The Cannibal Islands: Captain Cook's Adventure in the South Seas - Softcover

Ballantyne, R. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1444460021 ISBN 13: 9781444460025

Publisher: ValdeBooks, 2026

Synopsis

From a humble cottage in Yorkshire to the far-flung reaches of the Pacific, James Cook's remarkable life became one of history's great voyages of discovery.In The Cannibal Islands, celebrated adventure writer R. M. Ballantyne recounts the daring expeditions of the legendary British navigator. Sail alongside Cook and his crew as they brave treacherous seas, explore remote shores, and encounter unfamiliar peoples and extraordinary natural wonders. Witness the scientific curiosity that drives explorers into danger, from perilous mountain journeys near Cape Horn to the observation of distant skies and the mysteries of coral islands.In Tahiti and New Zealand, Cook discovers societies whose customs astonish his European companions. Ballantyne describes warfare, ritual practices, and accounts of cannibalism, revealing both the fascination and the prejudices of nineteenth-century writing about the Pacific.As Cook's fame grows, so do the dangers of exploration, culminating in his tragic final voyage to Hawaii.Combining biography, maritime history, and stirring adventure, this vivid account captures an age when vast oceans remained little known to Europeans. It invites readers to discover the courage, curiosity, misunderstandings, and human encounters behind one of the most celebrated careers in seafaring history and the lasting consequences of contact across distant worlds.

About this title

About the Author

R.M. Ballantyne was a Scottish author who wrote over 100 books and was best known for children’s fiction. Ballantyne was also a famous artist.

Edition details

• Publisher: ValdeBooks
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1444460021
• ISBN 13: 9781444460025
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 60