Christopher Columbus [Paperback]

Gianni Granzotto (Author), Stephen Sartarelli (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The late Italian historian offers a lucid, absorbing account of Columbus's life, from his early years as a sailor-merchant through each of his voyages to the New World. PW characterized this as "a penetrating biography of an elusive figure."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806121009
• ISBN-13: 978-0806121000
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,419,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Granzotto's book on Columbus, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christopher Columbus (Paperback)

Gianni Granzotto, a former commentator for an Italian television station and president of Italy's largest news agency, is the author of a number of highly regarded biographies. He spent six years writing this book, visiting Seville, Santo Domingo and Haiti among other places Columbus went. He also retraced in a small boat Columbus' voyage from the Canary Islands to the Bahamas following the day-by-day log kept my Columbus on the original expedition. This information was taken directly from the book, there was no information available on the author in English. The thesis of this book takes a twist as the reader progresses through its near 300 pages. The first impression the reader gets is that Columbus was a romantic man with an unending thirst for discovery and conquest. The reader learns of Columbus' shortcomings such as his lack of leadership and poor people skills. Also one gets a picture of how Columbus wanted to believe so much that he had reached Asia, that he could not see the truth and died believing not knowing he had discovered a new continent. We learn that Columbus was a dreamer rather than the great navigator history once made him out to be. If America was not where it was, Columbus and his crew would have died during the crossing in search of Asia, thus his name would have been buried into history without another chance of ever resurfacing. In my opinion this book is a valuable addition to the books out there on America's discoverer. The author made a special effort not to draw on speculation but rather verified evidence. He retraced Columbus' first voyage in a sailboat himself. He visited the places Columbus had landed in the Americas, places where Columbus had lived in Europe, and possibly where he had been buried, though nobody really knows for certain where he was buried. Even though the effort was made to keep the book as objective as possible, Columbus' emotions and intentions were pure speculation that help the book in a more romantic novel like delivery. There was one mistake I was able to spot in the book in reference to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who captured Constantinople from the Eastern Roman empire on page 2 of the book. The sultan's name is not Mohammed, but Fatih Mehmet. Other reviewers of this book also sight erroneous information in the book but do not specify what exactly. The general theme of the book takes the reader along the journey with Columbus and his crew. As the reader you share in the frustrations of not being able to take the journey that he lusted after for more than 20 years. Than in his triumph as he returns to Spain to show the world his accomplishments. Than again in his failure of finding any substantial gold in the Americas, and returning to Spain disgraced. The author does rely heavily on accepted mainstream reference books that were primary sources for his book. He mainly regurgitates what Las Casas, Bernaldez, Oviedo, and what Christopher Columbus' son Fernando wrote about the man. The author's opinions are not contrary to the primary sources, so no new information is uncovered. I have not read any other books on Christopher Columbus except for a children's book that had this book among others in it's bibliography. The book is full of details with names of people and places and dates all relevant to Christopher Columbus' life. The sheer amount of detail gives credence to the book, However the amount of detail sometimes resembles filler material that would not be necessary in understanding the life of Christopher Columbus. According to some of the professional reviewers this book adds very little to the collection of books available on the subject. However it was very easy to read and gave me a vivid picture into the life of one of the most important explorers to have ever lived. In my opinion it's entertainment value along with it's blend of attention-to-detail makes this book a fine addition to the literary work on the subject for the laymen who may not be able or willing to finish one of the more serious works written by other authors.