Raleigh

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27580

Title

Raleigh

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edmund Gosse's biographical sketch of Sir Walter Raleigh offers a fresh, dispassionate portrait of the Elizabethan adventurer, separating his personal career from the broader history of his time. Drawing on newly collated research and recent discoveries, this volume explores Raleigh's youth, courtly intrigues, costly colonial ventures in Virginia and Guiana, and his tragic end. Gosse presents a man of genuine courage and scientific curiosity, whose ambition and faith in English enterprise ultimately led to his execution, capturing the romance and...

Summary up to 500 words

Edmund Gosse's biography of Sir Walter Raleigh offers a nuanced portrait of one of England's most celebrated figures, focusing on Raleigh's personal journey rather than merely recounting the general history of his era. Born in 1552 at Hayes Barton, Devonshire, Raleigh's life was shaped by a complex family background and a deep-seated Protestant conviction forged during the persecution under Mary. After an education at Oxford, where he likely encountered contemporaries like Sir Philip Sidney, Raleigh spent years in France as a Protestant volunteer before entering court life by 1577. Gosse highlights Raleigh's extraordinary knowledge of naval warfare and his immense wealth derived from broad-cloth patents, which he used to fund ambitious colonization efforts. The narrative details the establishment of the Roanoke colony in Virginia, noting its initial struggles and eventual collapse, as well as Raleigh's subsequent shift toward seeking gold in Guiana. Gosse emphasizes Raleigh's character as a man of science and commerce who valued the homely products of the new world over mere rapine, though he was not immune to the fancies of his age. A significant portion of the biography covers Raleigh's relationship with Queen Elizabeth, his rise to favor, and his eventual fall due to the machinations of the Earl of Essex and fears of Spanish intrigue. Gosse recounts Raleigh's arrest, imprisonment in the Tower of London, and his final voyage to Guiana, where he was killed by the Spaniards. The book concludes with his trial, execution, and the enduring legacy of his life and writings. Throughout, Gosse utilizes newly discovered documents and correspondence to correct previous misconceptions, offering a view of Raleigh as a complex figure of ambition, loyalty, and tragedy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg27580.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• History
• Exploration