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

By Ernle Bradford

Before Columbus, before Vespucci, before Drake, there was Henry the Navigator.

Pirate hunter, intrepid explorer, ship designer, and more, Henry was one of the great innovators in the age of discovery. Born in 1394, he was the third son of King John I and Queen Philippa.

Following his mother’s death, Prince Henry, along with his father and elder brothers, set out to conquer Ceuta. Once successfully captured, this pirate haven became the first European base established in Africa. A period followed where occupation and colonization of the island began. This was the beginning of the discovery of Africa.

The scope of Henry’s contribution to our world is often overshadowed by other figures. But Bradford brings the gripping tale of this pioneer to light. In his lifetime, Henry helped break the sea barriers that separate the continents. Rising above scorn and ridicule, he initiated an era of audacious exploration to lands most didn’t believe existed. His courage and forward thinking would forever change the course of history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lume Books
• Release date: Apr 20, 2022

Ernle Bradford

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.