The writings of a first-rate scientist and daring adventurer; and a major inspiration for Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling novel The Signature of All Things John Cook led three famous expeditions to the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1779. In voyages that ranged from the Antarctic circle to the Arctic Sea; Cook charted Australia and the whole coast of New Zealand; and brought back detailed descriptions of the natural history of the Pacific. Accounts based on Cook's journals were issued at the time; but it was not until this century that the original journals were published in Beaglehole's definitive edition. His journals tell the story of these voyages as Cook wanted it to be told; radiating the ambition; courage and skill which enabled him to carry out an unrivalled series of expeditions in dangerous waters.For more than seventy years; Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1;700 titles; Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors; as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
#2559093 in Books 2002-11-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.19 x 5.98l; 1.85 #File Name: 140433288X460 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great story; extremely poor publishing - buy another edition!By BrainslugThe story itself is fascinating and would easily get 5 stars. Amundsen's own account of his South Pole journey is very well written and very entertaining.What's bad is the layout and quality of the book and I am referring to the sepia/brown book with ISBN 9781494381172.This is not a professionally published book; more like someone printing a poorly formatted Word document and gluing together. The book has no page numbers; it probably has never seen a proof reader because it is full of typos; picture captions are sometimes on different pages than the pictures; and the pictures themselves are tiny and of very bad quality; just like if they were poorly xerox'd from another book.The book doesn't even have a publisher listed.I would recommend that you read Amundsen; but not in this poorly produced edition.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent account; written with insight; warmth; and even poetic whimsyBy Sea CayAn excellent account; written with insight; warmth; and even poetic whimsy; not what one might expect from a man who has been called "the last viking". I had expected an almost dry account and found myself drawn into a narrative of which any novelist could be proud. I definitely recommend this book; not only to aficionados of polar exploration (a MUST read for them); but for anyone interested in the human spirit; human nature; and the wonders of nature.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Celebrate the triumph of the first to reach the South PoleBy everyone's a criticI'm going on a trip to Antarctica and so thought it fitting to read about the first man to make it to the South Pole ... and back. This was a fascinating book in terms of the enormity of the task at hand to be the first to reach the South Pole and in terms of showing a slice of life in the history of scientific exploration. The author is not a superb writer or storyteller; but he does provide wonderful descriptive details about life in Antarctica; preparation for the trip and a glimpse of what doing this trip was like. And by the end of the book; the reader likes this person; feels a sense of celebration at the triumph of their achievement and is happy that his team made it. One warning; the print in this book is very small; so invest in magnifiers or a bright reading light. Also; if you love animals; take care. The way they treated the animals in this book likely reflects the age in which they lived; but it was a little difficult to take at times. There's also a brilliant trivia question to be found in this book: What did Roald Amundsen forget to bring with him to Antarctica? I'll let the readers discover the answer; but the point that he introduced the answer and the way he did it was delightful. I'm still chuckling about it.
