Reviews: (by author)

Aronson, Marc. Sir Walter Raleigh and the Quest for El Dorado. New York: Clarion Books, 2000. $20. ISBN 0-395-84827-X

Clarion's publications for the non-fiction history market are outstanding. This 222-page book is finely done historical writing full of contemporary anecdotes, personal sketches of great figures such as Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Francis Drake, war reporting (think: Spanish Armada), and explanations of the political intrigues-palace, regional, religious, national, and international-- and the romantic intrigues of one of England's great periods. At the center: the complex, gifted, ambitious, and daring Sir Walter Ralegh (as his name was spelled at the time). Adding to Aaronson's own engaging prose are excerpts from the principle players including their poetry and generous illustrations: maps and drawings of the time, illustrations of the ships, portfolio pages. The author places Ralegh's life in its historical context in a time of great adventure, exploration, piracy, and art-Shakespeare's time.

An outstanding book.

A. Allison

Back to Reviews A-C