adventure unfolds right from the pages of Columbus' own journal - with these amazing characters woven in.

This novel takes the reader aboard the Santa Maria to experience the superstition of the crew and the hope of the man in charge. It takes the reader to the shores of the new world where they were warmly greeted and told of vast treasures.

Then sailing back across the sea, through storms that should have killed all on board.

The writing is exquisite. The adventure is captivating. The story is based on fact. The humanity of these explorers and their loved ones is compelling!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a history book - more like a diary..., March 23, 2008

By 

John Clark Craig "author of Sun Position - Hi... (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Cartographer ~ 1492 (Paperback)

On the pages of this book unfolds an adventure where the characters are crisp, real and well defined and in the case of Christopher Colombus - legendary.

In the history books, we learn mostly of the voyage itself, but not too much attention played out on what was happening culturally around the events. The Inquisition and persecution of Christians was constant. This historical novel is based upon Christopher Colombus' private journal.

Reading between the lines of the journal, the author Othniel Seiden sees a pattern of spiritual practice that has never been discussed about Columbus and one that might shed a new and deeper dimension on this historical figure and the times he lived in.

It was a great read and a fascinating subject!