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Where Fate Beckons: The Life of Jean-Francois de La Perouse
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Review:
"The world of Pacificc scholarship owes a considerable debt to John Dunmore, whose monographs, editions of journals, and articles . . . have documented the exploits of French navigators in the great ocean. . . . Dunmore is particularly effective in using the journals to convey the claustrophobic, often squalid conditions on ships crowded with men and animals. . . . [Dunmore's two biographies] provide readbale and balanced accounts of the lives of two navigators who to many in the English-speaking world are little more than names."--Glyndwr Williams "International History Review "
Synopsis:
After James Cook, La Perouse is undeniably the major explorer of the Pacific in the eighteenth century. Leaving France in 1785, his expedition spent two and a half years in the Pacific before vanishing totally after its departure from New South Wales in early 1788. The mystery of La Perouse's disappearance and its solution almost 40 years later have attracted considerable attention, at times overshadowing the accomplishments of the expedition. For example, it was the first to visit California, and the first to survey the almost unknown seas north of Japan and the coast of Siberia. This major new biography looks at La Perouse the man, his family background and early career, his years in the Indian Ocean, his part in the American War of Independence, and the sad romantic story of his marriage. It then follows him and his companions on his great voyage.
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- PublisherExisle Publishing
- Publication date2006
- ISBN 10 0908988532
- ISBN 13 9780908988532
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages300
- Rating
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Where Fate Beckons
Published by
Exisle, Auckland
(2006)
ISBN 10: 0908988532
ISBN 13: 9780908988532
Used
Hardcover
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: NF. Dust Jacket Condition: NF. Arts, Photos, Maps (illustrator). 1st. Sub-titled "The l;ife of Jean-Francois De La Perouse" this study focuses on the French equivalent to James Cook in early Pacific navigation and exploration. The author, John Dunmore, is an acknowledge authority on La Perouse and "Where Fate Beckons" is one of more that 20 books he has written on early French expeditions to tthe Pacific and his contribution to the subject has been recognised and honoured by French authorities. Like Cook, La Perouse was an officer in his country's navy and this two-ship mission sailed from France in July 1785. But the venture got off to a slow start with the ships having to anchor offshore, for three weeks, waiting for a favourable wind to cross the Atlantic. Rounding Cape Horn to begin his Pacific voyage of discovery Perouse called at a Chilean port before visiting the Hawiian group after calling at Easter Island. The expedition ships were the Astrolabe and Boussale, both sturdy ex-store ships of about 450 tons and iideal for provisioning for a mission expected to take severl years. After the Hawaii visit the two ships sailed north east to the Alaskan coast (then Spanish territory) then south charting the coastline as far Monteray (California). By this stage of the voyage the scientists, and experts in many fields, were conducting their investigations, observations and collection of specimens. From the North American coast the expedition sailed directly across the Pacific to China. south to the Philippines then north about to Korea and Japan, on to the Kamchatka Penisnula (Siberia), turning south again in mid-Pacific proceeding to NSW via Samoa, Fiji and Norfolk Island. At Botany Bay (January 23, 1788) the French were surprised to find British ships, the first of a fleet sent to establish a British settlement, arriving six days before the French. After six weeks in the Bay, repairing their ships, resting expedition members, restocking with water, firewood and any supplies that could be found ashore. the French ships left on March 1, planning to reach Isle de France (Mauritius) by December 1788, sailing to the north of Australia after passing through the island groups of New Caledonia, the Solomons and Bougainville. Before leaving Botany Bay the French expedition arranged for the British to take letters, reports and scientific papers back to Europe. That proved to be a sound move for the British on shore when the two ships sailed were the last Europeans to see them. Thus, the safe delivey of the records back to France provided the only information on later movements of the expeditiion and also of the intended route home on departing Australia. When the expedition ships failed to materialise by late 1788 it was feared they were lost and this proved to be true. Although an official search was mounted it was mid-1792 before it reached the area east of New Guinea when the ships were most likely wrecked. The loss of both ships was regarded as mysterious and it was to be 40 years before a search in 1827 located evidence indicating that the two vessels ran on a reef at night near the small island of Vanikoro, just south of Santa Cruz. Island. Recollections of islanders stated the one of the ships was completely wrecked in the grounding, with any survivors killed by natives. It was said the other ship was driven ashore almost intact with a large number of survivors. These stripped this hulk to build a smaller two masted vessel while sheltering behind a wooden pallisade to fend off attacks. Eventually the replacement sailed away -- the fate of the boat and survivors unknown. In subsequest years searches on the two wreck sites recovered other relics and artifacts seeming to confirm them as the two French ships. When "Where Fate Beckons" was prublished further searching in the wreck area was planned, This is an engrossing read, not only rabout the La Perouse exedition but of the conditions aboard ships in those times, dangers faced continually, sickness and privation, tragedy and of history-mak. Seller Inventory # 005338
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Where fate beckons the life of Jean -Francois de la perouse
Published by
Exisle Publishing, New Zealand
(2006)
ISBN 10: 0908988532
ISBN 13: 9780908988532
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Hardcover
Quantity: 1
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. nice clean copy. Seller Inventory # 4041j
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Where Fate Beckons: The Life of Jean-Francois de la Perouse
Published by
Exisle Publishing
(2006)
ISBN 10: 0908988532
ISBN 13: 9780908988532
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Moderate foxing to edges. Otherwise fine. Seller Inventory # 004954
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