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There have been a number of biographical studies of Sir Walter Raleigh in recent years, but none have been as sensible, scholarly and meticulous as this one. The narrative provides the reader with few new surprises and Raleigh remains as much the enigma and showman as ever. There is still little evidence of his early life and his religious beliefs are shrouded in mystery. We still do not know when Raleigh was born, although 1554 seems the most likely date, making him the same age as Edmund Spenser, who may or may not have been a close friend. Certainly we can be sure that Raleigh read a great deal in his youth. We cannot be sure that he ever met...