Voyage to the South Seas: In Search of Terres Australes - Hardcover

Danielle Clode

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0522852645 ISBN 13: 9780522852646

Publisher: Melbourne University Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

Voyages to the South Seas is an epic narrative encompassing a remarkable period of French and Australian history - when Australia was France's Mars and marsupials were her aliens. Tracing the often tragic voyages of Bougainville, Laperouse, D'Entrecasteaux, Baudin, Freycinet, d'Urville and others to Australia from 1768-1828, ""Voyages to the South Seas"" documents the changing society that launched these ambitious endeavours and the scientific discoveries they brought back. Australia may have been colonised by England but for many years, by sheer weight of specimens and scientific documentation, Australia's biodiversity belonged to France. ""Voyages to the South Seas"" is the story of noble men impoverished by their passion and nobodies who made their names through physical courage and intellectual achievement. It is the story of the young men who risked their lives for adventure and excitement but above all, in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

About this title

Review:

‘Exquisitely written, its erudition lightly worn, its narrative lines compelling and its tone refreshingly warm and direct. This is the book of a scholar who has an impressive mastery of a complex and intricately detailed topic ... [a] particularly agreeable contribution from a writer of real talent.’

     —The Australian Society for French Studies

 

‘Clode’s finely researched work has several strengths but of particular appeal is her preparedness to develop a vibrant thesis.’ 

     —The Weekend Australian

 

‘An engaging and often exciting book ... By means of some very creative prose, Clode is able to bring these remarkable men to life and give her readers a sense of their temperament and abilities.’ 

     —The Canberra Times

 

‘A colourful and dextrously realised historical tapestry.’ 

     —Prof John Gascoigne, University of New South Wales

 

‘Packed with French romance and swashbuckling explorers.’

     —The Diamond Valley Leader

 

‘A powerful and compelling narrative, which should bring pleasure to the specialist as well as popular reader.’ 

     —Historical Records of Australian Science

 

‘Clode has the eye of a storyteller and shows great writing skill bringing the episodes to life.’ 

     —The Herald Sun

 

About the Author:

Dr Danielle Clode is a science writer fascinated by scientific history. Her love of the Australian landscape, and exploration, was born from a childhood spent sailing along the east coast with her parents on a gaff-rigged yawl. Her previous books include Killers in Eden (Allen & Unwin 2001 now a ABC TV documentary). Danielle's environmental history, As if for a Thousand Years (VEAC) is due in July 2006 while Continent of Curiosities: A voyage through Australian Natural History (CUP) is due in September 2006. Danielle researched Voyages to the Great South Land while a Creative Fellow at the State Library of Victoria. She has previously been the Thomas Ramsay Science and Humanities Fellow at Museum Victoria and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where she completed her DPhil in zoology.

About this edition

• Publisher: Melbourne University Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0522852645
• ISBN 13: 9780522852646
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216