The Wide Wide Sea

Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook

De: Hampton Sides

Narrado por: Peter Noble

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, TIME, THE ECONOMIST, NPR, THE NEW YORKER, THE SMITHSONIAN, AND KIRKUS REVIEWS • A “thrilling and superbly crafted” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, which culminated in Captain James Cook’s death in Hawaii, and left a complex and controversial legacy still debated to this day.

One of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year

“In this masterly history, Sides tracks the 18th-century English naval officer James Cook’s third and final voyage across the globe, painting a vivid and propulsive portrait that blends generations of scholarship with the firsthand accounts of European seafarers as well as the oral traditions of Indigenous Pacific islanders.”—The New York Times Book Review

On July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in his ship the HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach on the island of Hawaii, Cook was killed in a conflict with native Hawaiians. How did Cook, who was unique among captains for his respect for Indigenous peoples and cultures, come to that fatal moment?

Hampton Sides’ bravura account of Cook’s last journey both wrestles with Cook’s legacy and provides a thrilling narrative of the titanic efforts and continual danger that characterized exploration in the 1700s. Cook was renowned for his peerless seamanship, his humane leadership, and his dedication to science–the famed naturalist Joseph Banks accompanied him on his first voyage, and Cook has been called one of the most important figures of the Age of Enlightenment. He was also deeply interested in the native people he encountered. In fact, his stated mission was to return a Tahitian man, Mai, who had become the toast of London, to his home islands. On previous expeditions, Cook mapped huge swaths of the Pacific, including the east coast of Australia, and initiated first European contact with numerous peoples. He treated his crew well, and endeavored to learn about the societies he encountered with curiosity and without judgment.

Yet something was different on this last voyage. Cook became mercurial, resorting to the lash to enforce discipline, and led his two vessels into danger time and again. Uncharacteristically, he ordered violent retaliation for perceived theft on the part of native peoples. This may have had something to do with his secret orders, which were to chart and claim lands before Britain’s imperial rivals could, and to discover the fabled Northwest Passage. Whatever Cook’s intentions, his scientific efforts were the sharp edge of the colonial sword, and the ultimate effects of first contact were catastrophic for Indigenous people around the world. The tensions between Cook’s overt and covert missions came to a head on the shores of Hawaii. His first landing there was harmonious, but when Cook returned after mapping the coast of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, his exploitative treatment of the Hawaiians led to the fatal encounter.

At once a ferociously-paced story of adventure on the high seas and a searching examination of the complexities and consequences of the Age of Exploration, THE WIDE WIDE SEA is a major work from one of our finest narrative nonfiction writers.

©2024 Hampton Sides (P)2024 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Gripping . . . It isn’t possible in this short space to describe Side’s hair-raising accounts of the journey . . . Sides recreates the newness of the experience, the vast differences in and among Indigenous cultures, and natural phenomena that were as terrifying as they were wondrous."—The Washington Post

"Hampton Sides, an acclaimed master of the nonfiction narrative, has taken on Cook’s story and retells it for the 21st century . . . The result is a work that will enthrall Cook’s admirers, inform his critics and entertain everyone in between."—Los Angeles Times

“The great explorer’s ill-starred last mission and violent death in Hawaii are recreated in swashbuckling detail…an astounding tale and Sides delivers the exciting episodes with a pressing narrative urgency. The cast of characters is a joy."–The Sunday Times (London)

What An Adventure

It seemed as if Cook was the ultimate adventurer and explorer. The book satisfied all my yearning for sea voyages. I learned a lot and was surprised his crew contributed to his demise.

An engaging historical narrative about an amazing human being

This was a extremely well written book filled with historical facts and interesting quotes from those who directly witnessed Captain Cook’s voyage. I came away with a more balanced depreciation of his accomplishments, as well as a wistfulness to have been able to have seen some of those native cultures for the very first time. This is not a book that will peal to anyone seeking to completely vilify James Cook or two lionize him. Rather, this is a fair account of the deeds of a man contributed much to the human understanding of our globe.

Historical truth of Captain Cook’s third voyage

The portrayal of the native’s belief systems and their unfortunate situation upon being “discovered” Is equally as tragic as the loss of life among the voyagers described in the novel

Outstanding listen

Outstanding listen. Well written and well delivered. Lots of good information if you are interested in Captain Cook’s last voyage.

Vivid Thrill Ride With Captain Cook

I thoroughly enjoyed this colorful account of Captain Cook's final voyage through the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, all the way to Alaska, and discovery of Hawaii.

You really do feel like you are on the ship and exploring the various ports of call along with the sailors and the Marines.

This is the first class summer read.

Great Audio Book

This is a fascinating story, beautifully written and narrated. It was interesting, educational and entertaining.

What an adventure

I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of Captain James Cook’s last voyage. I always wondered how his death on the Hawaiian island of Hawaii occurred and the cause behind it. Now I know.

Great story!

Captain Cook was very interesting. I only knew his name when I started listening to this book. His knowledge and insight made him a remarkable captain. He was an intuitive explorer. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Great scholarship told well

Thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful book. Perfect narrator. Deep dive into what’s important about this amazing early clash of cultures. Well done.

Couldn’t put it down!

What a story! I listened to the whole thing every spare minute over 2-1/2 days. It was as engrossing as a spy thriller.