Captain Cook's Apprentice

by Anthony Hill

This recent edition to the library is an excellent reconstruction of Cook’s 3 year journey through the life of Isaac Manley, a cabin boy on the Endeavour. Life aboard ship, the Venus observations on Tahiti, the frustrating delay caused by Great Barrier Reef damage, the circumnavigation of New Zealand, the diseases of Batavia all become very real. Learning to measure longitude and latitude, shipboard discipline and the Endeavours crew’s relationship with the indigenous populations add authenticity. An appendix of websites which give access to the journals of Cook and other navigators is a bonus for history buffs. Very highly recommended.
Mr Kim C.