Sea of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42 - Softcover

Philbrick, Nathaniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007121164 ISBN 13: 9780007121168

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2005

Synopsis

The dramatic story of the largest voyage of discovery in the history of the world, this is an astounding tale of courage, arrogance and adventure on the high seas from the author of 'In the Heart of the Sea'.

Headed by the controversial Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, and consisting of six sailing vessels and 346 men, the 'Ex. Ex.' (the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-42) represented the largest voyage of discovery in the history of the world. Four years later, after losing two ships and seventy-one men, the expedition had logged 87,000 miles, surveyed 280 Pacific islands, and created 180 charts - some of which were still being used as late as World War II.

The Expedition's scientists collected 4,000 zoological specimens, including 2,000 new species, and thousands of ethnographic artifacts that would become the basis of the Smithsonian Institution. The Expedition also mapped 800 miles of coastline in the Pacific Northwest, providing the federal government with the information it needed to stake its claim on the Oregon Territory. The Expedition's crowning achievement was the discovery of a new southern continent that Wilkes would name Antarctica. The Expedition ended in a dramatic series of court martials, with Wilkes and his crew levelling accusations of misconduct against each other.

Nathaniel Philbrick's skilful retelling of this forgotten, yet astounding, episode in the history of sea faring is a fantastic adventure and a masterful work of historical reconstruction.

About this title

About the Author

Nathaniel Philbrick is a historian and broadcaster who has written extensively about sailing. He is director of the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies on Nantucket Island, and a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association. He was a consultant on the movie Moby Dick. Aged 41, he has lived on Nantucket with his wife and two children since 1986. His previous book, `In the Heart of the Sea' was a Top Ten best seller in hardback and paperback.

From AudioFile

A cruel captain, vengeful enemies, menacing icebergs, and a flogging 'round the fleet drive the crew to near mutiny in this little-known true story of an American exploring and mapping expedition in the penultimate days of sail. Under the command of Lt. Charles Wilkes, the expedition discovered Antarctica, surveyed the Columbia River, and charted dozens of new islands in the Pacific. In the story's tempestuous turns, Scott Brick's enthusiasm builds and softens like stormy waves as he portrays battle, insult, punishment, and danger. Scott Brick weathers the seven seas of salty words, except for "fo'c'sle," but, in general, he does well before the mast. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0007121164
• ISBN 13: 9780007121168
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 522