The catalogue of shipwrecked books

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The remarkable history of Hernando, the illegitimate son of Christopher Columbus, unfolds in this captivating narrative. Hernando, a guardian of his father's legacy, aimed to surpass his father's achievements by creating a universal library in Seville. While Columbus explored the world for glory, Hernando harnessed the power of the new printing presses to assemble knowledge. As a visionary of the print age, he understood how the vast flow of information would transform society. His life was eventful; he traveled extensively in the New World, even spending time with his father during a shipwreck off Jamaica. He created a dictionary and a geographical encyclopedia of Spain, contributed to the first modern maps, and mingled with influential figures like Ferdinand, Isabel, Erasmus, and Thomas More. Hernando authored the first biography of Columbus, shaping the legend that persisted for centuries and influencing Europe's perception of the New World. He amassed an unparalleled collection of printed images and music, initiated what may have been Europe’s first botanical garden, and built the greatest private library of the time, boasting 15,000 books. Edward Wilson-Lee presents the first major modern biography of Hernando, offering a scholarly exploration of the age of print and exploration, with relevant insights for today's information revolution and globalization.