Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

Nat Philbrick

Viking, 2003 - History - 452 pages

In 1838, the U.S. government launched the largest discovery voyage the Western world had ever seen-6 sailing vessels and 346 men bound for the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Four years later, the U.S. Exploring Expedition returned with an astounding array of accomplishments and discoveries: 87,000 miles logged, 280 Pacific islands surveyed, 4,000 zoological specimens collected, including 2,000 new species, and the discovery of the continent of Antarctica. And yet at a human level, the project was a disaster-not only had 28 men died and 2 ships been lost, but a series of sensational courts-martial had also ensued that pitted the expedition's controversial leader, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, against almost every officer under his command. Though comparable in importance and breadth of success to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Ex. Ex. has been largely forgotten. Now, Nathaniel Philbrick re-creates this chapter of American maritime history in all its triumph and scandal. Sea of glory combines meticulous history with spellbinding human drama as it circles the globe from the palm-fringed beaches of the South Pacific to the treacherous waters off Antarctica and to the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and, finally, to a court-martial aboard a ship of the line anchored off New York City.

What people are saying

Review: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The US Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

User Review  - Michael Gerald - Goodreads

I could have given this book more stars; the story itself is full of adventure of seamanship, exploration, discovery, and scientific advancement. But the stories of slaughter of seals and otters were ...

Review: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The US Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

User Review  - David Quinn - Goodreads

Along with "In the Heart of the Sea" and "Mayflower" another solid book by Nathaniel Philbrick. The story strongly supports the saying, "When boats were made of wood and men were made of steel." I ...

About the author

Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of the "New York Times" bestseller "In the Heart of the Sea," which won the National Book Award, and "Sea of Glory," winner of the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
• Author: Nat Philbrick
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Viking, 2003
• ISBN: 067003231X, 9780670032310
• Length: 452 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Adventurers & Explorers; History / Expeditions & Discoveries; History / Oceania; History / United States / 19th Century; History / United States / General; Science / History; Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural; Social Science / Anthropology / General