The Story of the Voyage
Sea-Narratives in Eighteenth-Century England

Study of voyage narratives, including Cook and Bligh, set in the context of British imperialism.

Philip Edwards (Author)

9780521604260, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 May 2004

268 pages, 11 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.4 x 1.7 cm, 0.425 kg

This is the first full study of one of the most popular and extensive forms of eighteenth-century literature, the voyage narrative. It illustrates the wide variety of published and unpublished material in this field, from self-satisfied official accounts to the little-known narratives of victims of the press-gang. It includes a survey of writings about the Pacific - including Cook's voyages and Bligh and The Bounty; there is a major new study of William Dampier, studies of writings about the slave-trade, and accounts of seamen and passengers, including Fielding and Mary Wollstonecraft. This is a book about writing, rather than exploration and adventure, dealing with the devious routes from the actuality of experience to the production of self-serving narratives. These are narratives of energy, vitality and interest, set within the context of British competitive sea-going imperialism.

1. Introduction
Part I: 2. William Dampier
Part II: 3. A disconsolate black albatross
4. The wreck of the Wager
5. Dr Hawkesworth at sea
6. Cook and the Forsters
7. The silence of Fletcher Christian
Part III: 8. The slave-trade
9. Passengers
10. Autobiographies
11. The unfortunates
12. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800 [DSBD]