The Creature in the Map: A Journey to El Dorado

by Charles Nicholl

Release Date: May, 1997

Edition: Paperback

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An excellent account of Ralegh's Guiana Voyage

This book is about Sir Walter Ralegh's first Guiana Voyage of 1595. Having read and admired Nicholl's earlier book, The Reckoning: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe, I picked up this one with great expectations. And, although not as good as The Reckoning, it was well worth the read. The chief flaw to this book is that Nicholl's deconstructionism is often overplayed here, leading him to conclusions or hypotheses that just aren't supported by the documents. He often reads more into Ralegh's and others' words than I think they meant. I do recommend this book, although don't accept all Nicholl's "readings" at face value.