Customer Reviews

Captain James Cook: A Biography

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This is a fine biography of a fascinating man. And, judging from a search of Amazon.com, there don't appear to be too many biographies about James Cook in print. Mr. Hough's book is much easier to read than Beaglehole's; and it is a good introduction to start with before tackling Cook's Journals.

One thing that caught my attention was how radically different Captain Cook behaved on his third and final voyage. On the earlier voyages, he acted much more decisively, and showed remarkable concern for his men. They in turn developed great affection and respect for their leader.

On that last fateful voyage, Cook acted very much out of character. He was short-tempered, even cruel. He made hasty or stupid decisions and took foolish risks. At more than one point the crew was close to mutiny.

Hough explains that perhaps Cook was suffering from a parasitic infection or other physical and mental afflictions. This might explain his unusual behavior. It also occured to me that perhaps the good captain was simply "burned out" (to use a modern phrase). After having completed two round-the-world trips of 2-plus years each, the last thing this man needed was another long voyage. Even his superiors in the Admiralty knew he needed and deserved a rest. Cook himself must have known that too. Yet, his sense of duty impelled him to volunteer for one more mission. The Admirals should never have permitted it. Certainly not so soon after Cook's return from Voyage Two.

This is a good book. I have long admired James Cook; now after reading Hough's work, I list the captain among my heroes.

One final note: another reviewer asks why Cook was "always returning to Tahiti." Perhaps I missed something, but I only counted three visits by Cook to that island. Once to observe an astronomical event (the official reason for his First Voyage); later (on his Second Voyage) because his ship was in need of repairs and supplies; and then on the Third Voyage to return a Tahitian they had taken to England on the previous trip --- and this was the official reason for the Third Voyage.

On second thought, could anyone fault Cook for frequenting the beautiful Polynesian islands? Perhaps a few months on the beach --- but away from his work! --- would have saved the man's life!

I was prompted to read this book after finishing Longitude which alludes to the progress Captain Cook made in a seamans health at sea. What I found was a man who rose to the top of his trade by applying himself and following his curiousity. He not only changed the way men lived while at sea, he travelled the globe in search of new and exciting places. While it's true he wasn't a great discoverer, the length and success of his trips speak for his talent and drive. Imagine spending upwards of 3 - 4 years at sea seperated from you home, family and friends and doing it on a vessel 100 feet long with a crew of 100! It's unheard of today and speaks of the fortitude adventures, such as Captain Cook, possessed. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in setting sail on the open seas from the comfort of your chair, you won't be disappointed!

I was prompted to buy this book after reading 'Endeavour' by Peter Aughton (available from amazon.co.uk) which painted a completely different picture of Cook to what I imagined. After reading 'Captain James Cook' I now realise how the misconception arose - on his last and most famous voyage, he presents a Mr.Hyde personality, completely out of keeping with his previous Dr.Jekyll style of running his ship and dealing with the natives he meets - little wonder the Hawaiians took revenge (in the worst possible way). Interesting too, is the side-study of Bligh, who was already showing signs of despotism and seems to have fostered Cook's decline into cruelty, autocratic rule over his crew and excessively harsh treatment of the natives.

The author poses the possibility that a medical condition precipitated this sudden change of character, but it may also have been early senility, Altzheimer's or dementia brought on by stress - who knows?

The book is full of interesting clips from various people's logs, which show other views of life under Cook's leadership. The main thrust of the book is not that Cook was in the right place at the right time, but that he made such a consummate job of ensuring that the surveys were carried out in a methodical manner, with a healthy crew and sound ship. After all, it was HIS decision on what type of ship to use, what food to keep the crew healthy, how to deal with the natives and his diplomacy that ensured that the first 2 voyages were such a resounding success.

All this is in sharp contrast to the last voyage, where he allowed the shipyard to take liberties with the refitting of his ships, the lack of diplomacy, his cruelty to the natives and his lack of patience with his crew. This only serves to reinforce what an extraordinary leader he had been.

A splendid read which has furthered my interest in history and exploration - more like this please!

I had the great pleasure of recording this entertaining book for the American Foundation for the Blind's Talking Books program. Rather than summarize its contents, well done in other reviews on this site, I will simply say that I found it extremely easy to record because it is written in such flowing, evocative prose. In fact, it reads very much like a fascinating adventure novel, and Robert Louis Stevenson could almost have written it. The travels of Captain Cook are superbly recounted, and make engrossing, absorbing reading.

This well researched tale of exploration and discovery is one of the best biographies I've ever read. The achievements of Captain Cook and his crewmen are incredible. In the age of "survivor" TV this story resonates with true courage and ingenuity. The range of Cook's travels from the South Pacific to the coast of Alaska and the varying conditions that were encountered make for an emjoyable read. Highest recommendation. A book to be read and reread.

Destiny. Some people possess an innate psyche as to what they want to do in life. James Cook would be one of those people. From his days as a youth working in an English seaside shop, Cook dreamed of sailing in a ship to discover other lands and people. He did it, becoming one of England's greatest navigators.
Richard Hough effects a daring read of this fascinating man. With firsthand quotes from the men who were on Cook's three voyages, the book is complete of adventure, misfortunes, perilous storms, native peoples with their ensuing customs and demeanor, geographical descriptions, disorientation, cannibalism, scurvy outbreaks, etc.
He joined the Royal Navy and worked his way up the ranks becoming surveyor in eastern Canada. With honor and distinction from these years of service, he accepts a position to captain an expedition to the South Pacific for exploration and to study the Transit of Venus for astronomical observations.
With accolades from this voyage, Cook is again asked to lead an expedition to the South Pacific in order to discover and survey the South Pole. Adventure after adventure follows.
His third and final voyage is to locate the mythical northwest passage by first journeying east around the Cape of Good Hope and then straight north through Hawaii to the northwest coast of North America. We see during this final expedition that due to a possible parasitic intestinal infection from his previous voyage, Cook's character and conduct is unbecoming of him and at times his behavior is unrestrained. He meets his final days at the hands of Hawaiian natives.
A discerning look into an accomplished and extraordinary man.

The astounding voyages of exploration led by Captain James Cook (1728-1779) are fascinating to read about, and not just because of the tales of discovery, the intriguing geography, and the history of Europe's colonization of much of the world. The excruciatingly difficult missions led by Cook were remarkably successful because he was probably the most qualified person in the whole world to command such undertakings, and we can all benefit by reflecting upon exactly what it was that made him so good at his job. Captain Cook's approaches to exploration are equally applicable to the more mundane challenges we all face. To hit the high points, it's worth noting that Cook became the most remarkable explorer of his age, and one of the greatest of all time, without the benefit of any useful family connections, wealth, or top-flight education. He went to sea in the merchant marine and worked his way up through ability and diligence. Then, when he was about to become captain of a collier, he chucked all the security and power the position offered, and signed on as a lowly sailor in the Royal Navy. Can you imagine the self-confidence that it would require to take such a risk? In due course, Cook was promoted in the Navy, as he knew he would be, but his long-term prospects were still very limited in that institution, in which high birth, wealth, and influence were almost always essential qualifications for the highest ranks. Cook continued to hone all the skills of the sea, and became one of the most accomplished chart-makers of his day. His charts, for example, were essential to the success of General Wolfe's bold assault on Quebec in the Seven Years War. When the time came to send out a British ship to Tahiti (ostensibly to observe the transit of Venus across the sun, but undoubtedly also to extend British influence into the Pacific), Cook was the natural choice. For once, ability prevailed over influence, and even over rank. Cook was commissioned a lieutenant _after_ he was selected for command, since it plainly would not reflect well on the grandeur of England and the Royal Navy to have such a vital mission commanded by a man not holding a commission. The first voyage of circumnavigation was of course an outlandish success, opening the door not only to Tahiti and the South Pacific, but also to New Zealand and Australia. The arduous second voyage, devoted to negating the notion that there was an undiscovered and massive continent in the southern oceans, will always be a prime example of human tenacity and persistence. Even the third voyage of circumnavigation, which was tragically marred by Cook's death in Hawaii, had already accomplished much in fearlessly probing for the hoped-for Northwest Passage. Each chapter of Cook's life, as recounted by Richard Hough with great skill, reflects the development and dogged application of a wide range of skills needed for such extraordinary tasks. Cook became an expert seaman, to be sure, but more significantly he became a great leader. He was a firm disciplinarian, especially in forcing crewmen to follow the regimens required to head off scurvy and otherwise promote their good health, but he did not succumb, as so many captains did, to the temptation to use wanton brutality as a substitute for leadership. In dealing with native peoples he encountered, Cook was no doubt an agent of their exploitation by England, but he almost always acted with the maximum degree of humane restraint that was consistent with his mission as an agent of the British empire. Not only was Cook exquisitely well prepared to succeed on his voyages because of his own broad training at sea and experience in leading men, but he was almost obesessive in carrying out every aspect of the preparation for each voyage, from selected the crew to the fitting out and supplying of the vessels. Hough's intriguing thesis is that Cook's death was in large measure attributable to his failure (due to fatigue? boredom? preoccupation?) to prepare as carefully for the last voyage as he had for those that had gone before. Those of us in North America probably don't learn as much about Cook as those in many other parts of the world do, and Hough convincingly demonstrates how much we have missed out on. The artful novelist Patrick O'Brian has repeatedly stated that he never has to invent adventures for his sea tales because the real-life exploits to be found in dispatches, journals and biographies are more astounding that anything that could be made up. Cook's accomplishments, recounted with style and fidelity by Hough, are alone enough to confirm the truth of O'Brian's assertion.

Hough does a fairly complete job of biographing Capt. Cook. The book provides not only his story, but an insight into the lifestyle of a British Naval captain. Although not as thorough as Beaglehole, it is easier to digest.

I loved this book when I first read it in 1994 and having just re-read it I remember why. Its an engrossing story, well told and enjoyable to read. I had very little knowledge of this man except that which is learnt by most Primary school children in Australia. This book filled this neglectful gap in my education and it was a lovely experience to learn about this man, his travels and his experiences. Richard Hough tells a great story and if you like good history then I'm sure you'll enjoy this story.

Before Captain Cook left on his first Voyage of Discovery, 40% of the Earth's surface had not been mapped. By the time he died - eaten by the Hawaiians, with only his thigh bone and uneated hands, one of them bearing a recognizable scar, delivered back to the ship - he had mapped essentially all of the unknown surface of the Earth. This biography is beautifully written. A few months ago I was sitting at a bar in Cook Islands, reading this book, and a local said to me that he had bought about 20 copies to hand out to his boatie friends. You are in for hours of discovery and enjoyment.