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Review
'Assured, thorough and perceptive investigating', The Scotsman .'Enthralling', Sunday Times .'A vivid, absorbing account of the great explorer...animated by his biographer's passion for the humbly-born Yorkshireman', Independent
Sunday Times Culture Section
‘Her journey to learn the truth about Cook and Collingridge has produced an account that is part-biography, part-travelogue and extremely engaging.’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent read - superbly written, full of the excitement and adventure that Cook experienced for himself. Far from being a book of just historical facts, Collingridge brings Cook to life and you feel the determination of the man. I would recommend this to not just those who enjoy the stories of the world's explorers but anyone looking for a top quality read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I hadn't read a book about Cook before. With this one I was not hopeful of moving much beyond the heroic Captain James Cook of my schooldays. At the very least I was expecting a simple chronological report of the life of this historic figure. However, whilst both of these preconceptions were in a sense fulfilled there was so much more in this book. The author weaves the story of the explorer with that of her relative, George Collingridge who had moved to Australia in the 1800s and whose research had suggested that Cook was not the discoverer of the continent, but that this had been achieved far earlier by the Portuguese. Bringing this personal angle on the story of Cook together with her own obviously passionate research results in a balanced book, historically-based but with something of the detective novel about it. At times the language is too descriptive, putting thoughts and emotions into the historical characters, but I was increasingly less irritated by this as the book went on.
Here was a man born into relative poverty at a time when it was difficult to escape from such a start. The help of benefactors and huge self-determination resulted in a most extraordinary life. I particularly enjoyed the effort the author made to piece together the character of Cook, his leadership, openness to other cultures, perseverance, courage and his science. At the same time he hardly sees his wife, leaving her behind for three major voyages lasting years each; his children die while he is away and he slowly changes character, becoming unpredictable and at times cruel, as perhaps illness and the years of responsibility take their toll. The years take their toll on reputation as well - in neither Botany Bay or Kealakeku Bay is Cook now feted. But go to Whitby in Yorkshire and Anchorage in Alaska and you will still see his statue. Think of getting from one country to the other in a 30 metre boat with little in the way of maps and at least grudgingly recognize his achievement. This book is great way to learn something of Captain James Cook an exceptional man of his age.
Here was a man born into relative poverty at a time when it was difficult to escape from such a start. The help of benefactors and huge self-determination resulted in a most extraordinary life. I particularly enjoyed the effort the author made to piece together the character of Cook, his leadership, openness to other cultures, perseverance, courage and his science. At the same time he hardly sees his wife, leaving her behind for three major voyages lasting years each; his children die while he is away and he slowly changes character, becoming unpredictable and at times cruel, as perhaps illness and the years of responsibility take their toll. The years take their toll on reputation as well - in neither Botany Bay or Kealakeku Bay is Cook now feted. But go to Whitby in Yorkshire and Anchorage in Alaska and you will still see his statue. Think of getting from one country to the other in a 30 metre boat with little in the way of maps and at least grudgingly recognize his achievement. This book is great way to learn something of Captain James Cook an exceptional man of his age.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Captain Cook: The Life, Death and Legacy of History's Greatest Explorer.. Again I may be biased, both being a friend and great fan of the author, and also a devotee of Captain james Cook....I was very much impressed by the depth of research, the knowledge and the style of writing, both informative yet spliced with humour. The book interweaves the story of captain James Cook with the lives of the authors ancestors and how the two became inextricably joined by the Country of Australia. Again the author staryts at the beginning and continues after the death showing the legacy of this great man. A MUST Read for all those interested in a 'good story' as well as a readable history bbook
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
captain cook
well described, fast posting and super value. needed this book for research for a public talk and it was ideal for the purpose
Published 8 months ago by J. Stacey
Pretentious, over long, self serving...
Sorry but being a sailor and just having read Roy Adkins's 'Nelson's Trafalgar', which is incredible and flows well, I found this pretentious, long winded and self serving.
Published on 29 May 2010 by R. I. Hicks
An unusual look at Captain Cook
Vannessa Collingridge takes a considerable risk in fusing her biography of Capt. Cook with that of her own ancestor George Collingridge who had his own views on the discovery of... Read more
Published on 16 April 2009 by Richard Brian
Good book, but needs more maps and less Collingridge
As a previous reviewer said, the book needs more maps of the journeys discussed. It also intersperses Cook's story with that of George Collingridge, who claimed Cook wasn't the... Read more
Published on 3 April 2009 by NSA
Captain Cook: Life,Death and Legacy of History's Greatest Explorer
Fantastic read - even better if you saw Vanessa Collingridge's TV series. Intriguing information on how life was like sailing at that time of history without the benefits of modern... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by Nan
The greatest Yorkshireman?
Cook went from being a farm worker's son in Yorkshire to being a Royal Navy captain who three great voyages of exploration charted more of the planet than anyone in history. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2008 by G. J. Weeks
Hagiography
I didn't know much about Captain Cook so picked up the book. Full of good information for someone new to the topic. But the author praised Cook too exceedingly. Read more
Published on 15 April 2003
THIS WAS A WONDERFUL BOOK ON CAPTAIN COOK ALSO THE UNKNOWN
THIS WAS A WONDERFUL BOOK ON CAPTAIN COOK ALSO THE UNKNOWN GEORGE COLLINGBRIDGE, AND VANESSA COLLINGBRIDGE THE AUTHOR
Look at the subject first then read on. Read more
Look at the subject first then read on. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2002 by Jessica A. Bruno
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