Sea of DangersTwo ships set out in search of a missing continent: the St Jean-Baptiste, a French merchant ship commanded by Jean de Surville, and the Endeavour, a small British naval vessel captained by James Cook. Distinguished historian Geoffrey Blainey tells the story of these rival ships and the men who sailed them. Just before Christmas 1769, the two captains were almost close enough to see one another – and yet they did not know of each other's existence. Both crews battled extreme hardships but also experienced the euphoria of 'discovering' new lands. Sea of Dangers is the most revealing narrative so far written of Cook's astonishing voyage. It also casts new light on the little-known journey by de Surville; Blainey argues that he was in the vicinity of Sydney Harbour months before Cook arrived. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - questbird - LibraryThingGeoffrey Blainey returns to his comfort zone, the winds and waters of the southern seas. He documents the voyages of two European mariners, Cook and de Surville, whose vessels passed unknowingly ... Read full review
SEA OF DANGERS: Captain Cook and His Rivals in the South Pacific
User Review - KirkusProlific Australian historian Blainey (A Short History of the Twentieth Century, 2006, etc.) revisits the epic journey of Capt. James Cook's Endeavour and a parallel voyage by a French ship.The author ... Read full review