THE BOOK OF EXPLORATION

Author: Ray Howgego

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Year published: 2009

Pagination: Large Format. 360pp c170 illustrations

Condition: Fine in like dw

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Before the turn of the 19th century, ventures into uncharted lands required material or spiritual reward to justify the perils of shipwreck and hostile natives, and dangers yet unknown. Until recent times exploration for the sake of knowledge alone was rare, and mostly undertaken by intrepid traders, gold seekers and valiant Christian missionaries. In this book the author selects more than 150 of those he considers to be the most influential and unusual journeys of discovery, setting each firmly in its historical context. Each event is described in a page of text with a full page illustration facing.