After the renowned expedition of Christopher Columbus to the
Americas in 1492, European navigators and explorers began in
earnest to seek shorter sea routes across the Atlantic to the
Orient to avoid the lengthy voyage round the horn of Africa. The
mass of land now known as the North American continent proved to be
something of a stumbling block for explorers such as Baffin,
Frobisher and Hudson as they sailed bravely up and down the east
coast in search of a passage to the Pacific Ocean. Momentum to find
a route gathered in the late 17th and the 18th centuries, and Glyn
Williams concentrates on expeditions made during this period - the
delusions being the ease with which explorers ignorant of the sheer
size of the continent and the extreme freezing conditions
anticipated the finding of a passage, as shown by reproductions of
maps of the time. Glyn has researched the subject very thoroughly
through original journals and other documents and written an
excellent book with a wealth of information about the explorers,
their captains and subordinates, as well as the onshore
machinations involved in gaining the support of politicians and
Admiralty officials in order to finance the voyages. Glyn
colourfully describes not only the aspirations and bravery of these
navigators, but the dreadful hardships faced, such as violent
storms, freezing cold, shortage of food, hostile natives, disease
and madness. (Kirkus UK)
Glyn Williams’s Prize of All the Oceans was reviewed by Patrick O’Brian: ‘A remarkably erudite and deeply informed book’. And by Andrew Roberts as ‘Staggeringly good… the best book I’ve read in ages.’
The Quest for the North-West Passage should be as big a best-seller as Fergus Fleming’s Barrow’s Boys—which was about the quest for the north-west passage in the 19th century.
Williams’s book 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.
Williams 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 which fuel the content of the book, rich in political and personal intrigue. Written with the narrative brilliance and the mastery of form which characterises The Prize of all the Oceans, this book promises to be both a work of historical excellence and a compelling story of daring adventure, survival and endurance at sea.
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