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The Life of Matthew Flinders
"This comprehensive biography of one of AustraliaÆs greatest explorers, Matthew Flinders, details everything from his first sight of Terra Australis at 17 to receiving command of HMS Investigator to explore and chart the entire Australian coast years later. Compellingly written, the biography follows FlindersÆs high adventure with obstacles including a rotting ship in the perilous, little-known labyrinth of the Barrier Reef, bouts of scurvy and dysentery, shipwreck and imprisonment, and a nine-year absence from a beloved wife."
538 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 10, 2021
My area of interest in reading has for most of my adult life been maritime exploration. My personal library on this subject is pretty sound in substance. This book really has got to be one of the BEST and most enjoyable reads to date. I have always been fascinated by the achievements of Matthew Flinders, but thanks to the forensic quality detail by the author, the man becomes fully fleshed before you. I get excited by a book with a bibliography as extensive as this, because you know there will be minimum conjecture and maximum fact. Truth is stranger than fiction, and so the story of this brilliant but mortal man reads like a melodrama that has been over-written. In the end, it became un-put-downable, and I marvelled at how the author succeeded in resisting making any judgement or tinging the drama with bias. Before the final chapter, I was fairly confident I had a clear idea of who Matthew Flinders really was, and for this reason I was really pleased to read the Conclusion by the author was in sync with what I had gleaned from the biography. The pleasing aspect for me is that someone who achieved as much as Flinders, while paying an extraordinarily high personal price, with so little reward deserves for his story to be told well. I believe the author has written a biography worthy of the subject. Can I give this book 10 stars?
December 28, 2020
A nice biography of Matthew Flinders' life and times 1774-1814). It is a nice printed book and a nice audio book.
Flinders was involved in several voyages of discovery between 1791 and 1803, the most famous of which are the circumnavigation around Australia and an earlier expedition where he and George Bass confirmed that Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was an island. While returning to England in 1803, Flinders was arrested by the French governor at Isle de France (Mauritius). Although Britain and France were at war, Flinders thought the scientific nature of his work would ensure safe passage, but he remained under arrest for more than six years. In captivity, he recorded details of his voyages for future publication, and put forward his rationale for naming the new continent 'Australia', as an umbrella term for New Holland and New South Wales – a suggestion taken up later by Governor Macquarie. Flinders' health had suffered, however, and although he returned to England in 1810, he did not live to see the success of his widely praised book and atlas: "A Voyage to Terra Australis".
Flinders was involved in several voyages of discovery between 1791 and 1803, the most famous of which are the circumnavigation around Australia and an earlier expedition where he and George Bass confirmed that Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was an island. While returning to England in 1803, Flinders was arrested by the French governor at Isle de France (Mauritius). Although Britain and France were at war, Flinders thought the scientific nature of his work would ensure safe passage, but he remained under arrest for more than six years. In captivity, he recorded details of his voyages for future publication, and put forward his rationale for naming the new continent 'Australia', as an umbrella term for New Holland and New South Wales – a suggestion taken up later by Governor Macquarie. Flinders' health had suffered, however, and although he returned to England in 1810, he did not live to see the success of his widely praised book and atlas: "A Voyage to Terra Australis".
July 30, 2019
Apportioning the adequate amount of pages to Flinders achievements and life would be difficult. Enstensen does well to tell one of my heroes stories, as to bring new information and interest into this man and his time and circumstance.
I admire those who explored the country I live in, but also why they explored. This book enlightens the reader into what drove Matthew Flinders and how he constructed his own destiny with dedication, perseverance and passion. The latter half of the book reflects just how the events on Mauritius effected him, constructed through letters, which in itself does become quite tedious. It still offers up important and interesting reading and insights.
Matthew flinders work is impressive and should be be seen and reflected on as such. How he accomplished this work is no less memorable and in the time it was done, should also be revered.
I admire those who explored the country I live in, but also why they explored. This book enlightens the reader into what drove Matthew Flinders and how he constructed his own destiny with dedication, perseverance and passion. The latter half of the book reflects just how the events on Mauritius effected him, constructed through letters, which in itself does become quite tedious. It still offers up important and interesting reading and insights.
Matthew flinders work is impressive and should be be seen and reflected on as such. How he accomplished this work is no less memorable and in the time it was done, should also be revered.
February 11, 2010
Very well written & researched.The only boring part of the book was his 6yrs captivity on Mauritius....but then I suppose it must have dragged on for him at the time.
I'm glad I read it.A very good insight into life at that time.
I'm glad I read it.A very good insight into life at that time.
February 14, 2012
dad lent me this. really interesting moment in history - fun to imagine. really badly written though. this is my current getting-to-sleep reading and it works a treat.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews