Subject
Oceania -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800 Books
Best books
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
A voyage round the world : $b Perfomed by order of His most Christian Majesty, in the years 1766, 1767, 1768, and 1769.
"A Voyage Round the World" by Louis de Bougainville is a historical account written in the late 18th century. The text details the expedition undertaken by Bougainville, who commanded the frigate La Boudeuse and the store-ship L'Etoile between 1766 and 1769, as they navigate around the globe to explore uncharted territories and assert French claims in the South Pacific. The narrative likely focuses on the voyage's adventures, discoveries, and challenges faced by Bougainville and his crew during their significant journey. At the start of the narrative, Bougainville recounts the preparation for his expedition, highlighting a crucial stop at Brest to address issues with his ship after facing a severe storm. He discusses the strategic objectives of the voyage, including the transfer of the Falkland Islands to Spanish custody. This introduction sets the stage for a detailed account of the maritime challenges, navigational observations, and encounters with various lands and peoples that Bougainville and his crew will experience throughout the expedition, thereby emphasizing both the scientific and imperial ambitions of the French in the 18th century.
William Bligh
A voyage to the South Sea : $b Undertaken by command of His Majesty for the purpose of conveying the bread-fruit tree to the West Indies in His Majesty's ship the Bounty commanded by Lieutenant William Bligh; including an account of the mutiny on board the said ship and the subsequent voyage of part of the crew in the ship's boat from Tofoa, one of the Friendly Islands, to Timor, a Dutch settlement in the East Indies
"A Voyage to the South Sea" by William Bligh is a historical account written in the late 18th century. The narrative details Bligh's expedition on His Majesty's ship, the Bounty, tasked with transporting the breadfruit tree to the West Indies. It also involves the infamous mutiny aboard the ship and the arduous journey that ensued for part of the crew, who navigated in a small boat from Tofua to Timor. The opening of the book introduces the purpose of the expedition, highlighting the preparations and challenges faced prior to departure from England. Bligh meticulously describes the ship's outfitting, crew composition, and the significance of the breadfruit tree as a potential agricultural asset for the West Indies. As he lays the groundwork for the narrative, readers are drawn into the intricacies of 18th-century maritime life, the ambitions of colonial enterprises, and the eventual tensions that lead to mutiny as they venture into uncharted waters.
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
Voyage autour du monde par la frégate du roi La Boudeuse et la flûte L'Étoile, en 1766, 1767, 1768 & 1769.
"Voyage autour du monde par la frégate du roi La Boudeuse et la flûte L'Étoile" by Louis Antoine de Bougainville is a travel journal published in 1771. It chronicles the first French circumnavigation of the globe from 1766 to 1769. Bougainville led an expedition with scientists and explorers through the Atlantic, the Strait of Magellan, and across Pacific islands including Tahiti. His vivid descriptions of Tahitian society—portrayed as pleasure-seeking and free from labor's tyranny—captivated Enlightenment readers and inspired Diderot's philosophical response. The account details life aboard ship, indigenous encounters, and colonial observations.
Recently surfaced classics