Amerigo Vespucci

"Amerigo Vespucci" by Frederick A. Ober is a biography that tells the story of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the man whose name forever marks the continents of the Western Hemisphere. The book starts in Florence during the Renaissance, revealing Vespucci's upbringing in a family of modest means but strong values and describes how his education under his uncle shaped his future. The story presents Vespucci amongst important thinkers and explorers of the time. Overall, the book sets the stage for understanding Vespucci's life before his voyages, hinting at the massive impact he would have on how the world was understood.