A collection of three accounts of Peril, Adventure and Captivity in the 18th and 19th century: "The Sufferings of the Picard Family after the Shipwreck of the Medusa in the Year 1816" Tells the story of survivors of the the French naval frigate Meduse, which ran aground off the coast of today's Mauritania on July 5, 1816. At least 147 people were set adrift on a hurriedly constructed raft; all but 15 died in the 13 days before their rescue, and those who survived endured starvation, dehydration, cannibalism and madness. "The Captivity of M. De Brisson 1785" tells of a shipwrecked survivor and his captivity among the natives of the western coast of Africa. "Voyage of Madame Godin Along the River of the Amazons 1770" changes the scene from Africa to South America where the adventures, perils and escapes of Madame Godin along the Amazon River are recounted.