Magnificent Voyage: An American Adventurer on Captain James Cook's Final Expedition [Hardcover]

Laurie Lawlor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Based on the writings of John Ledyard, an American cook on the ship Resolution, tells of explorer James Cook's final voyage in search of the Northwest Passage, discovery of the Hawaiian Islands, and murder.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Cook's final expedition included a failed attempt to find a Northwest Passage and the Captain's own death in Hawaii. Lawlor describes the five-year voyage mainly from the point of view of John Ledyard, an ambitious young American marine who had hoped to earn glory and promotion. She also integrates journal entries from several of Ledyard's shipmates, which adds balance and corroboration to his sometimes florid words. Illustrations include many reproductions of lithographs rendered by the official expedition artist. The long journey involved a variety of fascinating elements. Many of the men recognized that Cook was losing his once flawless judgment and questioned his behavior even before the events leading up to his death. The author describes the interactions between the explorers and the indigenous peoples with whom they interacted largely through the points of view of the crew members. Readers clearly see how irresponsible the men were, particularly in the devastating spread of venereal diseases, but Lawlor lets the events stand on their own, without editorializing. Ledyard's role fades into the background at times during Cook's expedition, but the focus returns to him for the closing chapters, which include a correspondence with Thomas Jefferson and a failed attempt to make a fortune trading furs in Russia. Ledyard's particular circumstances and distinct personality add an intriguing perspective to the already interesting story of Cook's last journey.
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. Dispatched to the Pacific in 1776 with secret orders to locate the fabled Northwest Passage, Cook led an expedition that was beset with mishaps, bad weather, long delays, poor decisions, an unruly crew (which spread venereal disease at nearly every island stop), and rampant thievery by the locals. In Lawlor's sometimes lurid account, based on the reminiscences of American-born John Ledyard, a ne'er-do-well who later inspired Thomas Jefferson to send Lewis and Clark on their epic journey, this less-than-idyllic scenario is played out until Cook's eventual murder and dismemberment at the hands of vengeful Hawaiians brings the mission to an effective end. The narrative, which is sprinkled with maps and contemporary prints, is capped with biographical sketches of featured crewmates. Without footnotes, lines such as "the Indians exchanged disgusted looks" read like interpolations, but, otherwise, the author's detailed picture of the voyage, and of Ledyard's relatively brief career, makes engrossing, if gloomy, reading. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823415759
• ISBN-13: 978-0823415755
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,684,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( C ) > Cook, James

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Irresponsible as a "history", September 27, 2010

By 

Kevin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magnificent Voyage: An American Adventurer on Captain James Cook's Final Expedition (Hardcover)

In the guise of a history for youthful readers, author's main intent seems to be less to educate than to vilify James Cook, laying at his feet all the evils of British imperialism and a class-based society, the defects in the structure and ways of the Royal Navy, and even the (then) natural ignorance they had about a culture they had only just begun to come into contact with. Cook, although actually rather far ahead of his time insofar as respect for other cultures is concerned, is basically faulted for embarking on his last voyage without the benefit of 21st century guidance. Cook was practically glorified by the British general public for his positive accomplishments, which was, admittedly, a bit over the top. The man wasn't a saint. But to turn him into some kind of demon is no better and is certainly no service to young inquiring minds. There is yet another objection: The author uses as her main source, John Ledyard, an American sailor/marine who'd been on the voyage. His service was not exemplary and possibly he had a grudge (just or unjust). He was writing specifically to capitalize on the sensationalism of the voyage (especially as an "official" account had not yet been published), in a time when Britain-bashing sold pamphlets. None of that makes him irrelevant as a source. But to produce a "history" around it, aimed squarely at the impressionable young reader who might naively mistake this book as an actual history, is irresponsible. The young student of history deserves a much more balanced account than this delivers.