The name of the navigator Fernand Magellan forever went down in history in connection with the world's first round-the-world voyage of 1519-1522. This expedition made him famous, but Magellan was not destined to return alive. A strait, birds, galaxies, craters, scientific prizes are named in his honor; his heroic image became a symbol of the Great geographical discoveries along with Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Amerigo Vespucci. However, the failures on the account of this fearless person are no less than merit: most of his ships were lost, subordinates died or remained in foreign lands, ambitions went to dust. Those who admire Magellan and his achievements often do not know who he really was. The book of the British professor of history Felipe Fernandez-Armesto is devoted to the history of this extremely difficult and dangerous journey, which turned out to be a failure in essence, but played a huge role in the development of science; as well as the undaunted navigator who commanded the expedition. The author debunks the myths that surround this voyage, and shows Magellan in all his ambiguity - not only as a hero, but as a person with his own merits and shortcomings.