Historical References and Acknowledgments
Whilst real characters and events appear in the story, actions and events attributed to them are fictional and in the interests of the storyline.
Three true stories however, are wound into the storyline and are worthy of further comment –
The Tucker Cross referred to in the novel, and a major inspiration for the fictional Columbus Cross, did go missing just before the visit of the Queen and to this day remains an enigma in Bermuda. It was highly embarrassing at the time as the substitute, clearly a fake, was discovered only days before Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 1975.
The Chinese discovery of new Worlds in the fifteenth century years before any Western explorer of note is the central premise behind Gavin Menzies book referenced below. He uses s
