The Great Age of Discovery, Volume 2

Captain Cook and the Scientific Explorations

By: Paul Herrmann

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

As the 18th century approached its midpoint, commercial and military competition between the European states became fierce. And whoever obtained accurate information about distant lands would hold an advantage. Were there continental landmasses in the Pacific? Was there a Northwest Passage to Japan and China? What lay in the interior of Africa? Was it possible to cross the Sahara? Where did the rivers Nile and Congo originate?

The concluding volume of The Great Age of Discovery follows the explorations that mapped the vast Pacific ocean and the menacing interior of Africa. The names of three men figure prominently in this saga: Captain James Cook, David Livingstone, and Henry Morton Stanley. But there were many equally brave men who are not so well known and whose incredible achievements deserve recognition. Author Paul Herrmann gives them their due with grace and vigor.

There have never been explorers like these, and probably never will be again. Through frightening storms at sea, vast wastelands of sand, and dark, impenetrable jungle, these men carried the light of knowledge so that all who followed after could see.

Have you listened to Volume 1 yet?©2005 Audio Connoisseur

Interesting but dated

Both Volume 1 and 2 are interesting books but some of the information presented seemed out of date to me. Audible indicates these titles were published in 2004 and 2005 yet when I looked them up on Amazon I found a publication date of 1974. The books were obviously translated from the original German and I concluded that 1974 must be the date of the English translation because there was a reference in volume 2 to a dam in Africa that was expected to be completed in 1960. The books thus must have been written about 50 years ago which explains why some of the information is incorrect based on subsequent research and discoveries. The discussion of the origin of the Polynesians is a case in point. I would have appreciated Audible disclosing the original publication date. Both books are interesting and worth listening to as long as the listener understands the shortcomings. Of the two, I enjoyed Volume 1 more than Voluime 2.

Age of Exploration also Age of Human Development

Fascinating take on a world built on darkness giving way to commerce and the Gospel

Beautiful prose, fascinating content

This is a well-written book. The content is fascinating. Though most anthropologists would not support the author's theory of Incan settlement of Polynesia.

The narration was pretty good.

I was interested throughout, even though this can be a hefty tome.

During the initial minutes of each chapter, I would have to pay particular attention because the opening lines of each new account only slowly revealed info about the historical players, and the accounts do not read like wickipedia enries but unroll inductively instead of a summary of the main details being given first followed by finer details. In some places I had trouble tracking who was who.

My picture of history was greatly enlarged. Non-western discoverers were not covered; but this was still a great book on western exploration.

WOW, Again! A volume...

no less enjoyable than volume 1. Written without agenda or 'presentism' apology, I felt transported back to Ms. Senter's 6th grade class - another true teacher and scholar- whose ability to hold a class spellbound remains a cherished memory 55 years later. Further, I cant imagine that by reading these two magnificent volumes, the experience could have been better. The narrator's exquisite, addictive delivery mirrored the author's cheerful, ebullient style. Both author and narrator, born raconteurs. Simply Terrific!

Quaint

Both Volume 1 and 2 make for interesting listening, but I agree with the other reviewers that the book's original publication date of 1958 should have been disclosed. In addition to the antiquated notions on the origins of Polynesian culture, the book's near-giddy tone about the "modernization" of Africa rings particularly bizarre after decades of AIDS and the ravages of ethnic cleansing. I thought the narration, aside from the malaprops, was quite tolerable (if a little chuffy). The chronological skipping around sometimes caught me off guard, but overall, I enjoyed both volumes.