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The Last Voyage: Captain Cook's Lost Diary
This fictional journal reveals Cook's innermost thoughts and doubts during his ill-fated final voyage, which ended violently during a native uprising in Hawaii
- GenresFiction
253 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1979
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60 people want to read
About the author
Hammond Innes
105 books107 followersRalph Hammond Innes was an English novelist who wrote over 30 novels, as well as children's and travel books.He was awarded a C.B.E. (Commander, Order of the British Empire) in 1978. The World Mystery Convention honoured Innes with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bouchercon XXIV awards in Omaha, Nebraska, Oct, 1993.
Innes was born in Horsham, Sussex, and educated at the Cranbrook School in Kent. He left in 1931 to work as a journalist, initially with the Financial Times (at the time called the Financial News). The Doppelganger, his first novel, was published in 1937. In WWII he served in the Royal Artillery, eventually rising to the rank of Major. During the war, a number of his books were published, including Wreckers Must Breathe (1940), The Trojan Horse (1941) and Attack Alarm (1941); the last of which was based on his experiences as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Battle of Britain at RAF Kenley. After being discharged in 1946, he worked full-time as a writer, achieving a number of early successes.
His novels are notable for a fine attention to accurate detail in descriptions of places, such as in Air Bridge (1951), set partially at RAF Gatow, RAF Membury after its closure and RAF Wunstorf during the Berlin Airlift.
Innes went on to produce books in a regular sequence, with six months of travel and research followed by six months of writing. Many of his works featured events at sea. His output decreased in the 1960s, but was still substantial. He became interested in ecological themes. He continued writing until just before his death. His last novel was Delta Connection (1996).
Unusually for the thriller genre, Innes' protagonists were often not "heroes" in the typical sense, but ordinary men suddenly thrust into extreme situations by circumstance. Often, this involved being placed in a hostile environment (the Arctic, the open sea, deserts), or unwittingly becoming involved in a larger conflict or conspiracy. The protagonist generally is forced to rely on his own wits and making best use of limited resources, rather than the weapons and gadgetry commonly used by thriller writers.
Four of his early novels were made into films: Snowbound (1948)from The Lonely Skier (1947), Hell Below Zero (1954) from The White South (1949), Campbell's Kingdom (1957), and The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). His 1973 novel Golden Soak was adapted into a six-part television series in 1979.
Innes was born in Horsham, Sussex, and educated at the Cranbrook School in Kent. He left in 1931 to work as a journalist, initially with the Financial Times (at the time called the Financial News). The Doppelganger, his first novel, was published in 1937. In WWII he served in the Royal Artillery, eventually rising to the rank of Major. During the war, a number of his books were published, including Wreckers Must Breathe (1940), The Trojan Horse (1941) and Attack Alarm (1941); the last of which was based on his experiences as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Battle of Britain at RAF Kenley. After being discharged in 1946, he worked full-time as a writer, achieving a number of early successes.
His novels are notable for a fine attention to accurate detail in descriptions of places, such as in Air Bridge (1951), set partially at RAF Gatow, RAF Membury after its closure and RAF Wunstorf during the Berlin Airlift.
Innes went on to produce books in a regular sequence, with six months of travel and research followed by six months of writing. Many of his works featured events at sea. His output decreased in the 1960s, but was still substantial. He became interested in ecological themes. He continued writing until just before his death. His last novel was Delta Connection (1996).
Unusually for the thriller genre, Innes' protagonists were often not "heroes" in the typical sense, but ordinary men suddenly thrust into extreme situations by circumstance. Often, this involved being placed in a hostile environment (the Arctic, the open sea, deserts), or unwittingly becoming involved in a larger conflict or conspiracy. The protagonist generally is forced to rely on his own wits and making best use of limited resources, rather than the weapons and gadgetry commonly used by thriller writers.
Four of his early novels were made into films: Snowbound (1948)from The Lonely Skier (1947), Hell Below Zero (1954) from The White South (1949), Campbell's Kingdom (1957), and The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). His 1973 novel Golden Soak was adapted into a six-part television series in 1979.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 1, 2021
Returning to Hammond Innes after almost two years I had forgotten just how much of a pleasure it is to see him develop a tale of adventure and do so in exacting nautical precision. Such is the case in this, his fictional account of Captain James Cook's "lost" diary of his final voyage. So authentic does Innes make it seem that I kept thinking it was real. And it put me in mind of the wonderful 1986 Australian mini-series, Captain James Cook. All the way through reading this, I could not help but hear Keith Michell's voice in his portrayal of Captain Cook expressing all the doubts, anger, frustration, and amazement that Cook's voyages engendered. This was an enjoyable experience. Hammond himself is close to the subject, not only an adventure novelist of the first rank but a credible seaman and master.
October 31, 2019
Magnificent work, a terrific telling of Captain Cook's final, ill-fated voyage. In this book, Innes proposes that Cook wrote a second, more personal diary for his own thoughts and fears which he kept from the public and was lost over time.
This last voyage was an attempt to find the northwest passage across the north of America, which Cook doubts exists. His previous exploration effort to discover a major continent in the South Pacific was such a success he's out mythbusting again.
The details of sea life, captaining a vessel, the demands of controlling men's passions and baser interests, discipline, and the various problems of simply sailling a small ship around 2/3rds of the planet's surface are well told here with humor, intelligence, and fun. But in the end, it is a dark and sad story in which a very great man was lost to the world through some stupid misunderstandings and human corruption.
This last voyage was an attempt to find the northwest passage across the north of America, which Cook doubts exists. His previous exploration effort to discover a major continent in the South Pacific was such a success he's out mythbusting again.
The details of sea life, captaining a vessel, the demands of controlling men's passions and baser interests, discipline, and the various problems of simply sailling a small ship around 2/3rds of the planet's surface are well told here with humor, intelligence, and fun. But in the end, it is a dark and sad story in which a very great man was lost to the world through some stupid misunderstandings and human corruption.
April 26, 2021
A fictional account of the diary of Capt. James Cook, who was killed in 1779 on the island of Hawaii. Cook was a great navigator and explorer. He had to find a way without the help of decent maps and only rudimentary navigational equipment. Hammond Innes produced a very credible account of the last voyage of one of the great explorers of the world, a very interesting read.
February 16, 2026
When I picked up this book it was outside an old book shop in a trade and I was intrigued as I love naval history. Upon opening it I did not read the forward and therefore the first couple of chapters made no sense. I didn’t understand the way the book was written. After I went back and understood the book really came to life.
I loved how I understood and got a personal understanding of James Cook and not a more narrative description. The background of his life explained through his words made it feel more real.
Upon his voyage I was apprehensive as I couldn’t quite grasp the naval terminology and after reading more it became apparent it is a whole new world. His views on discovery and the way he saw a never ending world and perhaps connections between islands and land masses that we now know as continents is inspiring. A dream and an imagination that opened up the geographical world as we see it today.
When it comes to the opinion of the natives it allowed moral opinions to arise, maybe he was too harsh in his behaviour and maybe he could have been more lenient with some punishments. His overall relationship with all pacific nations showed that no matter how far away from England he was he maintained that he is representing his nation and showed his value as a seaman.
His untimely death was in all way preventable however we will never know the true cause and events that transpired. My personal opinion is that his confidence in his elevation as a “god “ made his judges rash and hasty. He should’ve been more careful and noticed how there mannerisms changed upon his return to the island. The marines perhaps did not do there duty and protect there commander but never the less the whole situation could’ve been prevented.
His death will be spoken throughout history however his discoveries will overshadow that fact.
He was a true naval master
This book maintains the story of the man he was and the values he stood for.
I loved how I understood and got a personal understanding of James Cook and not a more narrative description. The background of his life explained through his words made it feel more real.
Upon his voyage I was apprehensive as I couldn’t quite grasp the naval terminology and after reading more it became apparent it is a whole new world. His views on discovery and the way he saw a never ending world and perhaps connections between islands and land masses that we now know as continents is inspiring. A dream and an imagination that opened up the geographical world as we see it today.
When it comes to the opinion of the natives it allowed moral opinions to arise, maybe he was too harsh in his behaviour and maybe he could have been more lenient with some punishments. His overall relationship with all pacific nations showed that no matter how far away from England he was he maintained that he is representing his nation and showed his value as a seaman.
His untimely death was in all way preventable however we will never know the true cause and events that transpired. My personal opinion is that his confidence in his elevation as a “god “ made his judges rash and hasty. He should’ve been more careful and noticed how there mannerisms changed upon his return to the island. The marines perhaps did not do there duty and protect there commander but never the less the whole situation could’ve been prevented.
His death will be spoken throughout history however his discoveries will overshadow that fact.
He was a true naval master
This book maintains the story of the man he was and the values he stood for.
January 14, 2021
This supposedly rediscovered private diary of Cook’s final voyage aboard the Resolution to the Bering Strait to find the NW Passage and his ultimate demise in Hawaii in 1779 is heavily based (with verbatim extracts) on Cook’s official journal. It has some interesting moments but it ends up just a little too bland and the characters fail to leap off the page. The early part of the voyage to the Pacific and the several months in the islands is better covered than the too-brief northern sojourn. Earnest, but non-fiction accounts of Cook's last voyage do it much better
October 21, 2025
Interesting fictionalised account of Captain Cook's third voyage around the globe starting in England and ending with his death in Hawaii. His secret mission was to find the northwest passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. He didn't find it but the three years of the journey are shared in this diary compiled from his official journals and the imagination of Hammond Innes.
I learned a lot and have a renewed admiration for the man and all the early explorers.
I learned a lot and have a renewed admiration for the man and all the early explorers.
April 13, 2024
i really enjoyed this book, well written, fun to read, with so much interesting information,ill probably reread it one day, top book if oyu love history and naval adventure
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews