41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
quite a disappointment!, May 13, 2004
This review is from: Cook : The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook (Hardcover)
I bought this book based on the recommendations here; unfortunately I have to say it's been a disappointment, and I feel compelled to write my own review too. While the book is obviously well researched and rich in details, the author interferes too much in the narrative -- I am frankly not very interested in Nicholas Thomas' personal relationship with Cook and Australian history. He claims in the introduction that he wants to stay away from the hero and anti-hero biases, but the whole book is very judgmental of Cook and his crew. In trying to be politically correct in 21st-century terms, the author fails to capture the 18th-century spirit of the voyages. Indeed, he paints a dark, boring picture of Cook that doesn't coincide with the exciting contemporary reception the navigator had in the second half of the 18th century. The style is poor, with long, convoluted sentences that take re-reading to decypher. Most annoyingly, there are several typos of foreign words, which I find unacceptable for a book published by a major publisher -- it shows a lack of attention to detail. I wish I could recommend another Cook biography, but I simply don't know. I can, however, highly praise Diana Preston's newly published biography of William Dampier, _A Pirate of Exquisite Mind_ for those interested in European navigators.
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The book is extraordinary as well, January 18, 2004
This review is from: Cook : The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook (Hardcover)
Nicholas Thomas has pulled off a rare achievement writing a book that will appeal to both those already quite familiar with Cook's three voyages and those looking for an introduction to his journeys.
This is not the classic biographical study of man replete with details about his family and early years. Indeed Thomas barely gives passing reference to Cook's background. The focus instead is not on who Cook was, but what he did.
Cook's 18th century expeditions made him among the first Europeans to explore such exotic locales as New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii (to name but a few). There he chartered islands, collected specimens and had many and various encounters with natives. Unlike those who had gone before, Cook paid the natives lengthy visits, allowing time to establish understanding and communication.
The historians perspective has shifted in recent years to view European explorers of Cooks time as racist conquerors, given the consequences to indigenous peoples, this view has much merit. However Cook, like some of his contemporaries did not stoop to conquer, nor did he dismiss all people of color as savages. Cook would not hesitate to use force against natives who stole from his ships, but he also expressed admiration for many tribes and envied their happiness. He might even side with them over his own men when disputes arose. It is the fascinating meetings of cultures that make this time period, these types of voyages and Thomas' book so compelling. Cook's experiences, like many others in the years before exploration turned to conquest, were varied. Those that went badly could have tragic consequences, such as the one which claimed Cook's life. Thomas is to be lauded for presenting these meetings in what is at once a detailed and engaging manner.
My only quibble with Thomas' book is the over dependence on quotes from Cook's journals. How indispensable to historians that Cook (and others on his voyages) left such comprehensive journals. What a treat to read some of Cook's own words. But too often the narrative is bogged down by the author's decision to quote liberally, often paragraphs at a time, from the journals. Sometimes telling not showing is preferable.
That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I do not feel that I truly understand Cook, but much more importantly, I do feel that I understand what he did.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very insightful, a full fledged account, November 15, 2003
This review is from: Cook : The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook (Hardcover)
This wonderful book covers the three voyages of Captain Cook and his exploration of the Pacific Ocean. Cook's first voyage explored the islands of the pacific. His second voyage tried to find `the southern continent' Antarctica. The third voyage explored the North pacific and ended with the death of Captain Cook at the hands of the natives of a pacific Island.
Cook was responsible for mapping much of the pacific ocean and its many islands. His voyage was the first to sketch the giant stone sculptures of Easter Island(Rapa Nui). He circled New Zealand, mapped parts of Australia, explored the Bering straight, kidnapped Polynesian Chiefs on islands like Tahiti and tried, in vain, to discover Antarctica(all he found was a sheet of ice but not land). Cook was a giant in his own time. He dealt with many powerful native tribes and his men catalogued the lives of these native peoples long before they were spoiled by colonization and western ways. This book is full more then fifty sketches of the tribes he encountered and the items he saw.
This is simply a wonderful accurate and thoroughly researched account of Captain Cook and his voyages and contributions. Anyone interested in Polynesia, exploration or the sea will find this account fascinating.
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