The story of Joseph Banks, the maritime explorer and co-founder of Australia, this book reveals Banks to be a major figure in the history of natural science. Describing his arduous three-year voyage on the ship "Endeavour", it provides a graphic account of life in this wooden world.



One of our greatest writers about the sea has written an engrossing story of one of history's most legendary maritime explorers. Patrick O'Brian's biography of naturalist, explorer and co-founder of Australia, Joseph Banks, is narrative history at its finest. Published to rave reviews, it reveals Banks to be a man of enduring importance, and establishes itself as a classic of exploration. "It is in his description of that arduous three-year voyage [on the ship Endeavor] that Mr. O'Brian is at his most brilliant...He makes us understand what life within this wooden world was like, with its 94 male souls, two dogs, a cat and a goat."--Linda Colley, New York Times "An absorbing, finely written overview, meant for the general reader, of a major figure in the history of natural science."--Frank Stewart, Los Angeles Times "[This book is] the definitive biography of an extraordinary subject."--Robert Taylor, Boston Globe "His skill at narrative and his extensive knowledge of the maritime history ...give him a definite leg up in telling this ...story."--Tom Clark, San Francisco Chronicle