America's first frontier was not the West; it was the sea—and no one writes more eloquently about that watery wilderness than Nathaniel Philbr...
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reviews
Jan 28, 2011
John
rated it: 
A fantastic historical account of an important, but little-remembered chapter in American exploration of the South Seas and Antarctica. It reads more like a novel, and in fact, the voyage itself was the inspiration for a number of important American novels--notably "Moby Dick" and Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym." I find Philbrick's storytelling as compelling as his history, but he's also careful to document every important source and reference, so serious histori
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Apr 23, 2010
David
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This could have been a great book: it was a history of the "United States Exploring Expedition" of 1838 to 1842, which was a squadron of four ships that set out to explore Antarctica, the Pacific Northwest and islands of the Pacific like Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii. Led by Charles Wilkes, the "U.S. Ex Ex" as it came to be known collected thousands of specimens, mapped accurately the mouth of the Columbia River and numerous Pacific islands, (the Marines used Wilkes' 1840 map for
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Jan 31, 2010
Jrobertus
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This book describes an American voyage of discovery, "Ex ex" carried out from 1834 to 1842. Six ships sailed to Antarctica, mapped many islands in the south Pacific, and charted future American territory in Puget Sound and the Columbia river. The data and artifacts eventually found their way to the newly founded Smithsonian. The real story, though, is about the Ex Ex leader Charles wilkes. It appears his drive did force the expedition to make many scientic and navigation successes,
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Jan 05, 2010
Tneeno
rated it:
Sea of Glory is a very good read, not only as an exciting tale of seafaring and exploration, but also as a cautionary tale. It tells the story of the US Exploring Expedition to Antarctica and the Pacific in 1838-42. The head of the expedition, Commander Wilkes, was a classic toxic boss, and was the storm center of a mass of intrigues and infighting that plagued the expedition from Day 1. I strongly recommend it, not only for people in the military, but for corporate executives. Wilkes' massive m
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Oct 16, 2009
Marv
rated it:
I like non-fiction audio books. The Sea of Glory is the telling of one of America's little known epic adventures. By the early 19th century most of the major land masses of the world had been discovered, the American revolution had succeeded, the eastern seaboard was well populated and Americans were pushing westward into and across the plains toward the west. England and France were the major sea going nations of the world, and the U.S. felt the pressure to "get in the game" of disc
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Sep 15, 2010
Dad
rated it:
My wife bought this book for me as a birthday present. She must have had a heck of a time finding this kind of book because I'm such a finicky reader. If a book doesn't grab me right away I have difficult time continuing. I'll only go so far and quit.
What caught my attention was that this exploring expedition is not well known. It seems that we Americans are more focused on he European explorers Magellan, Columbus, Vasco de Gama, etc.
I'm only at the beginning of this tru More...
What caught my attention was that this exploring expedition is not well known. It seems that we Americans are more focused on he European explorers Magellan, Columbus, Vasco de Gama, etc.
I'm only at the beginning of this tru More...
Dec 09, 2010
Steven
rated it: 
This book tells the story of a little-known scientific expedition led by a monomaniacal officer that should have failed but instead located the continent of the Antarctic and made incredible discoveries.
Wilkes, the leader of the expedition, was a political appointee with none of the right skills. He had not a one of the personal skills that led to the successes of Lewis and Clark. He alienated and regularly flogged the sailors serving on his voyage. When he did not receive the promo More...
Wilkes, the leader of the expedition, was a political appointee with none of the right skills. He had not a one of the personal skills that led to the successes of Lewis and Clark. He alienated and regularly flogged the sailors serving on his voyage. When he did not receive the promo More...
Jul 14, 2010
Diane
rated it:
Not what I expected. This is the story of America's first real sea exploration but it really is the story of the voyage's nearly deranged captain, Charles Wilkes. That was interesting enough but I was disappointed that so little of the incredible scientific aspect of the voyage was discussed. Of the 5 discs, less than half of one is devoted to a discussion of the actual scientific findings. And those were incredible and important. In addition, there were also linguistic, anthropologic and soci
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Feb 21, 2010
Kathryn
rated it:
I am almost sorry to have finished reading this book today, as I had a great time reading it. I had read the author’s previous book, In the Heart of the Sea : The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, and had loved it, so when I saw this book in the used bookstore, I purchased it. It deals with a voyage and an era of exploration barely known to the general public, but which was instrumental in bringing science to the attention of the American public. Why the general public did not hear much about the
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Jul 18, 2011
Robert
rated it:
Once upon a time, the USA saw itself a nation of doers, not thinkers. But that view was changing, and so they decided to go exploring - something Europeans had been doing for a while now, in the name of science and conquest. A bit late to the game, there was only one area of the world left to explore: the far South, where, rumours had it, a continent might be found.
Exploration was not enough: there had to be usable, pragmatic aims. These included charting hundreds of Pacific islands an More...
Exploration was not enough: there had to be usable, pragmatic aims. These included charting hundreds of Pacific islands an More...
Nov 22, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is a fascinating look at exploration, the United States in its early years, and personalities on a 4-year voyage. Heads up--it's no picnic. This Exploration Expedition (called the Ex Ex for short) went to Cape Horn, Antarctica (in hopes of discovering whether it was a continent), Australia, back to Antarctica, the South Seas, Hawaii, the northerwestern coast of what is now the United States (Oregon, WAshignton), then across to Japan and around Africa and back to New York. On a mission to
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Feb 18, 2009
Peter
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This is a great book - about an incredible exploration, just a few years after Lewis & Clark, that no one's ever heard of. On the one hand, Wilkes was a terrible manager, leader, and motivator -- and the result is we've all forgotten him, when he had a chance to change how we see the world. On the other hand, the only way to have succeeded in this expedition might have been to be a terrible manager, leader, and motivator.
This is far better than "Mayflower," which really isn More...
This is far better than "Mayflower," which really isn More...
Feb 06, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
A little remembered but crucially important venture sponsored and supported by the young US Government. It's largest and most costly scientific investment until the space race of the 1960's.
Philbrick does an amazing job of conveying the personalities, the events, the luck (both good and bad), and extraordinary dynamics of this incredible, true-life adventure. Extensive and thorough notes, huge bibliography. His well-reasoned conclusion will surprise you!
For Philadelphians, th More...
Philbrick does an amazing job of conveying the personalities, the events, the luck (both good and bad), and extraordinary dynamics of this incredible, true-life adventure. Extensive and thorough notes, huge bibliography. His well-reasoned conclusion will surprise you!
For Philadelphians, th More...
Mar 09, 2010
Thomas
rated it:
Sea of Glory, like Nathaniel Philbrick's other better known book In the Heart of the Sea The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, is a tale of America's Golden Age of Whaling - though here he focuses on the Exploits of the United States Exploring Expedition. The Exploring Expedition (or Ex. Ex. ) is charged with mapping the South Pacific in a time when no accurate maps or charts existed for that part of the world.
It's a gripping tale of the amazing hardships and risks associated with the More...
It's a gripping tale of the amazing hardships and risks associated with the More...
Dec 16, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
I upgraded the star rating on this review because of the way that this book stayed with me long after I had read it. That tells me just how good it really was.
I loved the way the author brought alive this great, but unknown American 19th century voyage of discovery which belongs in the same category as the voyages of Captain Cook and that of the Beagle.
What makes the book so rich is that the author could draw on the diaries of articulate officers, so you get a deeper, mor More...
I loved the way the author brought alive this great, but unknown American 19th century voyage of discovery which belongs in the same category as the voyages of Captain Cook and that of the Beagle.
What makes the book so rich is that the author could draw on the diaries of articulate officers, so you get a deeper, mor More...
Jul 31, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Good book about a little-known, but very important, expedition in US history. My sister, who is a biologist, had never heard of this journey, although she was familiar with many of the scientific results that came out of it.
The book covers the lengthy and political process of organizing the expedition, the trip itself, and the conflict that happened once they got back. The book skips back and forth between being a narrative and a character study. Some portions of the trip are covere More...
The book covers the lengthy and political process of organizing the expedition, the trip itself, and the conflict that happened once they got back. The book skips back and forth between being a narrative and a character study. Some portions of the trip are covere More...
Nov 01, 2011
Steve
rated it:
I hate to admit ignorance, but this book related a piece of American history I had never known before — the U.S. Exploring Expedition to Antarctica from 1838-1842. It was major news at the time and the ships and crew were celebrated as heroes, yet this expedition is largely forgotten today. That puts Sea of Glory into a special category of my favorite types of history books, the kind that inform and entertain, while also surprising you. It's a rare history book that I can dive into and not know
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May 22, 2009
Brooke
rated it:
Philbrick is one of my favorite authors. Like McCullough, he has a way of making history come alive. My roommate said it was entertaining to be in the same room with me while I was reading because I kept making comments/sounds, "Really? Interesting!....What? No way!...*GASP!*"
I'd never heard of the U.S. Ex.Ex.--what a fascinating part of US History to be missing out on! Sea voyage around the world, Antartic discovery/exploration, surveying of the Polynesian islands. Perha More...
I'd never heard of the U.S. Ex.Ex.--what a fascinating part of US History to be missing out on! Sea voyage around the world, Antartic discovery/exploration, surveying of the Polynesian islands. Perha More...
May 07, 2009
Linda
rated it:
Bummer! Except for a few books exchanged among English-speaking friends here in China, all the books I read are audios I downloaded from a local library when I was visiting in the States in February. Somehow I didn't download the last CD to this book so I've been left hanging and can't finish it. But these 19th century U.S. explorations were fascinating; something I knew little about but yet comparable to putting the first man on the moon as far as discoveries go. In spite of a major persona
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Nov 15, 2011
Scott
rated it:
A tad baffling at times with all the nautical jargon, Sea of Glory charts the Ex Ex, a four year journey around the world that is little known, yet provided the basis and beginnings of what would become the Smithsonian Institute. The incredible advancements in science were overshadowed by subsequent events (westward expansion, the Gold Rush). The book chronicles the voyage but mainly the paranoia, vanity and extreme vindictiveness of its leader, Charles Wilkes, who is a case study of how to be a
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Mar 27, 2011
Ken
rated it:
This is a tale of oceangoing adventure and discovery with a twist. The twist is that the leader of the expedition, instead of being brave and fair and highly competent, is a coward, an egomaniac, and a terrible seaman. This is the source of a lot of conflict between Wilkes and his men, and conflict certainly makes for interesting reading.
In the end, we confront the question: would the expedition have been better served with a more conventional (Cook-like) captain? Or did Wilkes’ self-a More...
In the end, we confront the question: would the expedition have been better served with a more conventional (Cook-like) captain? Or did Wilkes’ self-a More...
Apr 01, 2009
Mike
rated it:
This would be a captivating story in any telling, but in the hands of Nathaniel Philbrick it becomes an original epic. I am most impressed with his absolute mastery of the subject in which he writes, which allows him to relate a fascinating adventure. I love these kind of well-told seagoing expeditions. This ranks only slightly behind the outstanding "In the Heart of the Sea" by the same author, which I read first. The expedition's venture along the unexplored frozen Antarctic coast
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Jan 04, 2012
Kathy
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Exciting true story of the U.S. Ex. Ex., a six ship squadron that sailed around the world, surveying islands in the southern Pacific, Antarctica, and the Columbia River. Featuring a flawed, vain, but ultimately determined and successful commander; an articulate and disillusioned lieutenant's secret diary; cannibals and island massacres; shipwrecks and other near disasters.
Favorite excerpts:
Page 133, from Wm. Reynolds journal observations:
"In the pages o More...
Favorite excerpts:
Page 133, from Wm. Reynolds journal observations:
"In the pages o More...
Jun 04, 2011
Linda
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The U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842 should be as well known to Americans as the journeys of Lewis and Clark, but it returned to New York amid courts-martial, controversy, and disgrace. Although the expedition accomplished many of its scientific goals, the trip was seriously marred because of its commander, Lt. Charles Wilkes. One of the goals of the Ex. Ex (as it was called) was to map areas of the Pacific Ocean because whalers had to go farther and farther to find whales. They were al
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Mar 23, 2009
Matthew
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As a work of naval history, I prefer In the Heart of the Sea, but as a study of the effects of deep-seated psychological defects on leadership, Sea of Glory is a fascinating study. I struggle with Lt. Charles Wilkes, commander of the U.S Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842, charged with mapping previously unexplored portions of Antarctica, Polynesia, and the Pacific Northwest. He's a man beset by his own demons. But to his credit, Philbrick gives us a nuanced portrait of a man out of his depth,
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Mar 12, 2008
Tony
rated it: 
Life is full of paradoxes. My life is no different. I wanted to fly helicopters when I was a kid, but, it turns out, I don't actually like to fly (I enjoyed sitting in earth-bound helicopters, though). Even more bizarre, I love and am captivated by the sea, sailing, nautical history, etc., but, I get dreadfully seasick. I'll spare you the deatils of the many trips I have taken at sea, each time prefaced by my father's pronouncement that this time, I would have "outgrown it." Suffi
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Feb 12, 2008
Nancy
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Synopsis:
The US Exploring Expedition (the Ex.Ex. as it is referred to throughout the book)was at the time one of the most extensive projects undertaken by the United States. However, it went largely uncelebrated at its conclusion for many reasons -- changes in politics in Washington DC; the drive west by settlers for gold & land; changes in the purpose and scope of the Navy itself -- but largely because of one man, Charles Wilkes, the leader of the expedition.
Wilkes was s More...
Nov 23, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
This was a two-month read aloud to the older children, and worth every minute. As a family, we had been unacquainted with much of this story.
Telling the tale of Lieutenant Wilkes as commander of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, we were gripped by the drama and more than one listener was moved to righteous indignation.
Yes, there are sections of a mundane nature, but they are interspersed with well-written prose in such a way that the book, overall, is a decently written look int
Telling the tale of Lieutenant Wilkes as commander of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, we were gripped by the drama and more than one listener was moved to righteous indignation.
Yes, there are sections of a mundane nature, but they are interspersed with well-written prose in such a way that the book, overall, is a decently written look int
Oct 27, 2008
Mike
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Once again, Nathaniel Philbrick has delivered an exciting read on the U.S. Exploring Expedition and its imperious commander, Charles Wilkes. As written in the book, there are various reasons why this almost four year expedition in the 1840's is hardly known today; it was hardly known 20 years after it was completed!
Philbrick takes us on the Ex.Ex.'s journey down to the shores of Antarctica, up to the coral atolls in the south Pacific, the volcanic islands of Hawai'i and finally the the Pac More...
Philbrick takes us on the Ex.Ex.'s journey down to the shores of Antarctica, up to the coral atolls in the south Pacific, the volcanic islands of Hawai'i and finally the the Pac More...
Jun 15, 2008
Michael
rated it:
A little thin on the historical aspects. Philbrick clearly chose to take a more psychological take on the relationship between the leader of the exploration and the crew, but when we get to the last leg of the journey (repeated in the epilogue as "one of the most important findings of the entire expedition"), we get literally a paragraph on the findings. One of the supposedly key findings was an overland journey from Puget Sound to San Francisco bay, but there's no mention of what actu
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