LA VITA E LE IMPRESE DI SIR WALTER RALEIGH | 1993 | DANIEL DEFOE

Daniel Defoe’s La vita e le imprese di Sir Walter Raleigh (Italian edition, 1993) is a biographical account dedicated to the English explorer, courtier, and writer. Written in Defoe’s distinctive narrative style, the work combines historical chronicle and literary invention, portraying Raleigh as both a political actor and a figure of adventure. Through episodes of colonial expeditions, maritime exploits, and court intrigues under Elizabeth I and James I, Defoe explores themes of power, ambition, and downfall. The text illustrates Defoe’s interest in biography as a form of moral and political reflection, situating Raleigh within the broader narrative of early modern exploration and imperial aspiration.