A Wind from the North: The Life of Henry the Navigator

The captivating biography of Prince Henry of Portugal, the navigator and explorer who helped usher in the Age of Discovery.

Before Columbus, Vespucci, and Sir Francis Drake, there was Henry the Navigator. Pirate hunter, intrepid explorer, and ship designer, the Portuguese prince was one of the great innovators who pioneered the Age of Discovery. In an effort to locate the mythic kingdom of Prester John, Prince Henry organized voyages into the Southern Atlantic and developed a new kind of ship, the caravel, specifically for the task. His explorations yielded riches and fame for Portugal, as well as the discovery of Madeira and the Canary Islands. Yet the scope of his contribution to the world is often overshadowed by other figures.

In this expertly researched biography, Ernle Bradford brings to light the captivating tale of a pioneer who initiated an era of exploration and forever changed the course of history.


Author: Ernle Bradford
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 08/19/2014
Pages: 248
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.57d
ISBN13: 9781497637979
ISBN10: 149763797X
BISAC Categories:
- History | Expeditions & Discoveries
- Biography & Autobiography | Adventurers & Explorers
- History | Maritime History & Piracy

About the Author
Ernle Bradford was born in 1922 and died in 1986. He was a noted British historian specializing in the Mediterranean world and naval topics. Bradford was an enthusiastic sailor himself and spent almost thirty years sailing the Mediterranean, where many of his books are set. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, finishing as the first lieutenant of a destroyer. Bradford lived in Malta for a number of years. He did occasional broadcast work for the BBC, was a magazine editor, and wrote many books, including Hannibal, Paul the Traveller, Julius Caesar: The Pursuit of Power, Christopher Columbus, and The Mighty Hood.