Endeavour by Peter Moore - 3.5* (BWF)

[Joy D]

Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World by Peter Moore - 3.5* - My Review

This book is basically a “biography” of a ship, which operated from 1764 – 1778, and had various names including its most famous, the Endeavour. The book is organized around the functions that this ship performed – a trader, an explorer, and a warship. It takes a while to ramp up and starts at the very beginning with the acorn. It is extremely detailed, probably too detailed for me, especially when discussing the techniques of shipbuilding, the French and Indian War, and hundred-year oak trees. These topics seemed a bit much, but the author is clearly enthused about his material!

My favorite part is the description of Captain James Cook’s voyage of exploration to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. (Note: Cook took a different ship on his final travels, which resulted in his death in the Hawaiian Islands.) I particularly enjoyed the description of the Endeavour running aground on the Great Barrier Reef. This is a dramatic scene where the ship is punctured and is rapidly taking on water. There were only enough small boats to hold part of the crew, but with great risk, skill, and a bit of luck, they managed to get the ship free and navigate to Queensland for repair. I also enjoyed the epilogue that mentions the many uses of the name across the centuries. The other two parts, which covered the use of the vessel in trade and as a prison ship in war, were a bit dry.

Overall, this is a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some parts were excellent and other parts dragged. I think the reader's enjoyment will depend on their overall interest level in the wide variety of subject matter.

3.5

PBT BWF April Extra E/M - fits letters, not tag