Magellan

What’s it about?: The biography of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), and his voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

My opinion: Ryan Holiday talks about “moral biographies” – the lives of people with a focus on what lessons can be learned.

To quote him:

“That is, short biographical sketches about great men and women in history, written with an eye towards practical application and advice. As in, have a moral rather than about morality. They are often more anecdotal than historical, apocryphal than accurate but they get the job done.”

Magellan is one such biography.

Stefan Zweig is nothing if not literary, and he does well in breaking down the life and lessons of Magellan – from his birth as a nobleman, his life as a sailor, wrangling with the monarchy and clergy, the financing of his voyage, the voyage itself and its challenges, and his untimely death in the Philippines.

Magellan is one of those accounts where the subject is painted as the hero of their story, and Zweig kind of waxes lyrical about the magnitude of his voyage. A stubborn, hard-working, big picture kind of man who fought against all odds to prove his theory. Mutiny, starvation, mis-, dis- and uninformation in the form of some woefully inaccurate maps, an insolent royal family, an insufferably arrogant clergy, and general demoralisation would not deter him. He circumnavigates the world, but is killed before he can really enjoy the fruits of his labour.

It would have been nice if Zweig had shed just a little more light on those who helped Magellan along the way. Props should go to his crew at least, since theirs was a thankless task – following their captain on an impossible mission. Something more than a cursory glance here and there. That said, if Zweig wanted this book to be Magellan’s hero’s journey, then I can see why he’d give them a back seat.

Perhaps it wasn’t intended as a comprehensive work on the world that was, but a text that captures the essence of who Magellan was and what motivated him. His determination, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities all make for some valuable lessons. If that was Zweig’s intention, he definitely succeeded.

Magellan is a very concise text for a reader who might not have a solid understanding of the historical context. It might also appeal to a reader educated in the subject, but would like to move beyond just the usual history books. Definitely worth reading either way.