Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe

Rating:
Summary: It is terrific
Review: You might not have thought about Magellan much (...) but this is a great adventure story.

Some of the grand subjects for biographers weren't always the nicest human beings. This fact is part of the tension in "Over the Edge." Bergreen can't decide whether Magellan should be more scorned for his ill treatment of the crew or admired for the greatness of his navigation and ballsy achievement.

The book reads more like a contemporary magazine story than your standard turgid historical work, as if Bergreen was writing about something 30 years ago instead of hundreds of years ago. It feels fresh. And it's got enough plot elements to keep anyone happy, even if you have no interest in navigation or exploration -- political intrigue,(...), travelogue.