This is the first in-depth study of the sojourn in Sydney made by Nicolas Baudin's scientific expedition to Australia in 1802. Starbuck focuses on the reconstruction of the voyage during the expedition's stay in colonial Sydney and how this sheds new light on our understanding of French society, politics and science in the era of Bonaparte.

The Napoleonic era was a period of major transition. During this time, the explorer Nicolas Baudin made a voyage to Australia and made an unscheduled stop in Sydney where he restructured the expedition. Starbuck examines Baudin's captainship, life on board the ship, the details of the stop in Port Jackson, and the 'new voyage' that followed.