Laurence Bergreen is a bestselling author and has written numerous books about past and present day exploration. He recently released a book on Francis Drake, Elizabeth I and English maritime development [power]. We spoke about the book, Francis Drake, naval practices and warfare of the period, and his other writing. In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire (Custom House, 2021)
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, videos, Custom House, age of sail, Naval Warfare, Britain,
Laurence Bergreen is a bestselling author and has written numerous books about past and present day exploration. He recently released a book on Francis Drake, Elizabeth I and English maritime development [power]. We spoke about the book, Francis Drake, naval practices and warfare of the period, and his other writing. In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire (Custom House, 2021)
0:59 – Laurence talks about why he wanted to write a book on Francis Drake and Elizabeth I.
3:20 – Laurence talks about the date range he covers.
4:23 – Laurence talks about Francis Drake.
5:52 – Laurence explains how Spain had a better Navy than England at the time.
6:59 – Laurence talks about how Francis Drake gained the skills and resources to circumnavigate the globe.
12:32 – Laurence talks about English naval resources.
13:36 – Laurence talks about the time Francis Drake became a captain.
14:22 – Laurence talks about the English crews.
15:49 – Laurence talks about the book focusing on Elizabeth and Drake.
23:23 – Laurence talks about English timber and ship resources.
25:37 – Laurence talks about English and Spanish naval gunnery.
26:17 – Laurence talks about Drake’s raids.
29:15 – Laurence talks about European enemies while Drake circumnavigated the globe.
33:45 – Laurence talks about navigation tools.
37:37 – Laurence talked about spots the Drake stopped at.
39:16 – Laurence talks about the ships Drake took on the trip.
40:41 – Laurence talks about the weaponry Drake took on his circumnavigation.
45:13 – Laurence talks about Drake’s relationship with the head of the English Navy.
46:20 – Laurence talks about how he did his research.
51:58 – Laurence talks about scurvy and the food the sailors ate.
56:19 – Laurence wondered why Drake didn’t have children.
59:59 – Laurence talks about Shakespeare’s character Prospero.
1:02:41 – Laurence talks about the tragedies of Magellan’s voyage as opposed to Drake’s.
1:03:24 – Laurence talks about his love of travel and research.
1:09:11 – Laurence can be found at LaurenceBergreen.com
Blaž Torkar is an assistant professor of history at the Military Schools Centre of the Slovenian Armed forces. He researches the history of intelligence services, Allied military missions in Yugoslavia during WWII, the Yugoslav People’s Army and Territorial Defense, and the Slovenian War of Independence in 1991. He wrote a book on the OSS in Yugoslavia during WWII and we spoke about the book, the OSS, and Yugoslavian resistance movements. Mission Yugoslavia (McFarland, 2020)
