Originally published: London : HarperCollins, c2002. Includes bibliographical references (p. [431]-453) and index.
Contents:
Dead man's island: the doomed voyage of James Knight -- A passage to California -- The controversial voyage of Christopher Middleton -- The maritime philosopher's stone -- The disputatious voyage of William Moor and Francis Smith -- A parliamentary inquiry and its aftermath -- The edge of a frozen sea -- Maps, hoaxes and projects -- The puzzling voyage of James Cook -- Entering the labyrinth -- last hopes.
Summary:
The eighteenth century--the Age of Reason--was characterized by determined attempts by philosophers, scientists, and political theorists to dispel myth, superstition, and ignorance. But the Age of Reason also witnessed some of the most irrational and vainglorious attempts by sailors and speculators to find a navigable Northwest Passage that would lead through the icy seas of the Arctic from Hudson Bay to the wealth of the Pacific Ocean. Lured by the promise of fame and riches, men endured paralyzing cold, malnutrition, and terrifying storms. Many lives and fortunes were lost in the quest for the elusive "maritime philosopher's stone." Glyn Williams describes the adventures and mishaps of these misguided expeditions.
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