Conqueror of the Seas: The Story of Magellan

11 hrs. 7 min.

Language Russian

Author Stefan Zweig

Narrator Vyacheslav Gerasimov

Description

“The Voyage of Magellan” is one of the peaks of Austrian literary classic Stefan Zweig’s work, a master of biographical prose (1881–1942). The narrative centers on Fernão de Magalhães, a Portuguese who made the greatest voyage of the Age of Great Geographical Discoveries and entered history under the name Magellan. After sailing from the Spanish shore on five small sailing ships into the unknown, his expedition—thanks to the incredible courage and iron will of his commander—completed a voyage around the world and, in practice, proved that the Earth is round. Of the two hundred sixty-five participants, only eighteen returned home on a patched-up ship. Magellan himself met a ridiculous death during the days of his greatest triumph on the Philippine island of Mactan; his feat was appropriated by others, and only many decades later justice was restored.

Stefan Zweig’s book is considered the best biography of the great navigator.