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, 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 It illustrates the wide variety of published and unpublished material in this field, from self-satisfied official accounts to the little-known narratives of victims of the press-gang.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]