The Conquest of the Ocean: An Illustrated History of Seafaring

Gr 8 Up—Lavery offers 5000 years of ocean history in this lavishly illustrated and readable work. Although stating that the oceans can never be conquered, he narrates many stories of bravery, perseverance, and greed that resulted in the exploration of unknown worlds. Beginning with the first sailors of Polynesia, the Mediterranean, China, and Arabia, and covering oceangoing activities until modern times, this book has a vast reach. Much of the text consists of first-person narratives, often personal and exciting in the telling of great dangers and adventures. Included are discussions of the great explorations of the New World; the unbelievable travels of the extraordinary 15th-century Chinese seaman Zhen He, covering 30,000 miles in a flotilla totaling 27,000 men; the vast Viking journeys; and the use of naval power as a force for conquest. In the modern era, luxury ocean liners, America's Cup races, and World Wars are reviewed as well as the vast oversea migrations of the 19th century. The voices quoted give substance to the facts and figures outlining victory and loss. Piracy is a constant theme; whether for personal gain or in the employ of monarchs, the oceans were fair game for theft and plunder. Fittingly the last chapter relates to the treacherous Somali pirates of today. Photos, reproductions, diagrams, or maps appear on almost every page. The well-researched and popularly presented text is aided by an ample glossary, bibliography, and index. Useful for research and enjoyable for leisure reading for students interested in naval history, exploration, and adventure.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY