Title

Sea of glory : America's voyage of discovery : the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

Description

In 1838, the U.S. government launched the largest discovery voyage the Western world had ever seen-6 sailing vessels and 346 men bound for the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Four years later, the U.S. Exploring Expedition returned with an astounding array of accomplishments and discoveries: 87,000 miles logged, 280 Pacific islands surveyed, 4,000 zoological specimens collected, including 2,000 new species, and the discovery of the continent of Antarctica. And yet at a human level, the project was a disaster-not only had 28 men died and 2 ships been lost, but a series of sensational courts-martial had also ensued that pitted the expedition's controversial leader, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, against almost every officer under his command. Though comparable in importance and breadth of success to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Ex. Ex. has been largely forgotten. Now, Nathaniel Philbrick re-creates this chapter of American maritime history in all its triumph and scandal. Sea of glory combines meticulous history with spellbinding human drama as it circles the globe from the palm-fringed beaches of the South Pacific to the treacherous waters off Antarctica and to the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and, finally, to a court-martial aboard a ship of the line anchored off New York City.

Identifier

1143983

067003231X

Creator

Philbrick, Nathaniel

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

2003

Program air date: January 25, 2004

Publisher

Viking

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Extensive notes on front and back end papers, half-title and verso concerning the history of the expedition, political support and opposition, funding, planning, accomplishments and discoveries, discord between the captain and the officers and crew, and the aftermath of the expedition. Lamb asks "Who is James Cook?" Annotations by Brian Lamb in the margins and underlining of pertinent phrases throughout the book. Examples: "6 ships, 346 men, 9 scientists," "few friends no enemies," "Sec of Navy Dickinson against expedition," "Madeira," "lost contact with Flying Fish," "25 officers hike up mountain," "largest collection ever," "taught him how to hate," and "judge advocate had log book all along."

Subject

"Wilkes, Charles, 1798-1877."

"Ethnological expeditions--History--19th century."

"Ethnology--United States--History--19th century."

"Ethnology--Oceania--History--19th century."

Relation

http://www.booknotes.org/Watch/179909-1/Nathaniel+Philbrick.aspx

Rights

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