First published 2018
Captain Philip Parker King led HMS Adventure and HMS Beagle on surveying missions along South America's uncharted coastline from 1826 to 1836. King chronicles the decade-long expedition that produced detailed maps of previously unexplored waters. His crews battled fierce storms and navigated treacherous terrain while charting unknown regions. The voyages pushed both vessels and sailors to their limits as they faced threats from mutinous crew members and relentless natural forces. King draws from his firsthand command experience to document the realities of maritime exploration during an age when enormous ocean areas remained blank on charts. His narrative weaves together accounts of breathtaking coastal scenery with the persistent perils that shadowed their cartographic work. This book delivers an unvarnished look at early 19th-century naval surveying operations through the eyes of the expedition commander who navigated these perilous South American waters.
Genres: history, travel, adventure, non-fiction, 19th-century, naval-history
Vibes: atmospheric, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-hand-account, man-vs-nature
Setting: South America
Period: 1826-1836
662 pages · Paperback · Franklin Classics