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At the beginning of the 16th century, England had not yet integrated into the wider world, and London was just a gloomy and closed medieval city. However, the discovery of the New World and direct sea routes to Asia changed the economic landscape of England during the Tudor Dynasty. These changes made London a new trade center and changed London's status and role in the world from then on. Stephen Alford's engrossing book brings to life London's merchants, dreamers, con men, and sailors who formed a network that changed London forever. England's ships sailed around the world, establishing trade with Russia and the Levant, and exploring Virginia, the Arctic, and the Indian Ocean. And the efforts and ambitions of the people who made it possible-those families, guild members, and speculators who were willing to take huge risks and even sacrifice their lives in pursuit of the rare and exotic-bred a new worldview, ushering in an era of long-term trade and an empire, the results of which are felt today.