The story of an uncovered voyage as colorful and momentous as any on record for the Age of
Discovery-and of the Black mariner whose stunning accomplishment has been until now lost to
history It began with a secret mission no expenses spared. Spain plotting to break Portugal's
monopoly trade with the fabled Orient set sail from a hidden Mexican port to cross the
Pacific-and then critically to attempt the never-before-accomplished return the vuelta. Four
ships set out from Navidad each one carrying a dream team of navigators. The smallest ship
guided by seaman Lope Martín a mulatto who had risen through the ranks to become one of the
most qualified pilots of the era soon pulled far ahead and became mysteriously lost from the
fleet. It was the beginning of a voyage of epic scope featuring mutiny murderous encounters
with Pacific islanders astonishing physical hardships-and at last a triumphant return to the
New World. But the pilot of the fleet's flagship the Augustine friar mariner Andrés de
Urdaneta later caught up with Martín to achieve the vuelta as well. It was he who now basked
in glory while Lope Martín was secretly sentenced to be hanged by the Spanish crown as
repayment for his services. Acclaimed historian Andrés Reséndez through brilliant scholarship
and riveting storytelling-including an astonishing outcome for the resilient Lope Martín--sets
the record straight.
