Synopses & Reviews
A captivating tale spanning 5,000 years of the oceans' history,
The Conquest of the Ocean tells the stories 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.
About the Author
Brian Lavery is Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. He is the author of more than thirty books on ships and seafaring, including Ship: 500 Years of Maritime Adventure. A highly respected maritime historian, he has appeared on television programmes such as Time Team and Timewatch and has acted as consultant on many documentaries, including the BBC's Empire of the Seas. He was consultant on the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and advised on the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour. A skilled yachtsman, he has considerable experience with traditional ships.