James Cook

The Story Behind the Man Who Mapped the World

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Michael Carman

The name Captain James Cook is one of the most recognisable in Australian history - an almost mythic figure who is often discussed, celebrated, reviled and debated.

But who was the real James Cook?

This Yorkshire farm boy would go on to become the foremost mariner, scientist, navigator and cartographer of his era, and to personally map a third of the globe. His great voyages of discovery were incredible feats of seamanship and navigation. Leading a crew of men into uncharted territories, Cook would face the best and worst of humanity as he took himself and his crew to the edge of the known world - and beyond.

With his masterful storytelling talent, Peter FitzSimons brings the real James Cook to life. Focusing on his most iconic expedition, the voyage of the Endeavour, where Cook first set foot on Australian and New Zealand soil, FitzSimons contrasts Cook against another figure who looms large in Australasian history: Joseph Banks, the aristocratic botanist.

As they left England, Banks, a rich, famous playboy, was everything that Cook was not. The voyage tested Cook's character and would help define his legacy.

Now, 240 years after James Cook's death, FitzSimons reveals what kind of man James was at heart. His strengths, his weaknesses, his passions and pursuits, failures and successes.

James Cook reveals the man behind the myth.

©2019 Peter FitzSimons (P)2019 Hachette Australia Audio

Wonderful biography

Brings the Captain to life as a brave and sensitive man who navigated and charted the oceans, and realized that the native tribes were being affected and tried always to come in peace and establish good relations with them.

loved it! learnt a lot about the great explorer

I would have liked to learn more about his 2nd and 3rd voyages also but I guess it was already long.

What a fantastic book

A well written, and well executed book.

There was so much I didn’t realise about Cooks story. This book was absolutely fantastic

Very good indeed.

Difficult at first but pulled me in simular to a ship moving twards a horizon... Thumbs up on this well researched piece of history.

Great book

Well researched and well told and a great story!
The narrator has a easy to listen to and captivating voice.

Informative and entertaining. Brilliantly narrated.

The story is very well laid out, described and thoroughly researched.
The narrator does an outstanding job in all aspects, particularly the pronunciation of the different accents and languages used.
Thoroughly recommend it.

EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STORYTELLING..

I ridiculously had to hold off this review due to not quite getting what Mr. FitzSimoms manner of writing actually was, so unique and, I have to say, very affecting...A quick note, I am very well read( about 1500 written books and 3100 audio books of literary, philosophy, religious, classic adventure, classic fairytale and western mythology
genres to name a few, lol...I LOVE GREAT STORIES AND GREAT PEOPLES THOUGHTS....SO, getting stumped hasn't happened to me for quite awhile...I have so enjoyed this feeling again...
MR. fitzsimons 's style of telling this story of the great James Cook is SOOOO enjoyable.. It is different, but give it a chance and let it draw you in and I believe most of you will really be enthralled to get to the next stage of his story...
The narrator is very talented and a great choice for this style....
NOW , as for the content of the writing, again, this is different for it is interconnected with this unusual style of description..I'm sorry I can't be detailed on this for I still don't quite understand it lol....perhaps I will let go of trying too for in the end, I have so enjoyed this delightful book,,what else matters after all ......

excellent account

would have listened to all 3 voyages in the format. excellent account of Cook and company.

Good

Good book. My only complaint is the amount of time devoted to the later sailings and death were a mere afterward. It almost felt like the author tired of the subject once the first voyage was described. This a a good book nonetheless.

excellent

fantastically told, very entertaining. my only complaint of note are the numerous phrases and at certain points nearly identical passages from mutiny on the bounty.