An Associate Fellow with the Royal Historical Society, James D. Taylor Jr. is an independent scholar who has published a series of books with Algora pulling together all the available documentary evidence relating to key figures from English history. Painstakingly piecing together a wealth of details that were hidden away in archival records, old correspondence and other documents, he brings back in vivid color outstanding individuals whose flamboyance, character and stalwart dedication to their causes enabled them to shape the events of their times.

Taylor is particularly fascinated by figures from the treacherous era of the Tudors and Stuarts, times that tried men's souls but their characters as well — and it's their characters that shine clearly in the documentary evidence he unearths. The subjects of his books are paragons of courage, loyalty and integrity in the face of temptation and intimidation. Clear headed and well spoken under the direst of circumstances, these men and women lived life intensely, always keeping conscience ahead of comfort, whether they won their cause or lost everything. 

James Taylor has also published two books profiling actresses involved in creating beloved characters like Betty Boop who have been entertaining America since the 1930s.

In the late 16th century English ships plied the seas laden with would-be colonists, with precious spices, with Spanish silver, with explorers and with soldiers. At the same time, trade ships from Germany, Poland, France, Holland and Italy...

In the late 16th century English ships plied the seas laden with would-be colonists, with precious spices, with Spanish silver, with explorers and with soldiers. At the same time, trade ships from Germany, Poland, France, Holland and Italy headed to England with their wares. Many of those hardy souls and irreplaceable cargoes went to the bottom. We have records and legends of some of these, but only hints and clues about many vessels that left port and never showed up again.

Part I. This is the only collection of logs and recorded events of ships related to England originally recorded in documents from 1547–1603 which were then stored in archival volumes, a collection of original document material. Unfortunately, not all the original documents survived, and we are left with only a synopsis (sometimes poorly written) or snippet. Nevertheless, they provide a rare opportunity to view the life of sailors and their ships.

Furthermore, this is the first collection of recorded storms, tempests and of ship compliments of crew and ordnance types and quantities of the English navy in the period covered.

Part II. A few selected rare recorded firsthand accounts and narrations of voyages, battles, shipwrecks and lost treasure from the period are shared. The voyages of Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh are often shared; but those in this book add a different opportunity to experience the often harsh, dangerous, and even sometimes lucrative rewards of life on a sailing vessel during the Tudor Dynasty.

Part III. This is the first and only comprehensive list of shipwrecks related to England that occurred between 1547–1603 except for the Spanish Armada of 1588.

In a number of the shipwreck narrations, the author has narrowed the wreck site location to within a couple square miles of the final resting place of a ship and sometimes its crew.