What do you think?
Rate this book
James Cook #1
The Secret Life of James Cook
'A very enjoyable book.' The Otago Daily Times
"Lay has written a superb series of novels, which get under the skin of the protagonist and puts us aboard ship during his mesmerising voyages. Fans of Maturin and Aubrey will enjoy the relationship between Cook and Joseph Banks... The author deserves praise for the scale of his research and scope of his narrative." Richard Foreman.
Novelist Graeme Lay re-imagines the peerless navigator James Cook's life up to, and including, his first circumnavigation of the world.
A fictionalised account of the famous navigator's early life, the Secret Life of James Cook charts the sailor's early naval career, his marriage to Elizabeth and their family life.
The novel examines the relationship between James and his equally remarkable wife, Elizabeth, the woman he married when he was 34 and she 21, and by whom he had six children, all born while he was away at sea.
The Secret Life of James Cook also depicts the often-stormy relationship between the self-made English naval commander and the dashing, privileged naturalist Joseph Banks, who accompanied Cook on his first world voyage.
Cook must negotiate the troubled waters of his professional, as well as personal life, however. The ship becomes impaled on the Great Barrier Reef. Endeavour's hull is holed, her lower decks begin to flood, they are many miles from land.
How can the ship and her crew possibly survive?'
The Secret Life of James Cook is the first novel in an acclaimed trilogy. Read the sequels, James Cook's New World and James Cook's Lost World.
A full-time writer, editor and reviewer, Graeme Lay has written prolifically, including short stories, young adult fiction and travel writing, and has won numerous awards. He has a deep interest in the islands of the South Pacific and Australasia.
Praise for The Secret Life of James Cook:
'Graeme Lay ... is well placed to attempt what no one has ever managed to achieve, by telling us not just what Cook did, but what he was like.' North & South
'A wonderful read. I enjoyed it enormously.' Graham Beattie, Radio New Zealand
"Lay has written a superb series of novels, which get under the skin of the protagonist and puts us aboard ship during his mesmerising voyages. Fans of Maturin and Aubrey will enjoy the relationship between Cook and Joseph Banks... The author deserves praise for the scale of his research and scope of his narrative." Richard Foreman.
Novelist Graeme Lay re-imagines the peerless navigator James Cook's life up to, and including, his first circumnavigation of the world.
A fictionalised account of the famous navigator's early life, the Secret Life of James Cook charts the sailor's early naval career, his marriage to Elizabeth and their family life.
The novel examines the relationship between James and his equally remarkable wife, Elizabeth, the woman he married when he was 34 and she 21, and by whom he had six children, all born while he was away at sea.
The Secret Life of James Cook also depicts the often-stormy relationship between the self-made English naval commander and the dashing, privileged naturalist Joseph Banks, who accompanied Cook on his first world voyage.
Cook must negotiate the troubled waters of his professional, as well as personal life, however. The ship becomes impaled on the Great Barrier Reef. Endeavour's hull is holed, her lower decks begin to flood, they are many miles from land.
How can the ship and her crew possibly survive?'
The Secret Life of James Cook is the first novel in an acclaimed trilogy. Read the sequels, James Cook's New World and James Cook's Lost World.
A full-time writer, editor and reviewer, Graeme Lay has written prolifically, including short stories, young adult fiction and travel writing, and has won numerous awards. He has a deep interest in the islands of the South Pacific and Australasia.
Praise for The Secret Life of James Cook:
'Graeme Lay ... is well placed to attempt what no one has ever managed to achieve, by telling us not just what Cook did, but what he was like.' North & South
'A wonderful read. I enjoyed it enormously.' Graham Beattie, Radio New Zealand
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Graeme Lay
65 books12 followersGraeme Lay is a prolific writer, editor and manuscript assessor. He has published or anthologised forty works of fiction and non-fiction, including novels for adults and young adults, three collections of short stories and three of travel writing. He has been Books Editor for North & South magazine and for over twenty years was secretary of the Frank Sargeson Trust.
Graeme began writing short stories in the late 1970s. His first novel, The Mentor, was published in 1978 and his first collection of short stories, Dear Mr Cairney, in 1985. Since then he has won the Lilian Ida Smith Award (1988) and was named Reviewer of the Year at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards (1998). Graeme is a three-time finalist in the New Zealand Travel Writer of the Year Award. He has also twice been a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and was also included on the 2002 Storylines Notable Senior Fiction List. In the late 1990s and early 2000s he devised and edited five collections of New Zealand short short stories.
From the 1990s onwards, after travelling to New Caledonia and Rarotonga, Graeme developed a deep interest in the islands of the South Pacific and the history and culture of that region’s peoples. Many of his books, both fiction and non-fiction, are set in the South Pacific. His latest novels, a trilogy based on the life of the famous English explorer James Cook, all became best sellers. They were: The Secret Life of James Cook (2012), James Cook’s New World (2013) and James Cook’s Lost World (2015).
Graeme began writing short stories in the late 1970s. His first novel, The Mentor, was published in 1978 and his first collection of short stories, Dear Mr Cairney, in 1985. Since then he has won the Lilian Ida Smith Award (1988) and was named Reviewer of the Year at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards (1998). Graeme is a three-time finalist in the New Zealand Travel Writer of the Year Award. He has also twice been a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and was also included on the 2002 Storylines Notable Senior Fiction List. In the late 1990s and early 2000s he devised and edited five collections of New Zealand short short stories.
From the 1990s onwards, after travelling to New Caledonia and Rarotonga, Graeme developed a deep interest in the islands of the South Pacific and the history and culture of that region’s peoples. Many of his books, both fiction and non-fiction, are set in the South Pacific. His latest novels, a trilogy based on the life of the famous English explorer James Cook, all became best sellers. They were: The Secret Life of James Cook (2012), James Cook’s New World (2013) and James Cook’s Lost World (2015).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 16, 2019
I'm rather impressed with this wee book. A much more palatable way tok read Cooks diaries I guess.
Didn't think there was too much bias but I think it may be the nz author was trying to balance the accounts?
Didn't think there was too much bias but I think it may be the nz author was trying to balance the accounts?
January 11, 2018
Even though it’s fictional, I enjoyed reading more about the life and personality of Captain Cook, as well as more in-depth detail about all the places they visited on their circumnavigation of the globe. However, over all I found the story a little bit slow going and got a bit bored half way through! Will probably read the next one though!
April 2, 2019
I was hoping for this to be so much more than it was.
April 20, 2020
Good read if you like historical fiction, amazes me how well the time setting is written in this book and how it differs from today
January 9, 2015
I don't think this is a bad book - just not for me. The prose and the characterization were pretty simplistic. I notice that this author is mainly known for his Young Adult fiction and Travelogues which might explain the style. The only thing "adult" about this was the sex. These necessary scenes (Tahiti etc) seemed a little clumsy as though the author was unsure of the tone he should use.
The most interesting bits were about the South Sea Islanders, where it was evident Lay was trying to present the encounters from a modern anthropological (and perhaps multicultural) perspective, while showing the ignorant attitudes and opinions of the Europeans.
There are a lot of books out there which present a more sophisticated and complex reading of Cook's voyage, but this might appeal to younger readers or folk who are put off by denser literary novels. It will always be an interesting and important story and I hope "The Secret Life of James Cook" helps bring this tale to a new audience. I won't be signing on to the next voyage though.
The most interesting bits were about the South Sea Islanders, where it was evident Lay was trying to present the encounters from a modern anthropological (and perhaps multicultural) perspective, while showing the ignorant attitudes and opinions of the Europeans.
There are a lot of books out there which present a more sophisticated and complex reading of Cook's voyage, but this might appeal to younger readers or folk who are put off by denser literary novels. It will always be an interesting and important story and I hope "The Secret Life of James Cook" helps bring this tale to a new audience. I won't be signing on to the next voyage though.
October 10, 2013
As an Aussie I was expecting that this fictionalised tale of Cook's travels to the great southern ocean would be the wonderful story we are all lead to believe Cook undertook. Guess what, there was more written about NZ and the Pacific Islands than anywhere else. Wonder does that happen to be because of the author? Cook is perceived as a true Gentleman who remains true to his wife and family. It is a good story, well researched, but even though disappointing as there was not the great discovery of Australia, a revelation that Cook did more than just 'discover' terra Australis! Give it a go, but if you don't like epistles and sea stories, the book will seem as long as Cooks journey.
March 24, 2016
The book tells a fictionalise account of James Cook's early life and ends with his return from his first voyage of circumnavigation. There is use of his official log as well as a fictional diary written to his wife.
The story is easy to read and tells of Cook's real life adventures. For many readers this will be a good way to read of his voyages rather than reading a non-fiction account.
I am not sure what the "Secret Life" bit was, as since little is known about Cook except from his formal journals, the author keeps Cook contained to a formal presentation of a man of virtue but his character is not over romanticised.
The story is easy to read and tells of Cook's real life adventures. For many readers this will be a good way to read of his voyages rather than reading a non-fiction account.
I am not sure what the "Secret Life" bit was, as since little is known about Cook except from his formal journals, the author keeps Cook contained to a formal presentation of a man of virtue but his character is not over romanticised.
April 7, 2015
A novel, but so well researched. Brings his early years and first voyage to New Zealand to life, and imagines his thoughts and personal feelings, which don't come across in his very factual ship's logs.
I am glad to fill in some gaps in my knowledge of this great explorer and navigator, and look forward to reading the sequel.
My favourite quote? Cook wrote that he intended to go not only "farther than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go." Now that shows a pure adventurous spirit!
I am glad to fill in some gaps in my knowledge of this great explorer and navigator, and look forward to reading the sequel.
My favourite quote? Cook wrote that he intended to go not only "farther than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go." Now that shows a pure adventurous spirit!
January 14, 2015
Lay's writing is workmanlike, but Cook's story is fascinating. He was not the high-born toff I imagined, but a farm boy who became a grocer's apprentice, then fell in love with the sea, and became a naval officer through sheer talent and ambition. The story of his wife Elizabeth is terribly sad: she stayed at home for years while James was at sea, giving birth to four children in his absence, two of whom died and one whom he never saw at all.
February 1, 2016
An easy read, perhaps aimed at a slightly younger audience. Despite the fact that the book is described "explores the relationship between James and his remarkable wife Elizabeth", there is very little in this book that explores their relationship beyond the fictional letters Cook writes to his wife - which is understandable as the author clearly states it is a work of fiction - however I had expected more.
December 23, 2016
The first of a trilogy about one of Britain's greatest explorers, Captain James Cook. This books covers his growing up years and his first voyage around the world. It is fiction because the author adds a lot of depth to his relationship with his wife and family, and develops relationships and personalities for the crew members. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. Takes place around 1769.
July 27, 2015
Fictionalised version of Captain James Cook's early life and first voyage of discovery on HMB Endeavour. Easy to read and a gripping story. Doesn't always ring true - e.g. some dialogue seems too modern or slightly forced to get a cross a character trait. There are two more books in the series.
July 20, 2015
This read started well, held my attention, was interesting etc. But by the time Cook was at sea and writing a journal to Elizabeth (his wife), it lost my attention. The story line seemed to get a bit corny from that point.
January 24, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it is written simplistically, but it is obviously a novel and intended to attract readers who wouldn't read a full historical biography. It has an ease and grace and narrative which adds substance to a story of seafaring. Really quite enjoyable.
June 11, 2015
Easy read, know it's fiction but strongly based on historic journals and published nonfiction works. Will look out for the second book.
Brief insight into his family and how it is for the family left behind for years awaiting to hear if their voyagers are still alive.
Brief insight into his family and how it is for the family left behind for years awaiting to hear if their voyagers are still alive.
March 29, 2022
The Secret Life of James Cook: Book 1
On the lengthy side, how could a book explaining Cook’s life be otherwise? Impressed with literary descriptions and story based on Cook’s life, it held my attention. Kudos!
On the lengthy side, how could a book explaining Cook’s life be otherwise? Impressed with literary descriptions and story based on Cook’s life, it held my attention. Kudos!
September 1, 2013
What do you know about James Cook? This historical novel is an easy way to explore the possibilities of his life.
Read
April 14, 2014This book was really interesting because it enables you to learn more about James Cook and his family and his travels.
October 2, 2021
For me I found it lacking in excitement....
October 11, 2022
very enjoyable readable voyage of discovery -and it joys and tribulations.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews