This Earthly Globe

An extraordinary story that reads more like a thriller than a book about history. A dazzling tale, brilliantly told. * Peter Frankopan, author of The Earth Transformed *

Andrea di Robilant takes us on a remarkable voyage of discovery, sharing the story of Giovambattista Ramusio, whose monumental work revolutionised our understanding of the world. The story brims with secrecy and skulduggery, drawing in popes and pirates, and beautifully captures the excitement and tumult of the years when Europeans were filling in the blank spaces on their maps. A great read for history buffs and adventure-seekers alike. * Ross King, author of The Bookseller of Florence *

What happens when the whole world-picture changes rapidly and decisively? Who assembles the critical information needed to construct a radically new understanding of the way things are? Thanks to the digital revolution, we have been living through such a disorienting transformation, but it is not the first time that received wisdom has been shattered and in urgent need of reassembling. The epochal voyages of the late 15th and early 16th century tore up the traditional European map of the globe and its inhabitants. Andrea di Robilant's wonderful book explores a succession of thrilling, often terrifying encounters with the other and reconstructs the career of the visionary collector who gave the public access to knowledge of how profoundly their world had changed. * Stephen Greenblatt, author of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern *

Andrea di Robilant marries the intrigue of Europe's most powerful royal courts with the globe-trotting thrill of adventure and discovery... This Earthly Globe is a wonderful book, told in an easy and propulsive style and carried by its fascinating central character. By bringing together such a wealth of travellers, many unknown to English audiences, di Robilant has reopened a treasury of stories for anyone interested in early European exploration and geography. * The Sunday Telegraph (5*) *

Andrea di Robilant offers a well-written, accessible introduction to the achievements of one of the great geographical collators of the Renaissance... A hugely entertaining account. * Times Literary Supplement *