The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books

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In this innovative historical narrative, Edward Wilson-Lee recounts the remarkable life of Hernando Colón, the illegitimate son of Christopher Columbus and a visionary of the printing press era. During the Age of Exploration, Hernando accompanied Columbus on his final, disastrous voyage to the New World. Following Columbus's death in 1506, the eighteen-year-old Hernando endeavored to continue his father's legacy by creating a comprehensive library that aimed to collect all printed works. This ambitious project was organized through summaries and catalogues, effectively serving as an early search engine amid the burgeoning diversity of written material across Europe. Driven by the belief that a universal library should encompass "all books, in all languages and on all subjects," Hernando included even the most dismissed works, such as ballads, erotica, and fables. The loss of part of his collection in a maritime disaster in 1522, detailed in his poignant Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, sparked a frantic effort to complete his grand vision. Wilson-Lee's portrayal of Hernando's life highlights the fervor of book lovers, immerses readers in the information revolution of sixteenth-century Europe, and reflects on the passions and intrigues that shape our own quests for knowledge and order today.