Magellan and the First Circumnavigation of the World by Ian Cameron - 1973

Magellan's voyage round the world remains one of the epic journeys of exploration. Setting out, with five ships and two hundred and seventy-seven men, in September 1519, it was almost three years before any of his crew saw their homeland again. During that time they had written a new chapter in the story of discovery and courage. they had endured every privation of hunger and disease; every hardship of shipwreck and storm; and known the excitement of seeing new lands and strange people and, for the first time, of reaching the Pacific by the westerly route. for, on the threshold of the Antartic, they found their way through the Strait which bears Magellan's name, past some of the bleakest and least hospital territory on earth into seas which held the promise of civilisation, precious metals, spices and dazzling wealth...16 pages of colour plates. 100 illustrations in black and white.