Voyages of Delusion: The Search for the North West Passage in the Age of Reason

Description

This text charts the 18th-century's perilous and often fatal attempts to discover a passage through the Arctic to the Pacific. It is set in the heat of 18th-century exploration fever and charts the many perilous expeditions undertaken to find the "maritime philosopher's stone" from amongst the ice and eskimos of Hudson Bay. Fuelled by the promise of fame and riches from revitalised British trade and dominance of the North American continent, the search for this illusory passage even captivated Cook- the most pragmatic of explorers. The author examines successive expeditions from James Knight to George Vancouver. The secretive Hudson's Bay Company plays a supporting role throughout, as does Sir Arthur Dobbs, whose political ambition-and obsessive pursuit of the illusory passage-relied heavily on exploitative cunning, personal greed and putting other's lives at risk. The book is based on extensive archival research and archaeological excavations and is rich in political and personal intrigue.

Glyn Williams has been professor of History at Queen Mary and Westfield since 1974 and has specialised in the history of exploration and of Europe overseas. He has travelled and lectured in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies. He has published many books including The British Search for the Northwest Passage in the Eighteenth Century, The Expansion of Europe in the Eighteenth Century, The Great Map of Mankind, Terra Australis to Australia, Ruling Britannia, The Voyages of Captain Cook, The Great South Sea: English Voyages and Encounters 1570-1750. He lives in Kent and was appointed Emeritus Professor of the University of London in September 1997.

'Remarkable... never was there a tale which joined such horror and pity, disaster and triumph, such fortitude in adversity. Glyn Williams' narrative brings out all the drama of the story.' NAM Rodger, TLS 'Compelling and vividly evoked...A classic study in leadership, loyalty, betrayal, courage, brutality, resolution and error. A concise, well-written, measured yet gripping account .' Alan Judd, Spectator 'A dramatic tale of hardship, disaster, mutiny, starvation and tenacity. A masterly, scholarly approach that lovers of CS Forester and Patrick O'Brian will relish.' Philip Kerr, Sunday Telegraph