The Story of the Voyage
Sea-Narratives in Eighteenth-Century England

This is the first full study of one of the most popular and extensive forms of eighteenth-century literature, the voyage narrative. It illustrates the wide variety of published and unpublished material in this field, from self-satisfied official accounts to the little-known narratives of victims of the press-gang. It includes a survey of writings about the Pacific - including Cook's voyages and Bligh and The Bounty; there is a major new study of William Dampier, studies of writings about the slave-trade, and accounts of seamen and passengers, including Fielding and Mary Wollstonecraft. This is a book about writing, rather than exploration and adventure, dealing with the devious routes from the actuality of experience to the production of self-serving narratives. These are narratives of energy, vitality and interest, set within the context of British competitive sea-going imperialism.

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Product details

• Date Published: July 2004
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9780521604260
• length: 268 pages

• dimensions: 229 x 154 x 17 mm
• weight: 0.425kg
• contains: 11 b/w illus.
• availability: Available