The Four Voyages: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches with Connecting Narratives.. (Penguin Classics)

Under the current “shame narrative” of American history, Columbus has been recast as a villain. I would urge the world’s readers to become acquainted with this book for a more objective view of him. When we see him within the context of his time, he becomes, for me at least, a very sympathetic figure. This excellent book tells the story of Columbus’s four voyages to the Caribbean taken from contemporary paraphrases of his log books (the originals have been lost), his son’s biography of him, accounts by contemporary historians, and letters by Columbus and others. This material has been skillfully cobbled together into chronological order by J.M. Cohen to make a quite compelling reading experience. Columbus went farther than any European had ever gone before. He was expecting to find India and he truly believed that Japan was not too far away. His perceptions of the New World were greatly colored by his expectations. Because of the high-risk nature of his enterprise, the men who served as his crew were adventurers, mostly of low moral character, who were treacherous, greedy, and cruel. Trying to govern such a mob in that particular environment must have been a nightmare for him. Indeed, it appears that he had a nervous breakdown at the end of the second voyage. Columbus was disgraced and discredited by the end of his life. I consider this story a tragedy.
Cohen’s translation is outstanding. I found it very easy reading, and a real page-turner, to boot. Five Stars.

J. M. Cohen's translation of various 1st-hand or near first-hand accounts, including that of Columbus' son, Hernando Colon's LIFE OF THE ADMIRAL brings the Columbus story to life.
The Introduction, coming from a translator of literature rather than a historian, is rather uninspiring; however, he does provide a rather thorough rebuttal of the argument, made by many supporters of Bartolome de Las Casas and referred to without explanation by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto in COLUMBUS, that Hernando Colon's work is a forgery. Indeed, since it appeared long before Las Casas' HISTORY was published, the issue of forgery may go in the other direction!
The book, through early Spanish sources, looks at the rumor that Columbus relied on the map of an ailing Portuguese sailor. It makes plain Columbus' error in thinking he was near Japan (Chipangu) and his belief that he would reach Cathay! We see his rather innocent introduction to the potent tobacco plant and how the natives fed his belief that gold, pearl and spices were nearby.
Columbus is shown to be of mixed character: on the one hand, he generally seems to respect the natives he meets and makes an alliance with one chieftain against the 'cannibal' Caribs. On the other, he takes several natives captive (to have them trained in Spanish so that they can serve as translators on future voyages), gives some Carib women to his men (who raped them as in the case of the vile Michele de Cuneo) and discusses conquest and enslavement of idolators [not particularly shocking considering the long history of conflicts and mutual enslavement between the muslim moors of Spain & Northern Africa and the Christians of Spain & Portugal].
Columbus' biggest problem appears to be his tendency to leave his men (39 on the first voyage) as colonies while he explores elsewhere. Whenver he returns, the natives have either killed the colonists or were at war with them - often due to the Spaniards' greed and licentiousness. Indeed, at one point, he leaves his brother in charge and the Spaniards, being forbidden to sleep with the native women revolt and found a rebel colony where the women were supposed to be more accomodating! Columbus ultimately is forced into an accomodation with these Spaniards and eventually conquers the natives. We also see the separate voyage of Ovando to Hispaniola and the beginnings of the gold mines. Columbus, not unlike a number of his successors, suffered arrest and trial and, after his last voyage, was deprive of power and authority.
Columbus' voyages, following in the footsteps of the Henrican discoveries, would likely have eventually been made by someone but Columbus seems especially driven to exploration. It was an unfortunate fact that he was also a very poor (and often absent) governor. His actions, sometimes courageous and thoughtful, sometimes harsh and reflexive probably represent the more civilized men of his time - when the Middle Ages was just ending, slavery and religious wars continued in Spain, Portugal, North Africa and Italy, and people were still being burned at the stake for heresy.

This book contains primary sources ONLY. (How do I "rate" the letters of Christopher Columbus? :-) You can read about the life and times of an historical character by the very best historians for years, but until you read what that character actually wrote about his own experiences, you're groping in the dark. Nothing compares to getting it from the horse's mouth.

These letters, beautifully translated, free of anyone's opinions, are history's nuclear core. Any gut sense YOU get from these words may well be closer to the truth than what you've read by any scholar. Occasionally you might realize that your favorite historian didn't actually finish reading some of the letters they're basing an argument on! Then you are in a position of knowing more than he/she does.

I do wonder why Penguin doesn't fix the date of Columbus's death. The editor has him dying in 1509 (not a typo since it's repeated) which is a shame. Columbus died 500 years ago this spring, and a quincentenary only happens once. It's "Goodbye, Columbus" May 20th, 2006.

FAVORITE VOYAGE: NO. 3, when he blesses the continent of South America with his tears (red with blood from exposure and illness) and warns the Monarchs that this is the Earthly Paradise and no one may enter without God's leave.

This is truly a masterpiece of editing. Cohen strings together bits from various contemporary accounts and Columbus's own journal in such a way that it feels like a really creatively written novel. Hugely entertaining and satisfying to read. (Obviously colonialism is bad blah blah blah. The editor would surely agree with that sentiment! In any case, this is a great book.)

This book is a great description of the events related to the exploration of the new world made by Columbus. The first two voyages are the most interesting because of the discovery of the caribbean island and the natives inhabitants living there, the arawaks and the caribs. The latter were very particular on account of its cannibalism.

In the third voyage, Columbus finally reach mainland and the fourth voyage was the toughest of all due to huge storms that lasted several days and the attacks of indian while they were repairing. At the end of the book there is an account made by Diego Mendez, a truly survivor and loyal servant of the Admiral who saved the lives of all of them while they were waiting in Jamaica, for a year.

I my opinion Columbus was a great navigator and a brave man. It is sad how the life of the Admiral ends and the poor retribution from the kings of Spain.

Christopher Columbus in his own writings, translated though, what could be more exciting? Well, maybe the hardships they faced during the journey, strange Islands and natives they discoveren and all politics that were involved to arrange the journey.

The Four Voyages describes Columbus throughout his carreer as a ship commander and really comes to life in your mind. I saw a Pocahontas like film featuring Colin Farrell after reading this book and just felt a void of all detail being described in the book.

You want to read about what the journies were like? Then buy this book.

lots of minute details which I skipped over. Learned a lot about Columbus. He was a great dude.

Whatever he was, Columbus was the first, and 'you are there' as he makes his discoveries of what he believed was a paradise on earth. Great to have the story in his own words, as much as possible. Yes, it is a complicated, difficult story, but an endlessly fascinating, rewarding read.

Not until you read this well-edited selection of source documents. He may be the key historical figure of the last 500 years.

Husband bought it, it was packaged well. He enjoyed it.