Author: Tony Horwitz
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN-10: 0805065415
ISBN-13: 978-0805065411
Review:
We were having dinner at a friend's a while back when the topic of conversation got around to books (Kristie and Barb are in a book club together). When I was asked about books, I mentioned that I tend to read non-fiction more than fiction and as a result was handed Blue Latitudes.
As the subtitle suggests, this book is about following in the tracks of Captain Cook's three voyages around the world. The author and his clearly alcoholic friend spend about 18 months of their life visiting the sites that Captain Cook "discovered" and claimed in the name of England. When I think about his "Discoveries", I can't help but think that in virtually all cases, the places he discovered were already populated with people...for hundreds if not thousands of years. To me it is like "Discovering" an apartment building with tenants already inside, then claiming they owe you rent.
Despite my issue with colonialism, the book itself is quite good. Throughout the book, the author gives a historic telling of how Cook came to the lands he "discovered"; discussing many of the hardships along the way as well as delving into the character of Cook himself. Interspersed with this history is the author's own stories of visiting the places that cook visited, interviewing the indigenous peoples, and discussing the ramifications of Cook's visit in terms of history. While I felt that the author himself held Cook in extremely high esteem, he didn't pull any punches when including the interviews from those who's lives were inevitably affected by Cook.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to those who are interested in a bit of history, and the fallout from that history. Give it a go, you may like it.
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