By James K. Barnett
From Baird Maritime:
Captain James Cook has largely been regarded as the "property" of British, Australian and New Zealand historians. It is encouraging to see in this case that the author is an American, an Alaskan no less.
It is oft forgotten that Cook explored very substantial parts of our planet other than Australian and New Zealand waters. In this very readable book we learn of his explorations, charting and recording of the North Pacific region not long before his death in Hawaii.
Cook spent most of August 1778 in an unsuccessful search for a North-East passage. While they failed in that, Cook and his crews aboard his ships 'HMS Resolution' and 'HMS Discovery' found and recorded much of value. They went as far north as the Beaufort Sea and coasted both sides of the Bering Sea and practically all the coast of Alaska.
This well researched contribution shows that the conventional wisdom is inadequate on Cook. The excellent paintings from the voyage are a valuable bonus.
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