Two 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. In 'Sea of Dangers', distinguished historian Geoffrey Blainey tells the story of these rival ships and the men who sailed in 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 including scurvy, storms and loneliness; but they also experienced the euphoria of 'discovering' new lands, and the fascination of meeting peoples so different they may as well have come from separate worlds.
This is the most revealing narrative so far written of Cook's astonishing voyage along the east coast of Australia. It also casts new light on the little-known voyage by Jean de Surville; Blainey argues that the Frenchman was in the vicinity of Sydney Harbour months before Cook arrived. Eventually Cook set out to explore the hazardous Barrier Reef and find a way through Torres Strait, while the Frenchman searched for a mysterious Jewish colony in the South Pacific.
In 'Sea of Dangers' Blainey once again takes us on a vivid journey through history, challenging accepted views.
Contents:
Maps
Preface
1. Towards the Land of the Long Canoes
2. A Missing Continent
3. A French Floating Bazaar
4. Young Nick's Day
5. The Sea of Surville
6. Two Ships Went Sailing By
7. Wild Musicians and Wilder Seas
8. Where Are all the Peopl?
9. In Botany Bay
10. Into the Coral Jaws
11. A Seductive Moon
12. In Cook's River-Camp
13. Kangaru
14. A Happy Puff of Wind
15. The Guns of Mournin
16. Deadly Cloud over Java
17. Is there War in Europe?
18. Two Voyages and their Ripples
Postscript: Who was the Discoverer?
Selected Sources
Picture Credits
Index
