I CHALLENGE THE DARK SEA

This is a historical novel based on the life of Prince Henry of Portugal, navigator supreme who 500 years ago helped elevate Portugal to world leadership. In Henry's early years, the world apparently ended with the Canary Islands and Cape Bojador on the coast of Africa. No seasoned captain would dare trespass in the dark waters beyond. But Henry was not only curious about the world, he sponsored a zealous cause. Determined to spread Christianity to the Moslems and stamp out the eastern religion entirely, Henry embarked on a long series of campaigns in the name of religious fervor. To penetrate the African continent, Henry ordered his ships to sail around the tip of Africa and on into the Orient. For over a decade they tried and only after 16 years was the hazardous journey completed. The novel tells of these trials and of the relationships between Henry and his brothers. For those who relish fictionalized history, Olive Burt's account should prove interesting, despite its sometimes awkward style.