Disastrous Voyage of the Santa Margarita - Hardcover

Woodman, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0727867237 ISBN 13: 9780727867230

Publisher: Severn House, 2009

Synopsis

Among the coral outcrops of the island of Rota, lies the wreck of a Spanish galleon, the Santa Margarita - Spring 1601. This is a reconstruction of the Santa Margaritas disastrous last voyage, beset by an extraordinary sequence of typhoons and storms. Based on what little is known of the ships journey overloaded cargo, bad-blood amongst the crew and a curse we are told a story of greed, horror, deprivation and unimaginable hardship by the handful of survivors rescued from the wreck.

About this title

About the Author:

Woodman considered one of the strongest voices in nautical fiction today. He lives in England.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* Woodman’s latest, a swashbuckling yet ultimately tragic seafaring adventure set in the 1600s, is based on a true story. Don Iago Fernandez barely survives a shipwreck that leaves him a prisoner in a remote area of China. Eventually, he escapes to the Philippines and negotiates passage on the Santa Margarita, a New Spain–bound ship carrying 300 passengers, among them soldiers, priests, prostitutes, merchants, and seamen. As a seafarer with years of experience, Don Iago knows the ship is overcrowded and overloaded, so he’s prepared for problems, but even he can’t predict the 40 typhoons and hurricanes that will batter the boat and force it to spend more than six months covering less than a quarter of its intended journey. Nor can he know that the crew and passengers will suffer tragedy and terrible deprivation, be ravaged by illness, undergo mutiny, and end up shipwrecked on an island populated by violent savages. Woodman perfectly captures the sheer terror and incredible adventure of the Santa Margarita’s voyage and seasons his story with authentic descriptions of the political, social, and religious customs of the time. His incredible enthusiasm for and knowledge of all things maritime plus a riveting plot, taut suspense, and pulse-pounding action add up to a whale of a read. --Emily Melton

About this edition

• Publisher: Severn House
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0727867237
• ISBN 13: 9780727867230
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272