On 24 June 1497 John Cabot made the first recorded European landing on the North American mainland, an event that reshaped late fifteenth-century maritime exploration. This book places Cabot's achievement in historical context and surveys what is known about his voyages.

Five hundred years later a faithful replica, the Matthew, retraced a similar Atlantic crossing. Peter Firstbrook — directly involved in the replica's construction and sea trials — combines archival research, contemporary reportage and on-deck observation to recount the 1997 voyage from Bristol to Bonavista.

The narrative moves between past and present: technical challenges of recreating a three-masted caravel, the daily life of a small crew at sea, and the lingering mystery of Cabot's final fate. Readers interested in maritime history, Age of Discovery studies and ship reconstruction will find detailed, readable coverage.

Highlights

• Historical account of Cabot's 1497 landing
• Behind-the-scenes of the Matthew replica and sea trials
• Mix of archival scholarship and eyewitness reportage
• Discussion of the unresolved questions about Cabot's end

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