James McDermott (1) (1956–)

There is the material for a great historical novel (maybe even a series) in this work as while Frobisher led a fascinating life as an explorer, pirate, military commander, and operative in the great game of Elizabethean intelligence, the man left very little behind to give one a sense of his personal life, providing a fine canvas for the enterprising novelist. If nothing else McDermott does a fine job of putting Frobisher into context, for example noting that the English might not have taken to the high seas in a big way if their traditional wool trade had not collapsed, or observing that it was probably the Castilian annexation of Portugal who brought Elizabeth and Philip to blows. Also muchly appreciate for a work such as this is that McDemott displays a sly and cynical sense of humor (Feb. 28, 2004).… (mer)