Over the weekend in Vancouver, I just finished reading Blue Latitudes: Bolding Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz. A book recommended to me by friends, it’s a well-written and enjoyable cross-over between 18th century marine history, following Cook’s adventures through the Pacific on three separate trips over a decade, and 20th century travelogue as Mr. Horwitz and his Aussie travel companion Roger follow in the footsteps of Captain Cook and visit the islands and lands visited and influenced by Cook’s explorations.If you like Bill Bryson’s travel writing, or have a strong interest in the early mariners, or you’re just looking for a strong bit of historical writing mixed with a large dash of wit and charm, this is an excellent read.
For me, I took away from it an enormous amount of respect for the exploits and determination of Cook and his crew under arduous travel conditions, and also a strengthened conviction that the travels of today need not be burdened by technological wonders (e.g. wrist-watch GPS and sat phones). Considering that his travels were executed with early chronographs, navigating primarily by sextant and the skies, the accuracy of Cook’s nautical charts and reckoning are something to continuously admire.
A current running underneath most of the book is the impact that Western exploration had on the “discovered” lands – both positive and negative. It is the commonality of all people, of our basic needs and desires, that rings true in the book. The ability of the explorers to fairly quickly befriend and enter trading relationships with native peoples from all of the islands visited, and carry on peacefully over repeated visits, suggests that getting along together is a lot easier than many think in today’s world.
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