DJ suffers negligible wear along edges. Cover edge also negligibly worn tail of spine. New book.
Additional Description
Publisher's Note: "Explorers search for the continent at the bottom of the globe in a thrilling story sure to appeal to fans of the bestselling 'Longitude'."
Industry reviews: "Estensen delivers a memorable book that seamlessly melds history, geopolitics, adventure, travel and natural history to tell of civilization's imaginative and physical forays into the mapmakers' southern Terra Incognita. For centuries, explorers and kings believed in a Great South Land, a fabled continent full of gold that reputedly encircled the lower reaches of the Southern Hemisphere and joined Africa's tip. Estensen tells the stirring story of how this myth propelled Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Arab and English seafarers vying for maritime supremacy and led to the discovery of Australia and Antarctica. Some elements of the story are well known: Portuguese explorers rounding Africa and reaching India; the forging of a mercantile empire from Goa to Indonesia by Afonso de Albuquerque, Portuguese governor of India; Magellan's 1519-1522 voyage around the world for Spain; Dutch navigator Abel Tasman's wide-arced circumnavigation of Australia in 1642; and, finally, Englishman James Cook's expedition to Tahiti in 1768-1770, during which he charted Australia's east coast. Chicago-born Estensen, who lives in Australia, draws on archival research and archeological finds in her zestful account of this historic quest, a remarkable tale of derring-do, incredible blunders, persistence, greed, mutiny and devotion to a mirage. Particularly exciting passages concern the medieval underground trade in precious maps and stolen information. Estensen's seaworthy narrative is intriguingly illustrated with maps, engravings, paintings and woodcuts. (Jan.)" - Publishers Weekly (11161998)
Estensen, who lives in Australia, takes the reader on a journey of 2000 years, beginning with a description of the geology and life of the last unknown continent.
Book Information
- Author : Estensen, Miriam
- Publisher : St. Martin
- Book Condition
: Near Fine - Jacket Condition : Near Fine
- Book Type : Hard Cover
- Published Location : New York
- Book Edition : First Edition
- Book Number : 0312217560
- ISBN : 0312217560