Patriot or Traitor

He hath been a star at which the world hath gazed; but stars may fall, nay they must fall... Walter Raleigh: the man eternally known for throwing his cloak in a puddle. For bringing back tobacco from the new world. The poster boy for the British Empire, used by nineteenth century colonists to justify......more

Patriot or Traitor: The Life and Death of Sir Walter Ralegh is a very well-written biography of the great but problematic poet, explorer, courtier, and statesman. The author's choice to organise the book chronologically while still allowing each chapter to focus on one specific aspect of Ralegh's ch......more

This is a decent account of an interesting life, another instance where it’s good to know the face behind the cliches. In some a man who asked very modern questions of the world, he survived several falls from political grace before his luck finally ran out. In some ways less morally attractive than......more

Good, but I didn't leave the book feeling I had a good sense of Raleigh.......more

Sir Walter Raleigh, a poet, an adventurer, a soldier, is one of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan golden age. I assume that's mostly because he was such a gifted writer, while other notable figures left behind much less prolific written records. Ms. Beer clearly finds Sir Walter an irresis......more