The Sea Journal

Book excerpt: In this remarkable collection of illustrated private journals, log books, letters, and diaries, The Sea Journal follows the voyages of intrepid sailors. This captivating book contains firsthand records by a great range of travelers of their encounters with strange creatures and new lands—full of dangers and delights, pleasures and perils. The Sea Journal includes historical figures like Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian who sailed with Magellan; Tupia, a Tahitian who joined Captain Cook's first voyage; buccaneer Bartholomew Sharp, who menaced the Spanish Main; and Jeanne Baret, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. • With 60+ biographical portraits accompanied by colorful sketches and maps, each story unfolds in an exciting way. • Explore adventures from the frozen polar wastes to the South Seas paradise islands. • Readers meet a fascinating cast of real characters: officers and crew, cooks and whalers, surgeons and artists, explorers and adventurers. A collection of rare and exquisite firsthand records of ocean voyages around the world and in different ages, The Sea Journal provides a fascinating insight into exploration and adventure at sea. The records—sourced from libraries, archives, and private collections, as well as family heirlooms, and assembled together for the first time—evoke the thrill of discovery and the spirit of the sea. • A gorgeous compilation of sketches by travelers and explorers of many nationalities and eras • A wonderful gift for history buffs, map enthusiasts, artists, journal-keepers, coastal tourists and residents, people interested in the sea and exploration, and anyone with an adventurer's spirit • Great for those who enjoyed Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman; Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery by David Attenborough, Susan Owens, Martin Clayton, and Rea Alexandratos; and Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book Of The Sea by Terry Breverton