4,99 €
Dive into the gripping tale of Captain James Cook’s final voyage, where ambition, discovery, and tragedy collide on the high seas. Hampton Sides masterfully recounts Cook’s quest for the elusive Northwest Passage, his encounters with Indigenous cultures, and the dramatic events that led to his untimely death.
This summary captures the essence of Cook’s journey, offering a vivid look at the clash of empires, the thirst for exploration, and the human cost of discovery.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
Summary
Of
The Wide Wide Sea
Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook
Hampton Sides
Snap Read
Table of Contents
Copyright
About The Author
Overview
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Epilogue: Lono’s Tears
Themes
Note
This book is protected by copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Copyright © 2025 by Snap Read.
All Rights Reserved.
Hampton Sides is an acclaimed historian and bestselling author known for his gripping narratives of exploration and adventure. With a background in journalism and a degree in history from Yale, Sides combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling. His works, including Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice, have earned widespread praise for their depth and readability. In 2024, he published The Wide Wide Sea, examining Captain James Cook’s final voyage. Sides’ expertise in uncovering lesser-known historical episodes and his ability to humanize complex figures lend authority to his work, bridging scholarly rigor and popular appeal with fresh insights.
Hampton Sides’ The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact, and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook (2024) focuses on the last expedition of Captain James Cook. The book highlights the key moments of this historic voyage, including its dramatic encounters and tragic end. Sides, a skilled historian and journalist, examines the importance and challenges of Cook’s explorations during the 1800s.
The book explores key ideas like how European explorers and Indigenous peoples clashed, the goals behind these long voyages, and how these journeys expanded knowledge of the world’s geography. Along with a step-by-step look at Cook’s journey, the book reflects on the impact of European exploration on Indigenous communities and cultures.
In January 1778, fishermen on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i saw two massive ships coming toward the shore, lit by torches. Confused and scared, they described the ships as giant sea creatures with holes and a long spear-like front.
By morning, the villagers, including their high chief Kaeo, gathered to see these strange objects more clearly. Some believed they were floating temples or moving trees. Their fear deepened as they spotted figures on the ships. The villagers thought the people on board had unusual appearances, mistaking their clothing and features for deformities.
In 1776, James Cook was a well-known navigator and post-captain, admired by both scientists and society. He had recently returned from his second journey around the world, earning high honors like the Copley Medal and recognition from the Royal Society. He even sat for portraits painted by famous artists of the time.
On this expedition, Cook searched the southern oceans for the rumored continent, Terra Australis Incognita. After facing many challenges, he concluded the continent did not exist. This finding, known as a “negative discovery,” was just as important as finding new lands. Cook’s careful methods and detailed maps uncovered uncharted areas and corrected old beliefs about the world.
Although Cook’s work advanced geographic knowledge, he believed any land in the far south was frozen, uninhabitable, and impossible to reach with the ships of his time. His findings earned him respect for his accuracy and dedication to exploration.