Spice and the Devil's Cave

By Agnes Danforth Hewes, Lynd Ward (Illustrator)

Rival explorers race to find a sea route to India's spices, facing treacherous waters and fierce competition.

3.3/5 Goodreads · 58 ratings

352 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In a race against time and rivals, explorers gather in Lisbon, driven by the dream of discovering a sea route to India's spices. Banker Abel Zakuto's workshop becomes a hub of daring plans as they plot to navigate the perilous Devil's Cave. With Portugal and the Venetian Republic locked in fierce competition, the stakes are high. Will they conquer the stormy seas and claim the prize, or will ambition lead them to ruin? This historical adventure unfolds with vivid drama and the promise of untold riches, capturing the spirit of exploration and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

From the publisher

Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and other fifteenth-century adventurers spring to life in this thrilling tale of the competition between Portugal and the Venetian Republic to discover an all-sea trade route leading to the spices of India. In the Lisbon workshop of banker and navigation enthusiast Abel Zakuto, a group of intrepid explorers gather to discuss the possibility of finding a way around the stormy tip of Africa – the Devil’s Cave.Author Agnes Danforth Hewes won the first of her three Newbery Honor awards with this book, which was praised by The New York Times as “one of those engrossing works of historical fiction whose appeal is nearly universal . . . a colorful history of a far-reaching commercial struggle and a vivid drama of individual hopes and aspirations.” Enchanting woodcuts by Lynd Ward illustrate this gripping adventure, which is suitable for grades 7 and up and will delight readers of all ages.