Relying on new evidence, an illustrated biography of the sixteenth-century English explorer reveals Drake's complex character, from his patriotic exploits to his acts of piracy, and from his leadership of the English navy to his ineptitude at warfare. UP. Remembered in standard history texts as an adventurer who helped extend England's maritime empire to the coasts of Africa and the Americas, Francis Drake roamed the world under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I. He enriched her coffers by attacking Spanish merchant ships in the Caribbean, raiding ports, looting churches, and taking a cut of the slave trade--the acts not of a military man, Harry Kelsey argues, but of a pirate, and of a cowardly one at that as he was given to fleeing at the first sign of danger, leaving his men behind. Even so, for his services Elizabeth awarded Drake a knighthood and a degree of immunity until he failed to appear at his post during a naval engagement against ships of the Spanish armada. He then lost the queen's favor and disappeared from history's stage. Drake has few champions today, certainly fewer than he did in Elizabethan times. Even then he was none too popular. This well-written revisionist biography explains why. --Gregory McNamee With 13 Drake biographies currently in print, presenting almost as many differing historical opinions, Kelsey embarks bravely upon a scholarly treatment of a man he calls "a rogue, an able seaman, and a pirate." Strong words indeed for a man who, in popular legend, discovered California for England, circumnavigated the globe, and helped defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588. Tracing Drake's family lineage and early childhood in a seafaring family, Kelsey does a creditable job of drawing Drake's character and the influences that molded him. A natural sailor, fearless, ambitious, and tenacious, Drake was also lacking in family attachment, covetous, and devoid of moral scruples. Kelsey's command of the sources is excellent; the notes are a treasure trove of information on 16th-century exploration, and the bibliography is exhaustive. This work will long stand as the definitive scholarly study of the most famous sea captain and pirate of the era of Good Queen Bess. Recommended for academic and larger public library collections.?Harold N. Boyer, Florence Cty. Lib., SC Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Drake is one of those near mythic figures who defies easy categorization. To the English and his patron, Queen Elizabeth, Drake was an intrepid Sea Dog, who swept the seas of the Spanish menace, winning security and riches for his country. To the Spanish, Drake was a vicious brigand who plundered and murdered and proved useful as an instrument of English state-sponsored terrorism. Kelsey speculates on how the Drake legend evolved and makes a reasonable stab at finding the "real" man. He views Drake as a superb professional seaman who was undoubtedly brave and resourceful. However, he was also a ruthless and frequently brutal man whose primary goal was self-enrichment rather than the greatness of England. This is a highly enjoyable book, primarily because the author understands that Drake is most interesting aboard ship; thus, he wastes little time immersing us in Drake's family history, childhood, or domestic life. Kelsey again illustrates that the life of a pirate may he hard but makes for an exciting yarn. Jay Freeman At the least, Sir Francis Drake is going to be important to scholars for its detailed findings on Drake's early career. -- The New York Times Book Review , N.A.M. Rodger