Joseph Banks : A Life

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Joseph Banks, is narrative history at its finest. Published to rave reviews, it reveals Banks to be a man of enduring importance, and establishes itself as a classic of exploration. It is in his description of that arduous three-year voyage [on the ship Endeavor] that Mr. O'Brian is at his most brilliant. . . . He makes us understand what life within this wooden world was like, with its 94 male souls, two dogs, a cat and a goat.--Linda Colley, New York Times An absorbing, finely written overview, meant for the general reader, of a major figure in the history of natural science.--Frank Stewart, Los Angeles Times [This book is] the definitive biography of an extraordinary subject.--Robert Taylor, Boston Globe His skill at narrative and his extensive knowledge of the maritime history . . . give him a definite leg up in telling this . . . story.--Tom Clark, San Francisco Chronicle