Bought at Oxfam - probably for the title and the old maps on the front cover.

Being taken to Prague and will be released there.

This is the alternative version of Magellan's ground breaking trip written by Juanillo the jester, as his attempt to have his pension reinstated by the former king Carlos of Spain. Magellan was determined to find an alternative route to the Spice Islands, to open up the Portuguese hold on the trade of pepper, cloves....

Juanillo is a likeable character, a converted Jew in the times of the Inquisition, his commentary of the journey is peppered with personal stories of the sailors and his conversations with Magellan himself.

I found myself caught up in the tale very quickly, and even though I knew the bare bones of the story from history lessons, I still avidly was waiting for the events to unfold.

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