"Originally published in 2013, in slightly different form, by Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Books, Australia" -- Title page verso. "An excerpt from The Reef originally appeared, in slightly different form, in Scientific American" -- Title page verso. Includes bibliographical references (pages 283-313) and index.
Contents:
A country of the mind -- Labyrinth : Captain Cook's entrapment -- Barrier : Matthew Flinders's dilemma -- Cage : Eliza Fraser's hack writer -- Bastion : Joseph Jukes's epiphanies -- Hearth : Barbara Thompson, the ghost maiden -- Heartlands : the lost lives of Karkynjib and Anco -- Refuge : William Kent escapes his past -- Paradise : Ted Banfield's island retreat -- Obsession : the quest to prove the origins of the reef -- Symbiosis : Cambridge dons on a coral cay -- War : a poet, a forester, and an artist join forces -- Extinction : Charlie Veron, Darwin of the coral -- Epilogue. A country of the heart.
Summary:
"A journey into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, as experienced by explorers, scientists, and artists The Great Barrier Reef is the most spectacular marine environment on earth, a true wonder of the world. Yet the history of our encounters with it has long been elusive. In The Reef, the acclaimed historian and explorer Iain McCalman recounts in full the dramatic story of the reef and the people who have been captivated by it for two centuries. The Reef is a narrative told through the lives of twenty intrepid souls, from Captain James Cook and his voyage across a mysterious coral maze to the world's leading reef scientist, John "Charlie" Veron, whose personal mission is to rescue the reef from catastrophe. The extraordinary individuals in the book--not only explorers and scientists but also beachcombers, photographers, divers, and indigenous peoples and the castaways they adopted--were drawn to the reef for different reasons, but all shared one thing: a passion for this vast coral country. As McCalman explores how the reef has been seen variously as a labyrinth of terror, a nurturing heartland, a scientific challenge, and a fragile global wonder, he argues that it is only by combining science and art that we will truly appreciate how this great gift of nature has shaped us and why it demands our attention. A classic work of romantic history, blending cutting-edge science with personal reflection and gorgeous images, The Reef is a beautiful book that will speak to broad audiences for years to come"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.