Voyages Of Delusion
"The Search for the Northwest Passage in the Age of Reason"
By Glyn Williams
Published by Harper Collins Publishers: London
2002 1st Edition 1st Pressing
With Original Dustjacket
"Voyages of Delusion recounts the extraordinary eighteenth-century search for a navigable Northwest Passage through the frozen seas of Arctic North America. At the very height of the Enlightenment—an age supposedly governed by observation, reason and scientific enquiry—explorers, merchants and governments repeatedly pursued what Glyn Williams describes as a maritime philosopher's stone: a direct route from Hudson Bay to the riches of the Pacific.
Drawing upon extensive historical research, Williams follows a succession of ambitious expeditions and the mixture of courage, error, commercial rivalry and geographic fantasy that propelled them. He examines the secretive influence of the Hudson's Bay Company, the schemes of obsessive promoter Arthur Dobbs, the theories of mapmaker Philippe Buache, the doomed expedition of James Knight and Captain James Cook's ultimately fruitless search for the passage from its Pacific approaches.
Richly illustrated with period portraits, maps and expedition material, the book is both an absorbing history of Arctic exploration and a study of how supposedly rational men could remain captive to speculation, incomplete evidence and the promise of fame and fortune. Presented here in its original illustrated dustjacket, this is an appealing volume for collectors and readers interested in maritime history, cartography, polar exploration and the great voyages of discovery."
Light wear to dustjacket. Binding is strong, covers are firm and secure. There are no loose pages. No inscriptions. Slight yellowing to some pages otherwise a nice, clean copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 22.5cm x 15cm x 4cm - 467 Pages Approx.
