The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times [Hardcover]

Albert Marrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995 | Age Level: 11 and up

An account of the life and exploits of the notable sixteenth-century English navigator and commander, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and vice-admiral of the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. By the author of.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up?Meticulous research, thought-provoking details, and clearly delineated individuals hallmark Marrin's work. Sails unfurl, legends live, and vast, unexplored oceans beckon in this definitive portrait of the bold mariner. At the outset, the stage is set, the politics of the Elizabethan Age are revealed, and leading personalities assume their places. The tenor of the times unfolds in a dramatic fashion. This is not a romanticized biography, but a gritty, graphic, and gripping account enumerating the perils of lengthy sea voyages and the political maneuvering among the different social classes on board. Descriptions are so realistic that readers can taste the rancid water and spoiled food and suffer the weariness of a trek through a treacherous jungle. Within the parameters of a prologue and six chapters, youngsters visualize the young Drake, join his search for treasure, experience his height of triumph at the completion of a voyage around the world, and empathize with his subsequent failures and lack of favor with Queen Elizabeth. The weaponry aboard ship and the dangers facing the sailors are described in a manner so detailed that readers assume the pose of an eyewitness. The account of the defeat of the Armada offers a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities and eccentricities of the commanders, coupled with a focused view of an ever-changing battle arena. Visually attractive, the volume combines annotated black-and-white reproductions and maps on pure white paper in a slightly oversized format. Notes on each chapter are supplied; the bibliography is extensive and the index is clear and comprehensive. A riveting biography.?Joanne Kelleher, Commack Public Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-10. In this lively, detailed account of his adventurous life, Sir Francis Drake is firmly set within the context of his times--and what times they were! From his circumnavigation of the globe (1577^-1580) to his days as a privateer to his part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Drake cuts a dramatic figure. Quotations, meticulously attributed in the source notes, bring an immediacy sometimes lacking in biographies. Not every reader, though, will appreciate the many scenes of "execution and torments," whether they appear in quotation marks or not. Numerous black-and-white reproductions of period paintings, engravings, and maps appear throughout the book. A handsome, informative edition. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689318871
• ISBN-13: 978-0689318870
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Albert Marrin is an award winning author of over 40 books for young adults and young readers and four books of scholarship. These writings were motivated by the fact that as a teacher, first in a junior high school in New York City for nine years and then as professor of history and chairman of the history department at Yeshiva University until he retired to become a full time writer, his paramount interest has always been to make history come alive and accessible for young people.

Winner of the 2008 National Endowment for Humanities Medal for his work, which was presented at the White House, was given "for opening young minds to the glorious pageant of history. His books have made the lessons of the past come alive with rich detail and energy for a new generation."

Dr. Marrin's numerous other awards include the Washington Post Childrens'Book Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, the James Madison Award for Lifetime Achievement, several Horn Book awards by the Boston Globe, consistently appearing on the best book of the year lists of the American Library Association, frequent recognition by Book Lists, and the Western Heritage Award for best juvenile nonfiction book presented at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame among others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History for the Junior High!!, December 29, 2008

By 

Leslie S. (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times (Hardcover)

There is not a book of Albert Marrins that I have yet to read without falling in love all over with the Man! He does such a great job of making history real and relevant without boring any reader-junior high to adult! I wish he would complete a history of the US so that all textbooks could be banned and kids would learn to love history!

4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review, May 6, 2007

By 

Michael E. Moline "minneapolis guy" (minneapolis mn) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times (Hardcover)

Great summary of English and world history in the 1500s. Interesting eyewitness account of the early slave trade.