A Short History of Seafaring, Brian Lavery
A Short History of Seafaring, Brian Lavery
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A Short History of Seafaring

Author: Brian Lavery

Narrator: Elliot Fitzpatrick

Unabridged: 12 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: DK

Published: 11/08/2022


Synopsis

A captivating read spanning 5,000 years of the ocean's history

Conquest of the Ocean tells the 5,000 year history of the remarkable individuals who sailed seas, for trade, to conquer new lands, to explore the unknown. From the early Polynesians to the first circumnavigations by the Portuguese and the British, these are awe-inspiring tales of epic sea voyages involving great feats of seamanship, navigation, endurance, and ingenuity. Explore the lives and maritime adventures, many with first person narratives, of land seekers and globe charters such as Christopher Columbus, Captain James Cook and Vitus Bering.

Brian Lavery is a well-known British naval historian, whose prestigious credits include historical consultant on the blockbuster, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This narrative history is filled with paintings, logbooks, maps, sketches and diagrams that bring these events and locations to life. Conquest of the Ocean beautifully intertwines informative images with fascinating stories of expedition and exploration in a way that has never been done before. Brian Lavery will have you engrossed in this extraordinary historic naval read.

About The Author

Brian Lavery is Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and author of over 30 books on ships and seafaring. As a highly respected maritime historian, he was consultant on the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, advised on the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour, and wrote the best-selling accompanying book to the BBC drama series Empire of the Seas.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Ariel

IDK, man. The vibes of this book were very colonial. I’m not sure why one yacht race is given as much space as the entire history of the Vikings. It felt like a lot of the history was told through war, as if ships weren’t used for other things. But I think the bullet points were there (even if they......more

Goodreads review by Andrew

a very western-centric history of seafaring......more

Goodreads review by David

3.5 stars I thought a broad history of seafaring would be right up my alley, but this book was a bit too broad for my taste. To cover such a broad stretch of history, the author decided to choose one primary source description of a given time period. I think that could have worked, but still needed......more

Goodreads review by Wynand

Great read. Would recommend for anyone planning on working out at sea in any format or industry, or just anyone with an interest in world history. This book gives an insight into the unfolding of man’s relationship with the oceans and waterways of our planet. Even though every snippet covered is ver......more

Goodreads review by Michal

Very informative, covers maritime history from a variety of viewpoints and perspectives.......more


Quotes

"[Author Brian] Lavery has a sound sense of how to interest new readers. He accentuates human-interest angles by quoting memoirists who experienced a famous naval battle or shipwreck or by sketching key individuals in the development of technological advances, such as ocean liners, submarines, and containerized shipping. Lavishly illustrating the extension of sea travel to transoceanic dimensions, Lavery's work ably serves a collection's need for a general, visually attractive chronicle of ships, sailors, and the sea." – Booklist "[A] lavishly illustrated and readable work…Useful for research and enjoyable for leisure reading for students interested in naval history, exploration, and adventure." – School Library Journal "Lavishly illustrating the extension of sea travel to transoceanic dimensions, [author Brian] Lavery's work ably serves a collection's need for a general, visually attractive chronicle of ships, sailors, and the sea." – Booklist