This book is basicaly a rehash of Walter Raleigh's work. Whitehead, never having done any long-term fieldwork in Amazonia, offers little new insight to his readers. He gets away with this by theorizing, as postmodernists often do, from a distance (and using the hard work of others). This book, as so much of his other work, is a sign of the decay of anthropology in USA.

Little needs to be said about Ralegh's text beyond the obvious--it is a fascinating example of Renaissance self-fashioning through travel writing. It is reproduced carefully and faithfully here, with a minimum of editorial intrusion, for which readers should be grateful.

Whitehead's long introduction poses more of a problem. It is shockingly badly written--one imagines that the editors threw up their hands in despair at the atrocious quality of the prose. Only professional anthropologists and historians are likely to struggle through it. This is a great shame, because Whitehead's argument is fascinating and important. In essence, he argues that many of the most seemingly fantastical aspects of Ralegh's account (tales of Indians with faces in their chests, etc.) weren't simply European projections, but products of an interaction between European assumptions and native myths.

I think that this book was excellent. The author was a very talented man. I recommend this book to any one who would like to learn more about the history of South America.

It is important to understand from the beginning that Sir Walter Raleigh's mother was burned alive(when he was a child) for being a Protestant. So early in his life he developed a hatred for King Philip and the Catholics of Spain.

The legend of Sir Walter Raleigh begins with his love for the sea. When he started his navy career he moved quickly up the ranks. It was not long before the young handsome gentleman was noticed by Queen Elizabeth I herself, who soon grew found of Raleigh, taking him as her favorite. Being the favorite meant being hated by all the other replaced favorites. He was knighted and named Captain of the Guard. Queen Elizabethh awarded Raleigh with the estate Sharon for his quick thinking making a faile mission look noble and heroic. Even though Sir Walter Raleigh was loyal and true to his queen he did marry her maid of honor. He paid for it by being imprisoned in the Tower but was soon restored to his position by the Queen's side after she realized she needed his leadership and advice. She trusted Raleigh and adored him vey much butI'm not sure if there was ever more there. This book does not give an opinion.

Later on Raleigh wanted to go on a quest for El Dorado. The Queen granted him this. He returned empty handed but then aided his country in a battle against the Spanish at sea.This was only one of themany victories he had over the Spanish. These were the times of happiness for the bright sailor, nothing would be quite so right again. As Queen Elizabeth I grew older she fell ill and eventually died. King James from Scotland then took the throne. He was soon to take Robert Cecil as an advisor, an enemy of Raleigh. It was not long before Raligh found himself in a mess. He was accused of treason, secretly plotting with Spain. The man whp ushed the trial forward to guarantee Raleigh's fall of glory was none other than Sir Robert Cecil. Raleigh was condemned to the Tower. There he grewq elderly and weak but he didn't justlet himself rot away. He started to work medicines and finding cures to sicknesses. Many held him infavor because of his miracle working potions. Prince henry, son of King James, was a hpe to Raleigh. He had won the boy's favor. It was a soon thing that Raleigh would be let out of the TOwe, wehn unfortunately Prince Henry became ill. One of Raleigh's potions was given to the prince but Raleigh said it would only work if the boywasn't already poisoned, as he had been. So, Raleigh's hopes were dashed. He was released finally(under trial) to go on another quest for El Dorado. The KIng thought this was an easy way to rid hmself of his problems with Raleigh because Raleigh was too popular to be executed. On this voyage, he lost his son and the lyalty of his men. His ships disobeyed his orders and broke the peace treaty with Spain. The ships had been under his command, but he had never given the command to attck. Although, many made false accusations stating it was Raleigh who had ordered the attck. Even thought Raleigh had the opportunity to flee to the America's and escape these charges, he was a noble man and chose to return to face his adversaries. When Raleigh unexpectedly returned he was epty handed and Cecil tried him again with treason. His fate would be execution. Sir Walter Raleigh never gave up hope and alwayskept his courage, even to the death. He gave such an astounding speech before his beheading that the executioner wouldn't strikeuntil Raleigh yelled to strike. There was no cheering at the death of such a man. A man who had a key role in developing England's trade, navy,and the New England colonies. His love for the sea could onlybe described by one of his best poems: But love is durable fire In the mind ever burning Never sick, never old, never dead From itself never turning

There are so many wonderful tales of Raleigh's adventures that they alone make this book worth reading. Such a wonderful man, such a wonderful story.