Explore Edward Everett Hale books at New West Press.

Edward Everett Hale's The Life of Christopher Columbus approaches its subject through letters, journals, and accounts connected with the period. The narrative follows Columbus's changing fortunes as well as the voyages for which he became known. This collection centers on Hale's biographical treatment, giving readers an opportunity to observe how a later writer organizes documentary material into a life story. Questions of ambition, expectation, disappointment, and reputation run alongside geographical exploration. The book can be read with attention to both the historical subject and the perspective of the author presenting him.

Biography connects a person's choices with the circumstances of an earlier age. As you read, follow the relationship between private experience and public events, and consider the perspective from which the life is being told. A timeline or map can provide useful context. This selection offers a starting point for readers interested in historical lives and the ways they are remembered.