Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook

An engaging biography of Captain James Cook, arguably the greatest explorer ever. The book covers Cook's humble beginnings as an ordinary seaman, his progress up the ranks of the merchant marine and his unlikely ascension to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. The account of his major voyages is a spellbinding narrative that explains clearly that Cook's contribution to world discovery remains unparalleled.An excellent history, Farther Than Any Man tells both sides of the Cook story; his cartographic genius--creating maps and charts that remained the standard well in the twentieth century, his unflinching courage and determination, his boundless vision, and his dominating ego that ultimately led to his untimely death in Hawaii.Farther Than Any Man is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Read it, as I did, prior to a trip to New Zealand and the Cook Islands or, perhaps more realistically, next week to learn more about the world we live in.

Dugard's review of Cook's career is epic, muscular and highly personal. As Dugard reveals, here was a man fueled to success, and doomed to failure, by a series of inner motivations, not the least of which was his desire to please those in authority. Rising from the lower ranks of the navy, he made the incredible leap from ship's master (essentially, an NCO) to ship's officer, then further upwards. For sheer genius and achievement, Cook is to Pacific exploration what Columbus was to the Atlantic. Interestingly, while he is virtually deified in eastern Australia as the Great Discoverer, he was not the first European to visit this continent, nor did he regard New South Wales as being exciting as others places (New Zealand, to which he frequently returned, was his favorite spot). Dugard is a natural storyteller and the meteoric rise (and precipitous downfall) of this heroic figure, while already familiar to some of us, is fresh and full of new insights, particularly regarding the Second Vogage of Discovery, his gruelling survey of the southernmost latitudes, and (arguably) discovery of Antarctica.

This biography is phenomenal. It describes the three great voyages of Captain James Cook (no middle initial!) without claiming pretensions as to why he acted in the manner he did. It tells his life story and why he has left an indelible mark on the history of exploration. It also makes strong reference to the 'rags to metaphorical riches' theme.The biography opens with a quick run through of his early life and then is in three sections, each dealing with the voyages. Interspersed are details about the love of his life - his wife Elisabeth, and his dealings with Sandwich and Banks.The narrative is superb and you are literally on the Endeavour, the Resolution with the 'People', one of the crew seeing the Pacific as it unfolds. You literally get a sense of the wonder and unknown excitement seeping through the pages.I couldn't put it down and whilst this is my first foray into Cook and, therefore, I can't compare it to other biographies/histories that deal with him for accuracy and in-depth character analysis, this book is a must-read. It is enormously refreshing and delightful. Perhaps it is a beginner biography for him but it is one of the finest biographies I have read in the past two years. I look forward to the author producing more.

The biography _Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook_ (Pocket Books) by Martin Dugard tells the story of the man who was arguably the greatest adventurer in the world. It is an amazing story of a driven man who repeatedly accomplished the impossible. For instance, it was simply not possible for Cook to become a Captain in the Royal Navy, as he was a farmhand's son with no pull. He worked nine years in the commercial fleet in the North Sea, and against the judgement of everyone, halted a promising career to go to the bottom of the ranks in the Royal Navy. He again worked swiftly up the ranks, but had no chance of becoming an officer. Only the scheming of a scientist, a Lord, and King George III got him a commission, to go on a circumnavigation for a particular astronomical observation in Tahiti.Cook commanded three circumnavigations, and racked up an impressive record, sailing farther north and farther south than anyone had. He found and charted new islands throughout the Pacific. He was an exemplary commander, a brilliant shiphandler who was reluctant to use the lash on his men. He also pioneered the use of an anti-scurvy diet that kept his men healthy. He kept close notes on the tribes he encountered and in the beginning, at least, had profitable and friendly relations with them. Eventually, worn out from adventuring, and not at home either in England or in what he wished to be a paradise of the Pacific, he became frustrated, and his frustration led directly to difficulties on his command, and in his death at the hands of the Sandwich Islanders.Cook emerges from these pages as a complex figure, a flawed hero who can justly be called the greatest adventurer in history. The book includes fascinating accounts of naval facts, like what the sailors ate and by what means they were punished at sea. The way Dugard has told the story it is by turns exciting, comic, inspiring, and sad, and the narrative never flags.

Farther Than Any Man sheds new light on a ubiquitous, if underappreciated name: CookRelegated to a line in a textbook and the label of cheap champagne, "Captain Cook" still maintains a toehold in our knowledge, but it took this book to explain why, and why Cook the man should hold a far greater place in our estimation.Dugard's book is commendable in that he not only narrates with a brawny and active prose, he also brings to life a man who led an extraordinary life. Cook was completely self-made, absolutely driven, more canny and political than I had imagined and yet also possessed of a loyal and loving side.The accounts of his explorations are gripping, particularly if you know of his grisly end. And the summation of his encounters with the natives of the Pacific are illustrative of the West's dual colonial role of custodians and oppressors.This is a great book, hugely informative, and I recommend it highly.