Sir Francis Drake : the construction of a hero /Bruce Wathen.

This book explores the history of Sir Francis Drake as a cultural icon. It considers the fact that his fame has altered over the years from single-handed victor over the Spanish Armada to a hero of commerce, explorer and ruthless entrepreneur. The development of his myth is explored from West-Country folklore, Elizabethan poetry, through writers such as Charles Kingsley and James Anthony Froude as well as his depiction in twentieth century films. There is particular emphasis on the 'long' nineteenth century, during which his reputation underwent a rigorous reconstruction to present him as a hero of the empire.